Membership

Welcome to Temple Beth-El!

We’re so glad you’re interested in joining our community. TBE strives to be a nexus of Jewish life for all of greater Ithaca, and to be a welcoming face of Jewish community that meets the needs of the vast array of Jewish people! Here’s how the process works:
 

1. Fill out THIS (super short) MEMBERSHIP INTEREST FORM! Someone from our Welcoming Team will be in touch with you to schmooze over coffee, tea, or Zoom, get to know you (and your household if applicable). We’ll let you know what TBE has to offer and answer any questions you might have (or point you in the right direction to get them answered).
    
2. If you’re feeling good about officially joining our community, we’ll send you the (slightly longer but totally manageable) Membership Registration Form. And we’ll stay in touch with you in case you have any questions about the form.
    
3. While it’s true that synagogues need money to function, finances are never a barrier to enjoying full membership at Temple Beth-El. Our fabulous Dues Coordinator will give you a call, explain our dues structure (see below for the short version), and you’ll be able to totally confidentially decide on a meaningful and feasible arrangement for you and your household.

Temple Beth-El is affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and, as such, we navigate the sacred goal of being radically welcoming while holding ourselves accountable to a traditional understanding of halacha (rabbinic law).

To be eligible for membership at TBE, a household must have at least one adult with ritual Jewish status according to the framework of Conservative Judaism. This includes anyone born of a Jewish mother, and those who have completed a formal Jewish conversion process.

We recognize that people can have a strong Jewish identity and Jewish background that may be different from the above framework. Rabbi Caleb Brommer is always happy to have a discussion rooted in deep respect, dignity, and love as we strive to be a welcoming spiritual home for Jews and Jewish households of all stripes. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have any questions.

That’s it! Welcome to TBE! We’re so glad you’re here. Please know that our volunteer Welcoming Team and our professional staff – Rabbi Caleb Brommer, Calle Schueler (Director of Education and Engagement), and Adeena Brown (Administrative Coordinator) – are ALL extremely happy to be a resource to you throughout the above steps. Their contact info can be found on the TBE website here.

Temple Beth-El Dues Structure
These are the basics. We’re happy to get more specific!

• New members are always offered a dues rate of $18 per household for the first year of membership!
• After the first year, we continue to offer reduced dues which gradually increase based on age.
• TBE has a 'full dues' rate set annually; for 2025 it is $2224 per household. For some households, the full rate presents a financial challenge, while other households can afford more. As stated above, synagogues do need money to function. But finances are never a barrier to full membership and participation at Temple Beth-El. Your household’s dues arrangement is kept entirely confidential, and can be adjusted as needed as circumstances shift.
• Our Dues Coordinator, Nancy Emerson, is happy to answer any questions at dues@tbeithaca.org or (607)-227-0643.