Beth Emet - The Free Synagogue

Beth Emet is a diverse, multigenerational Reform community with a dynamic approach to Judaism. Our congregation seeks to create a spiritually vibrant, socially conscious, intellectually challenging, and deeply caring environment firmly rooted in Jewish tradition and values.

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At Beth Emet we are dedicated to providing youth education that encourages community, spirituality, responsibility and deep thinking. Our formal educational programs for teens begins with our seventh grade Gesher experience and concludes with our twelfth grade Kabbalat Torah program. All programs have a strong experiential component, an emphasis on social justice, and encourage students to authenitcally explore Judaism and build Jewish identity.

Students who participate in our education system develop a deep love of and commitment to Judaism, a sense of self and community, the ability to speak thoughtfully on questions of God, Torah and Israel, and make great friends!

  • Gesher

    Gesher

    Our seventh-grade program is designed to help our students bridge the gap from being children in the Jewish community to being adults. In this spirit, the program is called Gesher, the Hebrew word for bridge. Our students s...

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  • Rosh Chodesh Feminist Collective (Grades 8 - 12)

    Open to students in grades 8-12

    Rosh Chodesh is a safe and supportive environment for exploring identity, Judaism, and society through engaging, experiential, monthly sessions that are guided by the needs of the participatin...

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  • Mitzvah Corps, Madrichim in Training, and Conversational Hebrew (Grade 8)

    Mitzvah Corps, Madrichim in Training, and Conversational Hebrew (Grade 8)

    The eighth-grade program at Beth Emet has several different components, all geared towards developing leadership skills and fostering a sense of community.

    The Mitzvah Corps program provides an opportunity for students to ...

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  • Talmidim

     

    Talmidim for juniors (grade 11) provides teens with an opportunity for a small group, directed learning with an adult educator. Through a discussion of student interests, the Talmidim instructor curates a year of dynamic e...

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  • Chavayah (Grades 9 & 10)

    Chavayah (Grades 9 & 10)

    Chavayah transcends the traditional education model and offers a challenging and engaging approach to Jewish learning. This program is designed for our ninth and tenth-grade students and provides a chance for them to contin...

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  • Kabbalat Torah (12th Grade)

    Kabbalat Torah (12th Grade)

    Kabbalat Torah is the equivalent of confirmation at Beth Emet. Led by Rabbi London, this program focuses on Jewish thought and theology to help students create a philosophy of life and to consider how Jewish teachings and t...

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  • Leo Baeck Leadership Corps

    Leo Baeck Leadership Corps / Scholarship to Israel

    What is NFTY- EIE?
    Since 1961 more than a thousand high school sophomores, juniors or seniors have participated in the North American Federation of Temple Youth Eisendrath Is...North American Federation of Temple Youth Eisendrath Is...

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Youth Programs

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  • Rabbi Andrea C. London

    Rabbi Andrea C. London

    Rabbi Andrea London is a nationally recognized Jewish leader who has served at Beth Emet since 2000 and was named the congregation’s Senior Rabbi in July 2010. Rabbi London is deeply engaged in all aspects of congregational...

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  • Rabbi Amy L. Memis-Foler

    Rabbi Amy L. Memis-Foler

    Rabbi Amy L. Memis-Foler, D.D. became a rabbi because of her love of Judaism and desire to teach others, share in their spiritual journey and make the world a better place than we found it.

    She joined Beth Emet in the Fall...

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  • Cantor Rabbi Kyle Cotler

    Cantor Rabbi Kyle Cotler

    Kyle comes from a long line of Jewish music – his great-grandfather was a Chazzan in Russia; his grandfather, Ted, served in Ventura; and his father, Doug, is currently the cantor at Or Ami in Calabasas. Kyle studied at the...

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  • Rabbi Peter S. Knobel z"l

    Rabbi Peter S. Knobel z"l

    Rabbi Knobel was rabbi emeritus at Beth Emet The Free Synagogue in Evanston, Illinois where he served since 1980, following 11 years at Temple Emanu-El in Groton, Connecticut.  He served as the Interim Senior Rabbi of Templ...

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  • Bekki Harris Kaplan

    Bekki Harris Kaplan

    Bekki Harris Kaplan joined Beth Emet's professional team in July 2001 after working as the Associate Executive Director and Membership Director at Temple Sholom of Chicago. In addition to supervising the functioning of Beth...

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  • Marci Dickman

    Marci Dickman

    Marci Dickman joined Beth Emet in July, 2009 with more than 25 years of experience in Jewish education. Marci serves as the Director of Lifelong Learning, acting as the Principal of Beit Sefer and overseeing our Early Child...

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  • Kathy Kaberon

    Kathy Kaberon

    Kathy Kaberon is Beth Emet's Director of Young Family Programs. She has been an administrator in Beth Emet's Early Childhood Program for the past 10 years. Her affiliation with the program began in 1988, when she enrolled h...

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  • Maia Volk

    Maia Volk

    Maia Volk joined Beth Emet in July 2018 as the Director of Youth Programs, overseeing the formal and informal education of Beth Emet youth.  Maia grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan and spent her summers as a camper and staff at...

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  • Marla Topp

    Marla Topp

     

    Beth Emet Administrator, Marla Topp, has many years of experience in congregational life. She was the administrator at Temple Judea Mizpah for eight years and was also the Director of Education since 2015. During that time...

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Beth Emet is a diverse, multigenerational Reform community with a dynamic approach to Judaism. Our congregation seeks to create a spiritually vibrant, socially conscious, intellectually challenging, and deeply caring environment firmly rooted in Jewish tradition and values.

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