Welcome to the Beth El community! Filling out the form below will help us get to know you (and any family members). It is also how you pledge or pay annual membership dues. We are here to help with any questions! Reach the office at +1.919.682.1238.
Dues are not fees for service, just as our synagogue is not merely a building. Beth El is a community. Membership is a relationship – a loving commitment with the Jewish people and a statement of mutual support. Membership dues and contributions provide the financial foundation for all that Beth El stands and strives for. About 60% of our operating budget is funded by dues, and 20% by Annual Fund donations. Fixed dues levels are set by calculating the amount, per household, that will provide the majority of funding we need to meet the community’s wants and needs. Rates are proposed by the Board and voted on by the congregation. We are driven by the principle that anyone who wants to be part of our community can join, regardless of personal financial circumstances. Membership should be accessible and irresistible. If you cannot afford to pay the full dues amount, we will absolutely meet you at a level you can afford. This is called “Adjusted Dues” and the process is simple and confidential: you define what a significant contribution is for your household and tell us about it. Unless your circumstances change, you only need to apply for adjustment once per year, through this membership registration and renewal form.
The Annual Fund makes up the gap in what dues cover, and allows us to welcome everyone, regardless of the amount they are able to pay, with open arms. Dues adjustments are possible to members who need them because other members are able to contribute above the standard dues amount, and regularly do. If you are able, please consider making a pledge to the Annual Fund. Previously, Annual Fund solicitations have come in the winter, after the High Holidays. This year you are able to pledge or pay your Annual Fund contribution at the same, via this form. You are still welcome to keep them separate if you prefer. If so, just leave this section blank and we will follow up with you at the usual time.
Kiddush is an important part of the culture of Beth El. It is about more than just noshing. Physical distancing does not eliminate the need to eat. In fact, for some families, it makes it more challenging. When the Beth El building is closed, the synagogue remains open. We continue to feed our families with Community Shabbat Dinners To Go and special deliveries. As we head into the Jewish New Year with distancing in place, it is important to sustain, or ideally grow, our Kiddush Fund; individual deliveries of meals and groceries are inherently more expensive and becoming a more common request.
We ask for a family contribution of $136. In the past, many families have opted to prepare a Kiddush meal on their own, or as part of a volunteer group. However, with fewer opportunities to gather in the Beth El kitchen, that option is not ideal. There are still ways to volunteer, including as a delivery driver. If you select that option, please elaborate in the space provided.
When you click the "SUBMIT" button below, you will be prompted to create a new ShulCloud account by setting a password. Please keep your password somewhere safe -- you will use it any time you need to log in. If you already have a ShulCloud account, please ensure you are currently logged in, to avoid creating multiple accounts. You will then be directed to a payment confirmation page to add this financial commitment to your account. Your information will not be saved until you complete the subsequent payment confirmation page.
