Bet Shira Congregation

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**Bet Shira Congregation**
Country	United States
Founded	by Rabbi David H. Auerbach
Website www.betshira.org

Bet Shira Congregation is a synagogue affiliated with Conservative Judaism located in Miami, Florida.

1 Religious school
2 Community programs
3 Clergy
4 Controversy
5 Customs
6 History
7 References
8 External links

[edit] Religious school

The Judaica high school program which allows Jewish students to get college credit from Miami Dade College for taking classes on Jewish topics is held in the Bet Shira classrooms. ^[1]

[edit] Community programs

Bet Shira holds an annual "Mitzvah day" every year, where volunteers, and members engage in activities such as: Gardening at Miami Metrozoo and Pinecrest Gardens; planting trees at homes of the disabled and elderly as part of a Treemendous Miami project; blood drives; clothing, toy, and medical supply drives; preparing sandwiches for Camillus House.[gardening at Miami Metrozoo and Pinecrest Gardens; planting trees at homes of the disabled and elderly as part of a Treemendous Miami project; blood drives; clothing, toy, and medical supply drives; preparing sandwiches for Camillus House. ^[2]

[edit] Clergy

Bet Shira's clergy include: Rabbi Micah Caplan, who has served on the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies’ admissions committee, and former teacher at University of Judaism’s Rabbinical School. Cantor Mark Kula, the brother of famous Rabbi Irwin Kula, who was named the 8th most influential Rabbi in America. ^[3] Cantor Kula was also the former assistant Cantor of New York’s Park Avenue Synagogue before becoming the head Cantor at Bet Shira.

[edit] Controversy

Controversy has surrounded the descion to allow music to be played during parts of the services on the Sabbath and Holidays. Accoding to Halacha, to play a musical instrument on these days are forbidden activities. More traditional members of the synagogue have begun to create their own prayer groups when the music is played.

[edit] Customs

The vast majority of members of the congregation at Bet Shira follow the minhagim (customs) the Jews of Germany followed. The Nusach of the Siddur used, follows the basic outline of the Ashkenazi Orthodox prayerbook. A main difference is that Conservative movement may edit, or change a few sections of the service.

[edit] History

In February 1985, a nucleus of families heeded the call of Rabbi David H. Auerbach "to go where the children are" and created the framework to establish "The Conservative Congregation of South Dade" to serve the Miami-Dade County, Florida area. Within three weeks more than 200 members pledged their support and $1,000,000. The membership increased to 300 families in the weeks that followed. A $3.5 million goal was set at the initial meeting and the enthusiasm of these committed families showed the need for a new Conservative congregation.

The name "Bet Shira" meaning "House of Song" was selected to reflect the upbeat and dynamic character of the founders. On May 5, 1988 the Letty Roth Synagogue Complex was dedicated and the Arin Stacey Appplebaum Sanctuary.

Bet Shira has continued to grow and develop. Bet Shira is currently known as one of the largest Conservative congregations in the Southern United States.