Temple Beth Torah

Temple Beth Torah: About Us

Our original mission statement is as true today as when it was first written in 1994. The mission of Temple Beth Torah is to provide a forum for experiencing religious, cultural, and celebratory aspects of Jewish life to Jewish people and families of Jewish people; to offer that experience in a non-dogmatic, non-judgmental, open, egalitarian environment where all members feel comfortable with their diverse beliefs and Jewish heritage; to continue the viability of the Jewish people by providing Jewish education to our children; and to provide our members with a strong sense of Jewish community

Our egalitarian philosophy extends to all aspects of congregational life. From religious services to education to social activities, all members -- men and women, singles and families, young and old -- are encouraged to participate. Our activities are varied and offer something for everyone.

Temple Beth Torah seeks to provide an opportunity for all members to attend religious services, help keep the member's children loyal to the faith and customs of Judaism, provide classes to enrich understanding, and provide opportunities for socializing with other Jews apart from the casual meetings before and after services. We seek to provide the opportunity to transform a vague desire for identification into a more meaningful and stronger attachment to Judaism.

Originally called Centreville Area Jewish Community, Temple Beth Torah began in the summer of 1994 when two Jewish families placed an ad in a local newspaper seeking other Jewish families with whom to share holidays and traditions. A couple of weeks -- and over 40 phone calls later -- our first meeting and service took place and "Centreville Area Jewish Community" was born. In January of 1995, an organizing body was formed and a dues-paying membership base was established. In the years since, our membership, programs and services have continued to grow with the hiring of a Rabbi, Cantorial Soloist and Education Director. In 1999 we affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and changed our name to Temple Beth Torah to better represent our heritage and core values to the Jewish community of Northern Virginia.

Today, Temple Beth Torah congregants enjoy an atmosphere of warmth and togetherness providing numerous spiritual, educational, support and social opportunities in a young, growing and vibrant Jewish community.

Shabbat Services, Religious and Hebrew School Classes, as well as other holiday celebrations and activities are held at St. Johns Episcopal Church, 5649 Mt. Gilead Road, in Centreville, VA. This beautiful facility consists of a modern building housing classrooms, a large multi-purpose function room and an adjacent historic chapel. It is centrally located in the heart of Centreville several blocks from the intersection of routes 28 and 29. On occasion, other activities are held in members' homes as well as nearby neighborhood community centers.

Our affiliation with the Union for Reform Judaism, the largest Jewish movement in North America representing over 900 Reform congregations, and the parent organization for the Reform movement in the United States, allows Temple Beth Torah to utilize numerous programs, services and support networks developed to promote the enrichment and growth of Judaism for our members and our community. Temple Beth Torah follows the guidelines of the UHAC and the CCAR in matters of faith and practice.

Temple Beth Torah offers membership options tailored for families, couples, single parent family and for single. After reading about Temple Beth Torah, if you would like to discuss our membership options please talk with our Membership Committee Chair. It will give you a chance to meet with a member, get to know each other and have questions answered. It will also give you a chance to discuss your service and financial commitments to Temple Beth Torah.

To learn more about our membership dues structure, please click here.

Temple Beth Torah has a simple and fair dues structure. Your generosity makes it possible for Temple Beth Torah to exist and flourish. Our dues are based on a fixed fee formula. Dues are payable at the beginning of our fiscal year, which is June 1st. There are several installment payment options available. For the current dues levels please review our Membership Dues Form. Religious school fees are computed separately from dues and congregational membership is required. All dues are included as a single statement.

For existing members, dues statements are distributed by email by June 15th. Members will have until July 31st to make their first payment, using one of the following payment options:

You may pay your entire statement at once. If using this option, you may pay by check or credit card.
You may pay half of your entire statement by July 31st; the balance will be due on December 31st. If using this option, you must pay by check.
You may pay your statement on a prorated monthly basis. To take advantage of this option, you must provide a credit card to which dues may be billed. Payment by check or cash will not be an option for monthly dues. Additionally, for this option, a per annum $50 administration fee will be assessed.

Late fees may be assessed for payments not received by the above due dates. Members are responsible for knowing when their fees are due. The Treasurer is responsible to inform the Director of religious school that each member is in compliance with the dues policy before any student can be admitted to a class in religious school. If there are parents on school enrollment day who have not paid, they must pay at that time to enroll their children in religious school. High Holiday tickets will not be issued to member families whose dues are not current. High holiday services are free for members and their children.

All membership dues and building fund contributions are tax deductible. Temple Beth Torah does not normally offer discounts, as we do not have an endowment to support this. In matters of extremis (family health crisis, loss of employment), reduced dues can be granted. These decisions are kept strictly confidential, and only the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer are involved. If you have a financial requirement that prevents you from paying your full dues statement, please submit the Dues Reduction form to the Treasurer as soon as possible.

Dues do not include officiating by the rabbi and cantor for performing or assisting with the preparation for life cycle events. Congregants should discuss fees separately and privately with them.

Rabbi Kenneth Barry Block began serving Temple Beth Torah in September of 1998. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, ordained at the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Rabbi Block previously served the Harford Jewish Center in Havre de Grace, MD. In addition to serving Temple Beth Torah, Rabbi Block is an addiction Chaplain for the VAMHCS, an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and Chaplain for Bel Air Volunteer Fire Company. Rabbi Block is also a facilitator of an American Cancer Society support group. Rabbi Block was honored with the Boston College Alumni Association Award of Excellence for Religion in 1978.

Cantor Jinny Marsh has been a cantorial soloist and has led numerous family services in Fairfax County synagogues for nearly fifteen years. Ms. Marsh is the leader of a popular professional klezmer band, Hot Kugel, and has been described as “a charismatic singer” by the Boston Globe newspaper. Ms. Marsh also has extensive music and Religious School experience teaching Torah and Tefillah to B’nai Mitzvah students, and is an active member of the Women Cantors Network.

Education Director Dianne Zimmerman is a University of Illinois graduate with a degree in Education. She has been a public school teacher and religious education director for over 15 years. From 1996 to 2001, she led the development of the education program at Temple Kehillat Chaim in Atlanta, during a period when that congregation grew by over 200 %.

All members of Temple Beth Torah are encouraged to participate in Temple leadership activities. The congregational leadership consists of a President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Corresponding Secretary, and Recording Secretary. Other members include a Religious School Chair, High Holiday Chair, and five members-at-large. More details on the role of Board members is found in the By-Laws page.

Board members meet at least once each month, typically during our Sunday religious school program.

The Corresponding Secretary is responsible for drafting the bi-monthly newsletter. This newsletter is normally posted on the congregational web site by the webmaster.