Frequently Asked Questions

How do I become a member of Temple Beth El?  What’s the process?
We’d love to have you join us.  Go to the membership packet page (or contact the Temple office at 253-564-7101 for a packet).  Download the application form and dues pledge form.  You may also want to download the “Get Involved” flier, the latest copy of the bulletin, and a Temple brochure.  Fill out the application form and dues form, and send them in via email, postal mail, or fax (253-564-7103).  The chair of the membership committee will call you within a week or two of receiving your information.  The Temple Beth El Board of Trustees votes on new members monthly, and after you are officially voted in, you will receive a letter of welcome and other information from the Temple office.

Can I join Temple Beth El if I’m not Jewish?
Temple Beth El welcomes non-Jewish spouses and partners of Jewish members.  In other words, either you or you spouse/partner (or both) must be Jewish.  If you are not Jewish and are interested in exploring conversion, please contact the Rabbi.  (For more information about conversion, please visit our links page.)  Everyone is welcome at services and at most of our special events and educational opportunities—you don’t have to be Jewish and you don’t have to be a member to worship and learn with us.

Why should I join TBE?
Temple Beth El is home to the nicest group of Jewish people in town (okay, we’re pretty much the only group of Jewish people in town)!  At TBE, we support one another with positive peer relationships, a caring community, and a culture of inclusiveness.  When you join our congregation, you know that you are helping to strengthen and support Judaism in Pierce County.  We have weekly worship opportunities, adult education, religious school for children, many groups and clubs, and great opportunities to meet other Jewish people.  For more information about why anytime is the right time to join a synagogue, check out the Union for Reform Judaism's brochure, “What’s Missing from our Congregation?  You!”

What do I get for joining Temple Beth El?
When you join Temple Beth El, you get back whatever you give.  Opportunities abound for involvement with our community.  See our “Get Involved” flier for more information about how you can get involved, meet people, and support our faith.  In addition, we are the “one stop shopping” for everything Jewish in Pierce County, whether it’s worship, Jewish education, Jewish adult and youth activities, and yes, even shopping at our Judaica Shop.  Also, when you are a member of Temple, you become part of a supporting and caring community that provides necessary support and counseling to those in need.

I’d like to join, but I don’t know anyone at Temple Beth El.
We have lots of opportunities for getting involved and meeting people at Temple Beth El, starting as soon as you join.  After your first conversation with the membership chair (now you’ve met one person!), you will receive a call from another member of the membership committee to add his or her welcome.  The membership committee hosts new member ice cream socials three or four times per year, and you will receive an invitation for the next one.  Also, most members wear nametags at Temple in order to help you and everyone else learn each other’s names.  Introduce yourself.  Come to services.  And probably the best way to get to know people is to get involved.  See our “Get Involved” flier for more information about all the opportunities at Temple Beth El.

Why should I join now?  My son is only two years old.
It is never too soon to be a part of the Jewish community. While we often think that synagogues are around to “teach Judaism” to our children, there is so much more. Synagogues provide ongoing opportunities to study, experience, and enjoy being connected to a Jewish community. As for children, Temple Beth El offers Gan, our preschool program for ages 2-5, as an important component in children’s development. We also offer “Parents and Me,” a monthly chavurah for children ages 0-3 and their parents.  Temple Beth El provides a safe, nurturing place to help your child develop key skills, as well as to create an enriching Jewish atmosphere for him and for you!

Aren't synagogues really just for families?  I’m single and I have no children.
While Temple Beth El offers many family-oriented programs, that does not mean that we are only open to families. Aside from youth programs and religious school, we also offer women’s groups, adult education seminars, leadership opportunities, social justice (Tikkun Olam) programs, and, of course, worship experiences. The synagogue’s task is to enhance your connection with other Jews and your personal search for meaning.

What does it cost to join a synagogue?  Isn’t it expensive?
Reform synagogues are committed to every Jew who desires to be part of a congregation. A Jewish sage once said that “the gates of prayer are always open.”  Reform synagogues, including Temple Beth El, have promised to keep their gates open and inclusive to all. Hand in hand with this idea follows another: that “all Jews are responsible for one another.” That is why Temple Beth El’s board of trustees set up a “fair share” dues structure—so that the vital ongoing services and programs continue to serve the entire community and so that members may be part of our community no matter what their financial resources.  And to make dues and other payments easier (members pay a small security fee and building maintenance fee every year, and religious school tuition is additional), we offer many different payment options—you can pay monthly or quarterly if you desire, put your dues on your credit card and earn miles, or even have your dues deducted automatically from your bank account.  For more information about our dues structure and payment options, please see our membership form (PDF).

Does your congregation welcome people who are Jewish by choice?   
Our congregation is welcome to all Jews and their spouses/partners who wish to join us, regardless of when and how they become Jewish.  The Union for Reform Judaism has some great resources for people who are considering conversion and for those whose family members have converted to Judaism.

Do you welcome and support interfaith families?
Many of Temple Beth El’s current member families are interfaith.  We welcome members from diverse backgrounds.  The Union for Reform Judaism's website has a number of resources for interfaith families.

More questions?  Contact the membership chair.

For a membership packet, please click here.

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