Welcome to Congregation Beth Shalom of Naperville, Illinois! Our community recently celebrated its 50th anniversary, and I am proud to have been around for most of those years to see our community evolve and grow. I grew up at CBS and it is my family’s Jewish home. I went to religious school here. My Bat Mitzvah was one of the first celebrated in our community’s original synagogue, and my husband, Keith, and I were among the last to celebrate our wedding there prior to the construction of our beautiful, new synagogue across from Naperville North High School. Because of this, it was especially meaningful to me to see our children become Bar and Bat Mitzvah at CBS, surrounded by the love of our community. Our children received a solid Jewish education and forged lifelong friendships through their time in our religious school, summer camps, and amazing BBYO youth group.
Congregation Beth Shalom is a friendly community of around 250 families, and we pride ourselves on our warmth and inclusiveness. We worship together at Friday night Erev Shabbat, Shabbat morning, and holiday services. We welcome people of all denominations and backgrounds. Our services, led by Rabbi David Eber, include a mix of Hebrew and English songs and prayers with transliterations and explanations so all can participate fully. Kids are welcome at all of our services and enjoy the “play and pray” area specially designed for our youngest members.
Our congregation welcomes the active participation of all of our members: families with two Jewish parents and interfaith families; all who identify as Jewish whether by birth or by choice; Jews of all backgrounds, genders, and sexual orientations; young adults through retirees. We find strength in our diversity of viewpoints and backgrounds.
Our weekly religious school, daily preschool, and “Kibbutz Katan” young family programs, fill our walls with the joyous sound of children learning and playing. Our members enjoy spending time together for a veritable alphabet of activities, such as growing food for the hungry in our Giving Garden, celebrating our heritage through Israeli Dance, singing in our choir, and engaging with our multiple book clubs and adult education programs (to name a few).
Please reach out to me at cbspresident@napershalom.org if I can answer any questions or help to connect you with our community. I would love the chance to meet you and invite you to join me in calling Congregation Beth Shalom your Jewish home.