Become a Member
This is a great time to consider membership at Congregation Beth Shalom. Our Senior Rabbi, Jill Borodin, and our Associate Rabbi, Paula Rose, are kind, compassionate and caring individuals who are committed to community building and strengthening relationships. They bring strong religious, moral, intellectual, and spiritual leadership to our congregation.
Members of CBS are entitled to all the services provided by our congregation including education (both adult and child), events and programs, the Rabbis’ counseling and services, use of the building for various s'machot (weddings, Brit Milah or baby naming ceremonies, B’nai Mitzvah, etc.), and participation in services for s'machot. Member rates (in some cases no charge) are available. Members receive the Ruach, high holiday seats, and are included in the membership roster. Beth Shalom welcomes all families and encourages individuals with questions of Jewish status to speak with our Rabbis.
Are you already a member, but want to give us additional yahrzeit or other lifecycle information? Please contact us here.
To change the name on your member name tag or request a replacement for a lost or damaged tag, please use the Name Tag Change Request Form.
Membership FAQ
How do I become a member?
To become a member, first fill out the online application form linked above. After you've submitted your application, you'll automatically receive a confirmation email with information about next steps.
Once we receive your membership application, we will be in touch with you to finalize your membership and dues. For a more detailed rundown of the membership process, click here.
What is the cost of membership?
The financial contributions of our members are essential to the day-to-day operations of our vibrant community. At Beth Shalom we use a “Fair Share” dues structure, and we ask all members to contribute 2% of their gross income as dues. This approach resonates with principles of fairness and justice that are central to our community. However, we never want finances to get in the way of anyone’s decision to join our community. Please reach out and talk with us if you have any concerns about dues.
You can see our Fair Share dues structure chart here: https://www.bethshalomseattle.org/fair-share-dues-chart.html
Our average cost for each member household is $3200 per year. We ask people to be mindful that dues do not cover all costs at our synagogue, and that there are also numerous opportunities throughout the year to contribute to the work of Beth Shalom.
To learn more about Fair Share dues at Beth Shalom, see our Fair Share dues brochure.
Are there other costs to join?
We love being able to offer Kiddush Lunch free of charge every Saturday after services. This does, however, incur a cost. To feed 150-200 people every week costs around $750-900 each week. Other synagogues make it a practice to assign a Kiddush Lunch sponsorship or solicit extra donations, but at Beth Shalom, we value the communal contribution and response. So, we are asking each member to contribute an annual $75 Kiddush Fee. This money helps to underwrite this weekly Shabbat lunch.
Living in Seattle is expensive. As a non-profit serving the needs of broader socio-economic statuses, we have seen the drastic changes to rent and cost of living. We want to be ethical employers and treat our employees well. In order to accommodate that, we are asking members to pay a $250 Fair Wage Surcharge to enable us to raise the wages of our lowest paid employees to a “living wage.” We know that for some of those in our community who are not in the place of earning a living wage yet that this can be challenging - so please feel free to reach out to us with any questions.
Are the costs set in stone?
Nope! Our dues are “fair share” – this means if your income changes, up or down, you can and should adjust your dues. We send out an annual support agreement every year in late April. That’s a good time to change your dues if your financial situation has changed. You can also let us know at any point during the year if an adjustment is needed.
I’m 30 years old. I’m still paying my student loans, and I can barely afford to pay rent. How can I afford to pay synagogue dues?
We hear you! Beth Shalom offers a discounted rate for members 32 and younger. Please refer to the second page of the Fair Share dues brochure to learn more. Beth Shalom has a strong cohort of young professionals, and we’d love for you to join us!