Member Policy of Beth Israel Congregation
POLICY NAME: Beth Israel – Membership
STATUS: Adopted 2012
DATE of last REVIEW: Adopted Feb. 12, 2013
Next Review: Annually
POLICY STATEMENT
Subject to the By-Laws of Beth Israel, this policy governs membership eligibility, rights and
responsibilities
PURPOSE AND SCOPE
• Reason: This policy was created to describe the parameters of membership.
• Intention: The intention of this policy is to delineate types of membership, and the
process of membership.
• Goal: To provide membership opportunities to all members of the community by
delineating eligibility for the types of membership available.
DEFINITIONS AND CLARIFICATION
Define:
• Beth Israel refers to the incorporated organization, Beth Israel Synagogue.
• Members are members in good standing according to Beth Israel’s by-laws.
BACKGROUND
The By-Laws of Beth Israel describe eligibility for voting members who are afforded full
privileges in performing Jewish ritual. While specific criteria remain for this type of member,
this policy creates new membership categories in order to be inclusive of all members of our
community.
MEMBERSHIP
Any interested parties who agree to the Constitution, By-Laws and aims of Beth Israel are
welcome to become members of Beth Israel. All members will be kept informed of Beth Israel
activities, and welcomed to all events.
In order to become a member, an individual must complete and return a Membership Application
form. A membership form may include up to two adults and their children, who all live at the
same address.
The Board must respond to all membership applications within a reasonable time period. The
Board must inform applicants of what type of membership they have been granted, and what
rights and responsibilities they have as a member.
The Board may appoint a committee or sub-committee to process membership applications.
Once an applicant becomes a member, they become subject to the Membership Dues policy.
There are two types of members: Voting Members and General Members.
VOTING MEMBERS
Primary Applicants who are eighteen years of age or older, and who identify as Jewish, are
eligible Voting Members of Beth Israel Congregation.
Beth Israel Membership Policy
Updated 2015-01-06 Page 2 of 2
To be eligible as a Voting Member, an applicant need only self-identify as Jewish. For this
purpose, there is no universal definition of Judaism, or specific criteria.
Only Primary Applicants receive voting privileges. If the second adult in a family would like
voting privileges, they may apply with a separate form as a Primary Applicant. They will be
charged membership fees separately.
GENERAL MEMBERS
All interested parties who are not eligible as Voting Members, are welcomed as General
Members of Beth Israel.
A NOTE ON RITUAL PRIVILEGES
Certain ritual privileges are conferred only to those who:
• are of matrilineal Jewish descent OR who have legally converted to Judaism, AND
• who have been called to Torah at their bar/bat mitzvah.
Such privileges will be determined by the Ritual Committee in consultation with religious
leadership.
MEMBER IN GOOD STANDING
Once an applicant has been accepted as a member, they will remain as a member year to year,
unless they request in writing to have their membership revoked.
To be considered a member in good standing, an applicant must be up to date in paying their
membership dues. Members are responsible to notify the Beth Israel Membership Committee of
any change in address or pertinent details on record.
The Board shall determine who is a member in good standing, in accordance with the By-Laws
and the Membership Dues Policy.
AUTHORITY SIGNATURE DATE
Beth Israel Membership Policy Updated 2015-01-06