Join us for Shabbat Services: Friday at 6:00 pm, Saturday at 9:30 am
An egalitarian Conservative congregation serving the diverse Orange County Jewish Community

Welcome to Congregation B’nai Israel! We are delighted that you are considering joining our village.

We are an inclusive and family-friendly community, welcoming members at all levels of religious observance, those born Jewish, those who have chosen Judaism, and interfaith families. Our diverse, multi-generational congregation welcomes people of all ages, racial and ethnic backgrounds, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those at any point on their Jewish journey.

Belonging to the community means taking an active role in shaping our future and demonstrating your commitment to helping Judaism to flourish in OC and beyond. In addition, members access clergy support throughout life’s ups and downs, Jewish education for children – from preschoolers to teens – participation in High Holy Day services and events year-round, and a precious and priceless sense of belonging and home.

We look forward to having you as a member of our congregation!

To learn more, please see our list of contacts. To schedule a conversation, please contact the office at cbi18@cbi18.org or (714) 730-9693. We look forward to welcoming you.

We also invite you to join us for upcoming events. Information is shared in our weekly e-newsletters. To receive updates: sign up here.

Click here for our new member information form.

July 2023 – June 2024 – Click here for our membership payment form

Family Category
(please note that financial assistance is available to those with need)
Donation Amount
Couple (ages 36-67)$3,550
Single (ages 36-67)$1,950
Senior Couple (age 68+)$2,100
Senior Single (age 68+)$1,250
Young Couple (ages 35 and younger)$600
Young Single (ages 35 and younger)$330
Sharon” Families (Building Maintenance)$525
“Friend of CBI” (associate membership for those outside our area, does not include High Holiday tickets)$360
Benefactor Membership: Platinum Chai Honors Circle*$18,000
Benefactor Membership: Golden Chai Honors Circle*$11,000
Benefactor Membership: Silver Chai Honors Circle*$8,000
Benefactor Membership: Bronze Chai Honors Circle*$6,000
Benefactor Membership: Copper Chai Honors Circle*$4,500
*Honors Circle membership is accompanied by event tickets and sponsorships throughout the year.
Specific details can be found within the membership forms and documents.

Membership at CBI includes many wonderful benefits including:

  • Belonging to a community with people to share life’s joys and ease life’s sorrows.
  • Our Rabbi, Cantor, and staff are there for you through important life cycle events and every day for counseling, teaching and care.
  • Opportunities for Jewish education for children, including B’nai Mitzvah training, and continuing education for adults.
  • Priority enrollment and reduced fees at our preschool.
  • High Holy Day tickets (unless otherwise noted)
  • Opportunities to live your Jewish values by caring for others in need.
  • Leadership opportunities to become a board or committee member, or to lead worship services.
  • A varied and rich offering of events, programming and classes to enrich and engage.
  • The ability to secure a place in CBI’s section at Harbor Lawn cemetery.

Let’s Play More

Let’s Play More – Rabbi Elie Spitz Play is vital to life. Consider the following imagining found in the Talmud [Avodah Zarah 3b]: “Rav Yehuda says, there are twelve hours in a day. The first three-hours God sits and learns the Torah, the second three-hours he sits and judges the world. The third three- hours God…

Finding our strength in the aftermath of tragedy

Good morning, my friends. We move toward another Shabbat still reeling from the massacre in a synagogue in Pittsburgh last Shabbat. I share below two reflections, one by me on “Antisemitism and Being an American” and another by Rabbi Adam Greenwald, which he posted on his Facebook page earlier this week. Tonight at 6pm our USY…

JLife Article: “Graceful Aging”

ON HIGH HOLIDAYS we traditionally chant: “Al tasheicheni l’et ziknah”- “Do not cast me into old age” (Psalm 71:9). My dear teacher, Rabbi Abraham Twerski was healthy until he was 85. He is now over 87 and struggling with pain and physical limitations. He explained that the line of liturgy means, “O G-d, do not bring…

Rabbi Spitz’s High Holy Day Sermons are online!

High Holy Days 5779 Erev Rosh Hashanah: Takeaways from Sabbatical Travel Rosh Hashanah Day 1: Shofar as Vessel of Judaism’s Call Rosh Hashanah Day 2: Humble: What Does Moses’ Defining Adjective Mean for Us? Kol Nidre: Our Families are Our Builders of Peace- with Interviews. Yom Kippur: Why Ritual? Yom Kippur Testifies Yom Kippur Closing…

Yom Kippur Sermon Resources

Resources from Rabbi’s Yom Kippur Sermon: Motzi Blessing: Say this blessing before eating bread (challah) at the beginning of a meal on Shabbat: Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech haolam, Hamotzi lechem min haaretz. Modeh Ani: מוֹדֶה אֲנִי לְפָנֶיךָ מֶלֶךְ חַי וְקַיָּם, שֶׁהֶחֱזַרְתָּ בִּי נִשְׁמָתִי בְּחֶמְלָה. רַבָּה אֱמוּנָתֶךָ Modeh anee lefanecha melech chai vekayam, she-he-chezarta bee…

CBI is on Amazon Smile!

Raise your hand if you shop at Amazon. Good, now that your hand is up put it on your keyboard and click on this link so that Congregation B’nai Israel can earn 5% back for every purchase you make! Remember to login to our Amazon Smile link every time you shop. Who knew that shopping…