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.

Join CBI in supporting refugees!

Take action and become involved with local refugee aid: Join CBI in our ongoing effort to support refugees by attending a Concert to benefit the Multifaith Alliance for Syrian Refugees! Sunday, December 3 at 2pm Neighborhood Congregational Church, Laguna Beach Contribute to our Diaper Drive to benefit local refugee families served by Tiyya Foundation. Bring diapers (sizes 4, 5,6 most…

Guest Rabbi: Micah Hyman

Rabbi Micah Hyman will be joining us to lead six Saturday morning services during Rabbi Spitz’s sabbatical. In addition, he will be staying on two of these dates to lead discussions after the Kiddush luncheon. Micah is in his third year teaching High School Jewish Studies at Tarbut V’Torah. He is also a  Senior Educator…

Ambassador Dennis Ross on American Foreign Policy in the Middle East – In Case You Missed It!

If you missed Dennis Ross’ public conversation, please tune in here: https://www.cbi18.org/sermons/ambassador-dennis-ross-2017/  Click the link above to hear Ambassador Dennis Ross in a Public Conversation with Rabbi Elie Spitz at Congregation B’nai Israel, September 17, 2017 on American Foreign Policy in the Middle East. For more than twelve years, Ambassador Dennis Ross played a leading role…

Torah and Tidbits: Yom Kippur

Ambassador Dennis Ross in conversation with Rabbi Spitz at CBI on Sept. 17, 2017 Dear Friends, Tomorrow we gather to mark Yom Kippur, 5778. I look forward to sharing services with you as a time for reflection, connection, and uplift.  Below are my sermons from Rosh Hashanah and an editorial by Dennis Ross, who visited…

The Head of Change

For this month’s OC Jewish Life Magazine, I reflected on technology and change at Rosh Hoshanah: (Click here to view the original article.) The Head of Change by Rabbi Elie Spitz OUR SMART PHONES are a powerful tool and distract us from the immediate moment. Whether used for good or bad, we are hooked. Consider the results of a recent international survey…

HaAzinu.

Moses’ sings a swan song, which begins: “Listen heaven! I will speak, Earth! Hear the words of my mouth. My lesson shall drop like rain, my saying shall flow down like the dew, like a downpour on the herb, like a shower on the grass.” (Deuteronomy 32:1-2) A Hasidic master commented that rain is only…