Congregation Beth Israel

CBI IS RAISING THE ROOF: To guarantee that the renovation of our roof is done safely and with a level of quality that will sustain the building for the next hundred years, CBI is asking for YOUR generosity and support.

Congregation Beth Israel is a vibrant and growing Jewish community in Charlottesville, Virginia, dedicated to spiritual growth in an environment that welcomes diversity, engages congregants, provides supportive care to members, and invests in future generations through education, social justice, charitable giving, and lifelong learning.

CBI has a long history in Charlottesville. It has been nearly 120 years since the synagogue building was dedicated on the corner of East Jefferson and Third Street.

Over the decades, CBI’s building — by some accounts the oldest still standing synagogue in the Commonwealth — has been a source of great strength for the Jewish community of central Virginia. CBI’s central downtown location has allowed the Jewish community to maintain a steadfast presence and visibility in Charlottesville. And if the last five years are any indication, CBI is poised to face whatever challenges the world presents — from white supremacists marching in the streets to a worldwide pandemic. The CBI community has responded with vitality, creativity, solidarity, perseverance, and great optimism for the future of Jewish life in our region.

To carry forward that optimism, investments in CBI’s historic sanctuary are needed. The decades have taken their toll on the building, and, in turn, important steps now have to be taken to preserve it.

In the coming year — 5783 in the Jewish calendar — CBI is therefore embarking on a large undertaking:

The roof on our building dates to 1904 and was repaired after a devastating fire in 1948. It has lasted at least one lifetime, if not longer. To protect CBI's Main Sanctuary, the roof that previous generations built must now be replaced and preserved for future generations.

This work will be costly and a challenge to maintaining CBI’s fiscal well-being this year. Preservation of historical buildings requires expertise and care. The main sanctuary roof is slate, which is expensive to replace and is adorned with metal cupolas crowned with fleur-de-lis, brick parapets, and other fixtures that require repair.

Congregation Beth Israel is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your donation to CBI is tax-deductible to the full extent of the law.