Specialties
We welcome all to join us for worship!
As a member of the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, Congregation Beth Evergreen respects and fosters inclusive Judaism, where Jews from a wide variety of backgrounds, including Conservative, Reform, and interfaith families, can enjoy the experiences of our religious school, Sabbath and holiday services and celebrations, and life cycle events.
Finding opportunities to be among and support Jewish community here in the Front Range can be challenging. Jews represent less than 2% of Colorado's population, and finding a synagogue at all in the mountain area is not easy. Beth Evergreen, a 36-year-old organization, opened the doors to its beautiful new synagogue in 2003. Set peacefully among the natural beauty of nearby Elk Meadow in Evergreen, Beth Evergreen now has about 150 household members, bringing us over 450 mothers, fathers, children, seniors, grandparents and friends from Golden, Lakewood, Genesee, Conifer, Evergreen, Kittredge and beyond.
Our first full-time Rabbi, Rabbi Benjamin 'Jamie' Arnold joined us in July, 2005. Our worship services offer a variety of experiences from traditional service structure to Tot Shabbats and the "Monthly Music" Shabbat services. Our educational programs include Jewish pre-school, weekly religious school for grade school children, a B'nai Mitzvah program preparing students for Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and various adult education programs...
History
Established in 1974.
Congregation Beth Evergreen was founded in 1974 when Bernie Goldman, a recent transplant from Long Island, NY, put a small article in the Canyon Courier asking if there were other Jews in the area who wanted to celebrate the High Holidays with him. Perhaps a dozen people joined him then, and the ball was rolling. From that beginning, the group held monthly services and holiday observances in member's homes.
As the group grew too large for living rooms, services were moved to the old Greystone Castle on Upper Bear Creek Road. Then, through the gracious support of Reverend Dr. Dick Vickery and his congregation, CBE shared the building of the United Methodist Church of Evergreen for ten years.
Along the way, members did everything from planning and conducting services to creating holiday observances, such as Passover Seders and Purim Balls. We eventually started a Religious School through volunteer efforts.