Beth Jacob Congregation (Mendota Heights, Minnesota)

Beth Jacob Congregation is a Conservative Jewish synagogue located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. It was founded in 1985 and has a membership of 400 families. The community describes itself as "a community of Jews who come together to nurture relationships with God and each other". Its present Rabbi is Rabbi Morris J. Allen

Activities

Regular services take place on weekdays, on the Shabbat, including dedicated children's services, and on the Jewish festivals.

The community has received nine national programming awards from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for its social activities ("Chesed", acts of thoughtfulness). It was one of only four synagogues selected to participate in a nationwide study of the Conservative movement in the United States. It was selected to participate because of its sustained growth, creative programming, and cohesive community. The results of this research were published in the book "Jews in the Center: Conservative Synagogues and their Members". [cite book |author=Wertheimer, Jack |title=Jews in the center: conservative synagogues and their members |publisher=Rutgers University Press |location=New Brunswick, N.J |year=2000 |pages= |isbn=0813528216 |oclc= |doi=]

The innovative certification process Hechsher Tzedek ("Justice Certification") was pioneered by Rabbi Allen in response to a scandal involving kosher meat producer Agriprocessors in 2006.

ee also

*List of Minnesota Synagogues
*Hechsher Tzedek

References

External links

* [http://www.beth-jacob.org Official website]
* [http://bjusy.com Beth Jacob USY chapter]
* [http://rabbimorrisallen2.blogspot.com/ Rabbi Allen's Blog on Hechsher Tzedek]