Non-Members ONLY
Why are the High Holy Day tickets so expensive? It’s only a few hours, right?
Consider Becoming a Synagogue Member - Did you know that High Holy tickets are included in membership fees? So, if you join the synagogue as a member, there’s no need to pay for tickets. It’s only if you want to go without paying membership fees that your tickets are so costly. Think of it in terms of any other type of membership (health club, warehouse shopping club, etc.) The more often you use it, the more the monthly fee breaks down to only dollars per visit.
Like a gym needing your membership fees to pay for machines, classes, maintenance, etc., it’s the same with a synagogue. If you only go three days a year, it does work out to be a high fee per visit. But if you want that synagogue to be around for you to visit on your three days, then the synagogue needs to collect money to make it viable. That money goes to help pay for the building, staff, rabbi, cantor, children’s programming, classes, even food for Kiddush. Synagogues are businesses, in addition to being places of worship. They need to stay afloat financially if they want to be able to provide basics like holiday and Shabbat services to their members.
It’s worthwhile to invest in synagogue membership. While many thinks of themselves as a “limited user” of the synagogue, there is really no such thing as a one-, two- or three-day-a-year Jew. Even though someone may not attend services ‘religiously’ they still attend synagogues for b’nai mitzvah, weddings, funerals, and other occasions and often call upon rabbis at times of need.
With that said, should you choose to join and become a member after you have already paid for High Holy Day seats, Congregation Beth Israel will gladly take that amount and apply it to your membership balance. We want you to be a part of our community and hope that you see the value in membership as we do.
Please indicate the services that you and your family will be attending for High Holy Days.
PAYMENT
Just as a reminder, should you decide to join our congregation, the amount that you pay for your HHD tickets will be credited towards your annual membership contribution.
After completing this form click SUBMIT button at bottom of page. You will be automatically taken to the payment screen.
Please note, it is a long-standing policy at CBI never to turn anyone away because of financial hardship and we remain committed to this value. This is especially true for services and meals during our High Holy Days. If you have questions regarding the cost of High Holy Day events please contact Rabbi Charlie at rabbi@congregationbethisrael.org.
