We're Asheville's only independent egalitarian Jewish community. More than 100 years old, we’re rediscovering ourselves every day. We love pot-lucks, swapping stories and kids in the sanctuary. We have a wise rabbi who lives in a young man’s body. He inspires, teaches and plays the ukulele. Sometimes we sing off key. We learn and laugh together, celebrate and care for each other. Interested?

Visit us in our new temporary home

While our building is closed for renovation, we invite you to visit us in our temporary digs: downstairs at Congregation Beth HaTephila (43 N. Liberty Street, Asheville). During renovations, CBI phone numbers and email addresses will remain the same. We hope to re-open in our newly remodeled building in time for the 2018 High Holidays. Meantime, we're indebted to CBHT for opening their doors to us while our's are closed.

This is Us

We're a blended family. Old and young, Jews by birth and Jews by choice; from L.A., Miami, Atlanta and Brooklyn - London, Johannesburg and places with names too hard to pronounce. We celebrate together: single moms and newly retired couples, inter-faith and inter-racial families. And all of us - observant, secular and agnostic - find common ground in community.

"For the first time in my life, I find myself yearning to go to shul.” - Rochelle Reich

This is what we're doing this week...

and this is what we're thinking about

Abraham in Interfaith Dialogue

By Webmaster

June 10, 2018

A few days ago I ran into an acquaintance with whom I had a brief conversation about interfaith dialogue. In the course of our conversation he used the term “Abrahamic religions.” At other times I have also heard the phrase “the Abrahamic faiths” referring to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Having been involved in interfaith conversations myself, these phrases trigger in…

Mother’s House

By Rick Chess

June 10, 2018

Mother’s house is not a house. Mother’s house is not a cave. Mother’s house is not a sacred text. Mother’s house is not an oven. Mother’s house is not a medicine cabinet. Mother’s house is not a song. Mother’s house is not a tree. Mother’s house is not an ocean. Mother’s house is not a casino. Mother’s house is not…

Torah on Tap presents: When the problem with religion is…um, religion

By Webmaster

May 23, 2018

A recent Pew Research report showed that 89% of Jews believe in the concept of God. At the same time, Jewish engagement in worship services—where Jews traditionally have gone to talk with the Almighty—is taking a nosedive. What's up? We seem to find the notion of the Divine…well, divine, we just have a hard time divining our joy together. What’s…

When fear takes over

By Dr. Walter Ziffer

May 20, 2018

I Remember! My sweet grandmother on my Mom’s side, Hermine Borger, nee Weinberger, had two brothers, Solomon whom I hardly knew and Arnold, whom we all knew very well. Arnold was a big strapping fellow and I remember him best from his powerful smacking the cards onto the table during the traditional Sunday afternoon card games at my grandparents’ home on the…

Navigating Mitzra’im (the narrow places)

By Webmaster

May 18, 2018

The Hebrew name for Egypt (Mitzra'im) means "narrow places." During Passover, we are commanded to celebrate the holiday as if each one of us came out of that narrow place. This past April, CBI father and daughter, Dr. Mike and Adina Weizman, experienced the fragility and narrowness of life firsthand. This is their story. "This past month, Adina and I…

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“CBI nurtures my spiritual life, especially the Shabbos experience - the participatory services and the Kiddush luncheon, which allows us to visit and get to know each other.” – Jimi Moore

And this is Rabbi Justin Goldstein

I'll never forget my first day in Asheville. 1997, standing in the parking lot of the French Broad Food Co-op thinking, "I will live here one day." Throughout my years at Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies in L.A., I often thought of Asheville and CBI. Danielle and I were married in Montford. Our aufruf (when the groom is called to the Torah) was in the small CBI chapel. To be honest, I never envisioned being a pulpit rabbi - I love community organizing and non-profit management - but if there was one place I would want to be a pulpit rabbi, I knew it would be here. (read more)

The Shepherd’s Staff

January 12, 2018

Perhaps one of the most famous features of the story of Moshe is his staff. While in Cecil B. DeMille's telling of the story Moshe performs all of the miracles of the plagues, in the Torah it is actually Moshe's brother, Aharon, who uses the staff to perform the miracles.…

"I deeply appreciate the empowerment and support I feel from Rabbi Justin and the CBI leadership to forge our own path, one that is consistent and true to our family without being led to feel like our Judaism is lacking.” - Ali Climo

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