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. Sometimes we sing off key. We learn and laugh together, celebrate and care for each other. Interested in joining? Click here.

Upcoming Events and Info
Friday Noon
Study Group
Join Jay Jacoby
Fridays at noon
in person at CBI or on Zoom.
On recess, resuming August 19.
Details here
Awakening the Heart
Join Rick Chess on
Saturday, August 20, 9:30am
in the CBI social hall
for a contemplative
Shabbat practice.
Details & RSVP
Picnic & Concert
at Pack Square
Join CBI friends for a picnic in
the park followed by an
outdoor concert. RSVP to Helene
at club.havurah@gmail.com
Many Thanks to Our
CBI 2nd Annual
Golf Classic Sponsors
Click to see them here:
2022Golf Sponsors Logos 2.
Rabbi Mitch Levine
Rabbi Mitch Levine: Office phone (828) 252-9024, email rabbi@bethisraelnc.org
CBI is thrilled to have Rabbi Mitchell Levine as our spiritual leader. Rabbi Levine started on July 1, 2021. He and his wife Alison, also a Jewish educator by profession, moved to Asheville from Columbus, Ohio. Rabbi Levine has had a rich and diverse career as both a pulpit rabbi and Jewish educator. Born and raised in Raleigh, Rabbi Levine most recently served as Rabbi of Agudas Achim in Bexley Ohio, a position he held for 10 years. Prior to that, he served as the Rabbi at Beth Sholom in Providence, RI where he also served as rabbinic associate at Brown University Hillel and taught at the Providence Hebrew Day School and New England Academy of Torah High School. In addition, he has studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Learning, the Jewish Theological Seminary, Harvard Jewish Theological Seminary, the reconstructionist Rabbinical College, and was a Fellow at the Day School Leadership Training Institute of the Jewish Theological Seminary.
"I deeply appreciate the empowerment and support I feel from 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
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 up to...
This is what we're talking about...
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August 19 12-1
When our weekly Study Group resumes on August 19, we will discuss the Jewish folk legend of the Lamed Vavnik–a story with origins in Torah and Talmud that has influenced such contemporary novels as Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love and such films as the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. According to the legend, there are, at any given time, 36 righteous individuals upon whose merits the world continues to exist. The number 36 is represented in Hebrew as lamed vav. Those who wish to participate in our discussion on August 19, might want to take a look at a few of the following resources:
General Information:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lamed-vav-x1e92-addikim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim_Nistarim
https://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/the-lamed-vavnik-and-popular-culture
http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2009/03/lamed-vavniks-thirty-six-righteous-who.html
https://forward.com/culture/13406/the-thirty-six-who-save-the-world-01872/
https://www.matthewkressel.net/2015/10/13/36-days-of-judaic-myth-day-36-the-lamed-vav-the-thirty-six-hidden-righteous/
https://ohr.edu/2442
Stories about Lamed Vovniks:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/36-lamed-vovnick-stories-1/
https://www.naaleh.com/the-hidden-light/?hilite=%27topic%27
https://www.reddit.com/r/nonduality/comments/1r3y9f/the_lamed_vovnik_tale_as_told_by_speed_levitch/
Catholics on Lamed Vovniks
https://www.vermontcatholic.org/uncategorized/hidden-saints-the-legend-of-the-lamed-vavniks/
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2012/05/19/the-legend-of-the-36-righteous-men/
When our group meets on Friday, August 26, we will begin our exploration of Andre Schwarz-Bart’s novel, The Last of the Just, a book with roots in the lamed-vavnik legend. This post-WWII novel, which was awarded France’s highest literary prize in 1959, follows the Levy family over eight centuries, from York, England in the 1100s until the Eastern European Holocaust. The novel has been described as an enduring classic that reminds us “how easily torn is the precious fabric of civilization, and how destructive are the consequences of dumb hatred.” While, as the preceding quote suggests, Schwarz-Bart’s novel is unsettling, it provides much food for thought.
Now in its 23rd year, our informal discussion group meets in person from 12-1 in CBI’s small chapel (with an option on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person). All are welcome to attend regardless of their level of expertise. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.
Join us for Shabbat morning services in-person or via Zoom every Saturday morning at 9:30am.
Join the Zoom service by going to Our Virtual Community page here, then scroll down and click on the blue Saturday Morning Service button.

August 19 12-1
When our weekly Study Group resumes on August 19, we will discuss the Jewish folk legend of the Lamed Vavnik–a story with origins in Torah and Talmud that has influenced such contemporary novels as Nicole Krauss’s The History of Love and such films as the Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski. According to the legend, there are, at any given time, 36 righteous individuals upon whose merits the world continues to exist. The number 36 is represented in Hebrew as lamed vav. Those who wish to participate in our discussion on August 19, might want to take a look at a few of the following resources:
General Information:
https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/lamed-vav-x1e92-addikim
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tzadikim_Nistarim
https://www.splicetoday.com/pop-culture/the-lamed-vavnik-and-popular-culture
http://ejmmm2007.blogspot.com/2009/03/lamed-vavniks-thirty-six-righteous-who.html
https://forward.com/culture/13406/the-thirty-six-who-save-the-world-01872/
https://www.matthewkressel.net/2015/10/13/36-days-of-judaic-myth-day-36-the-lamed-vav-the-thirty-six-hidden-righteous/
https://ohr.edu/2442
Stories about Lamed Vovniks:
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/36-lamed-vovnick-stories-1/
https://www.naaleh.com/the-hidden-light/?hilite=%27topic%27
https://www.reddit.com/r/nonduality/comments/1r3y9f/the_lamed_vovnik_tale_as_told_by_speed_levitch/
Catholics on Lamed Vovniks
https://www.vermontcatholic.org/uncategorized/hidden-saints-the-legend-of-the-lamed-vavniks/
https://www.redlandsdailyfacts.com/2012/05/19/the-legend-of-the-36-righteous-men/
When our group meets on Friday, August 26, we will begin our exploration of Andre Schwarz-Bart’s novel, The Last of the Just, a book with roots in the lamed-vavnik legend. This post-WWII novel, which was awarded France’s highest literary prize in 1959, follows the Levy family over eight centuries, from York, England in the 1100s until the Eastern European Holocaust. The novel has been described as an enduring classic that reminds us “how easily torn is the precious fabric of civilization, and how destructive are the consequences of dumb hatred.” While, as the preceding quote suggests, Schwarz-Bart’s novel is unsettling, it provides much food for thought.
Now in its 23rd year, our informal discussion group meets in person from 12-1 in CBI’s small chapel (with an option on Zoom for those who cannot attend in person). All are welcome to attend regardless of their level of expertise. If you have questions, please contact Jay Jacoby at jbjacoby@uncc.edu.
Join us for Shabbat morning services in-person or via Zoom every Saturday morning at 9:30am.
Join the Zoom service by going to Our Virtual Community page here, then scroll down and click on the blue Saturday Morning Service button.
Club Havurah Picnic Supper & Concert Gathering Under the Stars
A Time for Connection
Join us Sunday, August 28
Picnic in the Park, 6:00 and “Symphony in the Park,” 7:00
Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville
On the green, opposite City Hall
Free general admission
Bring your own picnic baskets, chairs and blankets and join us by our
helium filled balloons when we picnic at 6:00.
Then, sit back and enjoy the concert that will be presented by the Asheville
Symphony Society at 7:00.
If you RSVP by August 26 to club.havurah@gmail.com we will know to look
out for you!
“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