Congregation Beth Adam
{{Short description|Humanistic Jewish synagogue in Ohio, US}}
{{Infobox religious building
| name = Congregation Beth Adam
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| religious_affiliation = Judaism
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| rite = Independent Liberal Humanistic
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| leadership = {{unbulleted list|{{nowrap|Rabbi Lauren Werber}}|Robert B. Barr, Founding Rabbi Emeritus}}
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| status = Synagogue
| functional_status = Active
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| location = Loveland-Madeira Road, Loveland, Ohio
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| country = United States
| map_type = Ohio
| map_size = 250
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| map_caption = Location in Ohio
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| coordinates = {{Coord|39.2371580|-84.3054166|display=title,inline|region:US-UT_type:landmark|format=dms}}
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| established = 1980
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| website = {{URL|http://bethadam.org/}}
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Congregation Beth Adam is a Humanistic Jewish synagogue located in Loveland, Ohio.{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/06/11/nyregion/temple-with-no-place-for-god-seeks-a-place.html | title=Temple With No Place For God Seeks a Place | work=The New York Times | date=June 11, 1994 | access-date=February 12, 2015 | author=Gonzalez, David }} Beth Adam gives voice to Judaism with a humanistic perspective. The congregation was founded by Rabbi Robert B. Barr in 1980.
Overview
Beth Adam's mission is to be a "unique community integrating Jewish tradition and humanistic principles." Its vision - to be "a spiritual home, a meaningful voice, and a humanistic resource for people worldwide, seeking a contemporary Jewish identity and experience."{{Cite web |date= |title=Mission, Vision and Values |url=https://www.bethadam.org/mission-vision-and-values.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200402215923/https://www.bethadam.org/mission-vision-and-values.html |archive-date=2020-04-02 |access-date= |website=Congregation Beth Adam}}
The congregation made history when its application for membership into the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) (now the Union of Reform Judaism (URJ)) was not accepted.{{Cite web|title=History & Overview of Reform Judaism|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/history-and-overview-of-reform-judaism|access-date=2021-01-19|website=www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org}} Beth Adam's application challenged the Reform movement to determine if it was willing to embrace a wide spectrum of belief. As Rabbi Alan Kaplan, then head of the union's New Congregations Committee, the decision will be "a watershed in the history of the Reform movement".{{Cite news|last=Niebuhr|first=Gustav|date=June 30, 1994|title=Humanist Synagogue Tests Reform Judaism|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1994/05/17/humanist-synagogue-tests-reform-judaism/1ac3f620-73ab-4cfb-aebb-8057245f5ad2/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|newspaper=The Washington Post}}
Location
Congregation Beth Adam's building, located on Loveland-Madeira Road, was dedicated on September 7, 2001. The synagogue is unique in that it fully incorporates science into its religious space.{{Cite web|last=Eigelbach|first=Kevin|date=May 1, 2016|title=Moving from 'old Judaism to bold Judaism'|url=https://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/lovelands-beth-adam-is-a-place-where-humanistic-jews-can-openly-engage-in-non-traditional-beliefs|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502115418/http://www.wcpo.com/news/insider/lovelands-beth-adam-is-a-place-where-humanistic-jews-can-openly-engage-in-non-traditional-beliefs |archive-date=2016-05-02 |access-date=|website=}} In the sanctuary, the 12 stained-glass windows depict the Big Bang, evolution of life on earth, and science. The Eternal Light (Ner Tamid) that is over the ark which holds the Torah is a double helix representing DNA.
Services
Congregation Beth Adam launched its online initiative OurJewishCommunity.org.{{Cite news|last=Dehart|first=Jonathan|date=December 9, 2008|title=Congregation Beth Adam: progressive Judaism coming to a computer near you|work=Soapbox Cincinnati|url=https://www.soapboxmedia.com/features/43bethadam.aspx|access-date=}} This was one of the first online Jewish congregations in the United States.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} As technology has changed, OurJewishCommunity.org has been fully integrated into Beth Adam's primary website. Both Beth Adam and OurJewishCommunity operate Facebook pages to serve those in greater Cincinnati and those outside the community.
Congregation Beth Adam launched Our Village, a revolutionary approach to youth education.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} The program has been redesigned to provide experiential learning opportunities rather than the traditional mode of religious education.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|http://bethadam.org/}}
{{Synagogues in the United States}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Beth Adam}}
Category:Synagogues in Cincinnati
Category:Jews and Judaism in Cincinnati
Category:Humanistic synagogues in the United States
Category:1980 establishments in Ohio
Category:Synagogues completed in 1980
Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States
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