Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel (BSKI), which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is offering a one-year complimentary membership to anyone who joins the congregation in 2009.

Regular membership dues at BSKI range from $350, for a single person under 30 years of age, to $580, for a married couple under age 30. Dues for people over 30 years of age range from $985 – $2025 based on household income.

According to Rick Kodner, BSKI’s President, “We are offering this new, limited-time opportunity to new families so that they can experience what it means to become a part of our traditional yet progressive congregation of 325 families. Our membership reflects great diversity in terms of careers, incomes, backgrounds and levels of observance. We believe that BSKI provides a genuinely comfortable, welcoming and inspiring atmosphere, which our wonderful Rabbi, Mordecai Miller, nurtures and enhances.”

Harvey Leader, Executive Director, adds that “New members are being offered this unique opportunity to participate in and observe the many daily, weekly and special holiday services, along with the wide variety of programs and benefits that are available to members of BSKI, without making a substantial financial commitment for the first year. In addition, there is no obligation on the part of these new complimentary members to continue their membership at the end of this special membership incentive. Our Board of Trustees approved this very unusual offer because we hope to attract young individuals and families who might be more willing to take that first step towards joining a Synagogue because they find this offer just too good to pass up.”

“Our goal, of course,” says Susan Cort, Chair of the BSKI Membership Committee, “is to provide such a welcoming and warm experience, and meet people’s spiritual needs in such a way, that they naturally will want to extend their membership in the years to come.”

Rabbi Mordecai Miller notes that, “BSKI is small enough to offer a comfortable religious and social community for its members, yet is large enough to be socially conscious and actively engaged in helping our region, our people and the world. BSKI works to make a positive difference in the lives of our members and the community at large.”

“The concept of ‘religion'” explains, Rabbi Miller, “is the response on the part of humanity to the questions: Why was I put into this world? What am I here to accomplish? A synagogue’s role is to help individuals find answers to these important queries.”

Brith Sholom Kneseth Israel offers many religious benefits to its members including: Shabbat services, led by Rabbi Miller; daily morning and evening Minyan services; monthly Friday night Kabbalat Shabbat-Light services with Shabbat dinner; and special services and observances during all Jewish holidays throughout the year, including the High Holidays, in the Fall. In addition, BSKI offers Family Services for families with children in pre-school through fifth grade. Also, for families with school age children, BSKI offers youth programs including: the Shaare-Shalom Religious School; the United Synagogue Youth (USY); and Kadima youth groups. Families, individuals, and interfaith couples and their families find BSKI to be a friendly and inclusive congregation

In addition to these activities and programs, there are a variety of other offerings for adult members. These include on-going Adult Education programs; Mitzvah Days; the annual Purim Carnival and Purim Ball; and a Social Action Committee, which is committed to helping both the Jewish and non-Jewish communities. BSKI also offers membership in its Sisterhood and its equally active Men’s Club.

BSKI is centrally located in Richmond Heights, with close access to Highway 40 (I-64), I-170 and the St. Louis suburbs of Clayton, University City, Olivette, Ladue, and Creve Coeur. For more information, contact Harvey Leader, Executive Director, at (314) 725-6230 or [email protected].