Established in 1977, Congregation B'nai Shalom is a Reform Jewish synagogue with nearly 500 households from diverse backgrounds and from over 30 surrounding towns. We join together in worship, education, and celebration to create a vibrant community.
Participation and involvement are the hallmarks of our worship experience. We celebrate all Jewish holidays and festivals, including Shabbat worship every Friday evening and Saturday morning. Our service schedule includes monthly family services, Tot Shabbat, and many opportunities to deepen our connections to God and community.
Lifelong Jewish education is our goal. We offer a comprehensive education program that includes early childhood classes, a full religious school program (K-12) with Bar and Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, and adult education classes. Bar and Bat Mitzvah students are prepared for living a full adult Jewish life, as well as leading a service and chanting Torah in the congregation. Confirmation takes place at the end of 10th grade. Family education is integrated throughout our religious school program. Our adult education program offers classes, discussion groups, Shabbat morning Torah study, and special programs throughout the year.
It is our goal to work together to make a better world through social action projects. We are a caring community that reaches out to members in times of joy and grief. We build community through our Youth Groups, Sisterhood and Brotherhood, and social events. We provide pastoral counseling and representation in civic and interfaith affairs. We identify with Jews in Israel and around the world.
Rabbi Laurence Elis Milder was born in St. Louis, but has had ties to
New England for the past 30 years. He attended Brandeis University for
both his undergraduate degree and his Ph.D. in Judaic Studies. Between
those degrees, he attended Hebrew Union College in New York for his
rabbinic degree. He was ordained in 1983.
After his ordination, Rabbi Milder served as the Director for Social Action for the Northeast Region of the UAHC. He then served as Associate Rabbi for Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation for 4 years. For the next 10 years, he served as the rabbi and Religious School Principal for Congregation Beth El in Bangor, Maine.
Rabbi Milder is best known to our youth for his music. An accomplished folksinger and song writer, his song Wherever You Go, There's Always Someone Jewish has been taught in the third grade of our Religious School for many years. He has also been active in the Jewish Camp movement for many years. He is a favorite at Camp Eisner and NFTY-Northeast Regional events such as the Winter Leadership Institute.
Rabbi Milder, his wife Janet and their three children, Miriam, Avi, and Alex live in Westborough.
Director of Education Rabbi Joe Eiduson will begin his tenure on Monday, July 2, 2007.
Rabbi Eiduson was previously the Head of the Rashi School in Newton. A native of Tonawanda,
New York, Rabbi Eiduson is a graduate of Kenmore West High School, The University of Michigan
(Residential College), holds a Master of Hebrew Letters and Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union
College and a Masters in Educational Administration from Xavier University. An alumnus of the URJ
Joseph Eisner and Goldman Union Camps, Rabbi Eiduson attributes much of his Jewish identity and
rabbinic calling to his summers spent at Reform Jewish summer camps. Rabbi Eiduson was a Day School
Leadership Training Institute Fellow and has served as adjunct faculty at Hebrew Union College
working with rabbinical students in the study of Education. Rabbi Eiduson has also served as President
of the Cincinnati and Buffalo Educator's councils and served as a board member, chair of a national
conference and regional representative for the National Association of Temple Educators. Rabbi Eiduson
has served on the boards of PARDES, The Jewish Community Day School Network, Planned Parenthood, Big
Brothers, and has taught numerous workshops in the field of Jewish education. Rabbi Eiduson is married
to Rabbi Lisa Eiduson, and finds his greatest joy in being the father of Rose Ilana and Carly
Megan.
Cantorial Soloist Sharon Brown Goldstein is a cantorial soloist, teacher and tutor. Sharon will co-officiate at most Shabbat morning services and some Tot Shabbat services. She also will teach trope classes in religious school, help manage the Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation program, and tutor some of our Bar/Bat Mitzvah students. Sharon lives in Hopkinton with her husband, Steven, and children, Evan and Kaila; they are members of B’nai Shalom.
Cantorial Soloist Lisa Marcus Jones will co-officiate at our High Holy Day services, festival services and two Friday night Shabbat services each month. She also will serve as musical director of the Purim spiel and assistant director of our adult choir. Lisa lives in Acton with her husband, Stuart, and daughter, Melissa.