Community
Chai Society
Chai Society of Temple Beth David of the South Shore, formerly known as the Brotherhood and Sisterhood, is a diverse group of men and women consisting of members of the Temple and active members of the wider Jewish Community. Chai Society’s members have a common commitment to foster the highest ideals of Judaism as expressed through the synagogue; to promote closer fellowship amongst its members and in cooperation with the Temple, to be a mentor of religious, social and educational activities.
Regular programming includes: sponsoring Passover and Chanukah dinners, the Purim Carnival, end of school year family barbeque, and organizing the Onegs on Shabbat. Other activities include: the Sukkah raising, presenting gifts to the Bar/Bat Mitzvah students and Confirmands, and participation along with building and grounds in the maintenance and improvement of the facilities.
Chai Society of Temple Beth David endeavors to have something for everyone and encourages participation of all members of the Temple and local Jewish community.
The Young Adult Community (YAC)
The Young Adult Community (YAC) at TBD is a group of young adults ranging from recent high school grads through 30s. Their goal is to foster a sense of Jewish community by engaging our generations from the Jewish to the “Jew-ish”. We aspire to provide a space for young adults to explore our connection to Judaism during this ever-changing phase in our lives.
YAC programs include social gatherings, social action projects, networking and more.
Youth Group
Temple Beth David is proud to provide spiritual and social events and interactions for all our youth and younger children – to build community, meet other Jewish teens and to just have fun together. There is something for everyone!
Our high school students are members of SCRAFTY (Stoughton-Canton-Randolph Area Federation of Temple Youth) and have access to all the local and regional programming offered through NFTY Northeast (North American Federation of Temple Youth), part of the family of Union for Reform Judaism camps and youth programs. A number of regional events are held throughout the year, including three multi-day programs at Camps Eisner and Crane Lake in western Massachusetts, the Levi Leap Dance in the fall, Winter Wonderland ski weekend in January, and weekend conclavettes at various host temples. Our local events, which sometimes run in conjunction with other NFTY youth groups, include trips to sporting events or IMAX movies, shopping trips and beach parties. We also participate in various social action activities during the year.
Chesed
The mission of Chesed (kindness) is to ensure that no member of the Temple Beth David family is alone in a time of need.
We wish to acknowledge and engage our members at every stage of their lives and to offer compassion and acts of loving kindness to individuals and families during times of need. Compassion, tzedakah, and the ability to care for and love one another are important Jewish virtues. These compel us to direct our personal resources to support one another, thereby creating a caring, loving and holy community.
In this broken world, our aim is: to create restoration and enable people to acknowledge that we were never meant to live life alone; to understand that community is essential and that people need one another. Our goal is to provide hope and help for those who are in moments and places they feel stuck. They need to know that they are not alone and that help is available to them when they need it.
Trust that your best days are ahead; that better endings are possible; that caring for one another brings love and harmony, and that truly we were placed on this earth to support each other on the journey through life.
Caring is a community-wide effort. We actively seek interested congregants to join our efforts to help us reach our goal. We hope to offer opportunities for mitzvah within our community. Please sign up to help.
If you know someone who is in need of chesed, or if you could use the services of the Chesed Committee yourself, please contact the Rabbi at rabbi@templebethdavid.com or chesed@templebethdavid.com and someone will contact you directly as soon as possible.
Interfaith Families
Temple Beth David of the South Shore is a warm, friendly congregation, embracing people of varied ethnic origins, religious backgrounds and sexual orientations. Interfaith families are an integral part of this synagogue. Here we encourage everyone at each stage and age to learn about Judaism, with avid support for active participation of non-Jewish spouses, partners and parents in the life and activities of our lively faith community. This may include joining in worship services and festival celebrations, attending family or adult educational programs, engaging in social action and social justice pursuits or serving on a committee, to name a few. Non-Jewish parents and other relatives are also invited to participate in family Jewish lifecycle events, such as a child’s bar or bat mitzvah and a bris or naming ceremony. 
Some non-Jewish members are very active with their families at our synagogue while continuing to regularly practice their own religions. Others have decided over time to convert to Judaism. Still, others have no separate religious affiliation, nor do they wish to become Jewish, however, feel quite at home here. Whatever their faith path, each is accepted, respected and cared for at Temple Beth David.
For information on Interfaith topics or organizations that might be of interest, check out the topics and links below. Judaism is more than just a religion: it’s a culture, a language, a way of life. And, integrated fully into these Jewish traditions are unique words and sayings. Though words may have different roots or origins (Hebrew, Yiddish, German), their meanings are universal throughout the Jewish community. This glossary introduces some of the more common sayings appropriate for lifestyle and holiday events.
Dealing with interfaith issues can be difficult at times. And, finding relevant information and resources to help you through the matter can also be a challenge. The following is a list of resources that may help you to begin the journey for answers. https://www.reformjudaism.org
What’s Missing from Our Congregation?…You! What’s Missing is You.pdf
Interfaith Community (IFC) – Two religions, one family: a model for today’s Jewish/Christian families: Interfaith Community
IFC’s Boston Chapter Interfaith Community Boston
IFC’s Blog: Interfaith Blog
IFF’s Boston Chapter: Interfaith Family Greater Boston
IFF’s Jewish Language Cheat Sheet: Language Cheat Sheet
Kveller – A Jewish Twist on Parenting-Interfaith Page kvel-(Yiddish verb) To beam with pride and pleasure: Kveller
Judaism 101 – online encyclopedia of Judaism…a wide variety of basic, general information about Judaism, written from a traditional perspective in plain English: Jew FAQ
Article: “First Steps into Synagogue Life “: First Steps into Synagogue Life
Article: “Avoiding Conflict in an Interfaith Marriage – Ten tips to help navigate the tricky business of interfaith marriage”: Avoiding Conflict in Interfaith Marriage
Article: “10 Things to Know Before/During the Conversion Process”: 10 Things To Know Before Conversion
Social Action
Social Action at Temple Beth David of the South Shore: Tikun Olam
Ongoing Programs include:
Family Table – As part of
our commitment this year to Family Table (the metropolitan Boston Jewish food pantry), we have been requested to collect specific food items on a monthly basis for Annual High Holiday Food Drive We collect non-perishable food items for delivery for the local food pantries in Randolph, Stoughton, and Canton.
TBD Going Green – Our ongoing effort to lessen our carbon footprint
Some of our past programs include:
Adopt-A-Home Shower for Pine Street Inn
Pine Street Inn “Learn & Serve”
Nothing but Nets
Canton Shelter Box Day in conjunction with area
Super Storm Sandy disaster relief – Reaching out to Newtown, CT
“There’s No Place Like Home” Family Cocoa House – Interfaith benefit for Father Bill’s and Mainspring House shelters.
Supporting Tikun Olam in Israel
Connections Israel strengthens Jewish identity while unifying the Jewish People by providing educational hands-on projects to Jewish communities, schools, synagogues, and camps around the world and in Israel
Neve Shalom/Wahat al-Salam means “Oasis of Peace”: This is the only community in Israel where Jews and Palestinians choose to live, work and raise their children in equality and mutual respect. The village started with a handful of individuals in the 1970s and is now home to 60 families with more than 300 families on a waiting list, hoping to join the community in the near future.
Looking for a chance to do a mitzvah? Not sure which organizations to give tzedakah to? Click here for a list of recommended Jewish organizations and non-profits!