Celebrate our community — our past, our present, and our bright, exciting future.

Join the Beth Am community for joyous experience, as we kick off our 70th anniversary celebration.

In 1955, a small group of forward-thinking Jewish families formed a new congregation and named it Beth Am, the House of People. Little could they imagine that seven decades later, Beth Am would sit on nine beautiful acres, with facilities to serve over 1,200 households. Ideally located between San Francisco and San Jose, Congregation Beth Am is the largest congregation in the area. More importantly, located in Silicon Valley, the spirit of entrepreneurship, innovation, and excellence have become the hallmarks of our community.

Now, 70 years later, we are poised to begin a new chapter in our history as Rabbi Heath Watenmaker prepares to become the congregation’s sixth permanent senior rabbi beginning in July 2026.

We will kick off our 70th anniversary celebration with a special Shabbat service. Using music and prayers from the past seven decades, we will take a spiritual journey exploring how Beth Am has prayed throughout its history. Rabbi  Arthur Nemitoff will offer a brief tribute to the congregation, highlighting a few of the most significant events that have been a part of Beth Am over the years. Rabbi Heath Watenmaker will share a few thoughts on the future of Beth Am and our ongoing journey, including his partnership as well as that of other members of our clergy, the staff, and you!

Three special aspects of this service:

• We will offer a blessing for the founders and children of founders of the congregation. We are indebted to them for Beth Am's very existence. We will celebrate their courage and conviction in starting a new congregation in 1955.
• What would Beth Am be without its leadership? We are honored to have a near score of past presidents still with us. During our evening of celebration and remembrance, we will call out and bless those who blessed us in leading this congregation over the past seven decades.
• We will offer another blessing for the B’nei Mitzvah and Confirmands of Beth Am over the last 70 years. As they took their places within our community, they became the foundation of Beth Am, a foundation that has stood firm even as times and circumstances have changed around us.

Following our Erev Shabbat service, gather for a festive oneg Shabbat in honor of our congregation. In addition to delicious desserts, we plan to have various items relating to our history on display as a visual reminder of where we have been and what we have accomplished. And, of course, what would an anniversary celebration be without a cake? Join us in blowing out 70 candles!

If you attend virtually, please join the livestream starting at 6:15 PM. You may follow along in our texts for the Erev (evening) Shabbat service using the digital version (available for purchase) of the Mishkan T'filah: A Reform Siddur.

To enhance your enjoyment of Shabbat, please visit betham.org/shabbatcorner (including "Social Stories" in the Resource Box to prepare children ahead of time for what to expect during the Shabbat service.)

*These services will be live video streamed. By entering the Sanctuary you give Beth Am permission to record you.