What Congregation Beth El does

Congregation Beth El is a nonprofit Jewish synagogue located at 1301 Oxford Street in Berkeley, California, serving individuals and families across the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. It delivers religious services (Shabbat, High Holy Days, lifecycle events), social action and Tikkun Olam programming, and a comprehensive educational ecosystem spanning early childhood (Katanchicks for ages 0-24 months, Beth El Nursery School for ages 2-5), K-12 youth and family education (YAFE, encompassing Kadima, MAKOM, and YALA), b'nei mitzvah preparation for children and adults, adult learning (Torah study, Talmud Daf Yomi, Hebrew), and Camp Kee Tov summer programming. The congregation is led by an Executive Director, Rabbi Ira Rosenberg (Director of Congregational Learning), and Cantor Elaya, supported by program directors and an Inclusion Specialist for accessibility.

Name

Congregation Beth El

Legal name

Congregation Beth El

Website

https://bethelberkeley.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Congregation Beth El is a nonprofit synagogue in Berkeley, California, serving East Bay Jewish individuals and families with Shabbat and holiday services, lifecycle events, and a cradle-to-adult educational ecosystem including nursery school, K-12 YAFE programs, adult learning, and Camp Kee Tov.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious services / Jewish synagogue

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Childcare Centers (EDACAAAN), Life Skills & SEL Camps (Confidence, Executive Function, Social Skills) (EDAMALAO), Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

Keywords

• Jewish religious services
• Synagogue community programs
• Jewish education programs
• Early childhood education
• Lifecycle event services

Headquarters

HQ city

Berkeley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues and Contributions: The congregation generates primary revenue through membership fees with various financial commitment levels to accommodate different means. Members pay annual dues to access religious services, educational programs, and community events.
2. Donations and Tzedakah: Voluntary donations through various designated funds including Annual Appeal, General Fund, Homeless Meal Fund, Cantor's Music Fund, Rabbis' Discretionary Fund, Social Action funds, and Legacy Circle planned giving.
3. Educational Program Tuition: Revenue from Beth El Nursery School (BENS) tuition for children ages 2-5, YAFE (Youth and Family Education) fees for K-12th grade programs, and Camp Kee Tov summer camp fees.
4. Gift Shop Sales: Sales from the on-site gift shop offering Jewish ritual items, books, and community merchandise.
5. Event Sponsorships and Oneg Sponsorship: Community members can sponsor Oneg Shabbat (light refreshments) and other community events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Congregation Beth El is a nonprofit Jewish synagogue that delivers weekly Shabbat and holiday prayer services, full lifecycle event officiation (b'nei mitzvah, weddings, funerals), and a continuous Jewish education track from infancy through adulthood — including Beth El Nursery School (BENS), Katanchicks baby group, YAFE K-12 programs (Kadima, Makom, YALA), B'nei Mitzvah preparation, Adult Learning, and Camp Kee Tov summer camp. Membership, religious services, and tuition-based educational programs are the core deliverables, supported by donations, gift shop sales, and event sponsorships.

Product overview

Congregation Beth El offers a comprehensive suite of Jewish educational and community programs built on the ShulCloud platform. The portfolio includes Early Childhood Education programs (Katanchicks for ages 0-24 months and Beth El Nursery School for ages 2-5), Youth and Family Education spanning K-12 through YAFE programs (Kadima, Makom, and YALA), lifecycle education including B'nei Mitzvah preparation for children and adults, Adult Learning opportunities, and Camp Kee Tov summer programming. The ShulCloud platform powers member management, event calendars, donations, and virtual service access via Zoom integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Beth El Nursery School (BENS): Early childhood education program serving children ages 2-5 years old
• Katanchicks
• Camp Kee Tov
• YAFE
• Kadima
• MAKOM
• YALA

Products and services

• Beth El Nursery School (BENS) Nursery school for children ages 2-5, integrating Jewish values, culture, and Hebrew language into an emergent, hands-on curriculum. Sold as an annual tuition-based program for families in the East Bay.
• Katanchicks Baby group program for children 0-24 months and their grown-ups, featuring Friday drop-in play groups and a monthly Saturday Shabbat Circle. Positioned as the entry point for the youngest families into the congregation.
• YAFE (Youth and Family Education) Comprehensive K-12 Jewish education umbrella sold to member families, covering Kadima (K-5), Makom (6-8), and YALA (9-12). Includes Hebrew, text study, identity exploration, peer community, and preparation toward b'nei mitzvah.
• B'nei Mitzvah Program Lifecycle education program preparing children (typically age 13+) to become b'nei mitzvah through Torah reading, prayer leadership, and teaching on the assigned Torah portion, working with the Cantor and Rabbis. Delivered as a multi-year preparation track culminating in a synagogue service.
• Adult B'nei Mitzvah Three-year-cycle adult b'nei mitzvah program for adults who did not have the opportunity at age 13. No prior Hebrew knowledge is required; program covers Hebrew reading, Torah study, and prayer leadership leading to an adult b'nei mitzvah service.
• Adult Learning Lifelong Jewish learning for adults, including recurring Torah Study, Talmud Daf Yomi, Hebrew, and other educational classes. Open to members and often delivered in hybrid in-person/Zoom formats.
• Camp Kee Tov Jewish summer camp operated by the congregation for children, offering day and overnight experiences grounded in Jewish values, community, and seasonal programming. Sold on a per-summer fee basis.
• Shabbat Services Weekly Shabbat prayer services held Friday evenings and Saturday mornings, offered in-person at the Berkeley campus (sanctuary and Beit Midrash) and via Zoom remote participation. Core recurring religious service included with membership.
• High Holy Days Services Annual Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services delivered each Jewish New Year season, with dedicated ticketing access for members and the broader community.
• Lifecycle Event Officiation Rabbinic and cantorial officiation for weddings, b'nei mitzvah, funerals, and other lifecycle ceremonies, available to members of the congregation.
• Congregation Membership Annual synagogue membership granting access to religious services, lifecycle officiation, educational programs, and community events. Priced on a variable, means-tested commitment scale billed annually.
• CBE Gift Shop On-site gift shop offering Jewish ritual items, books, and community-branded merchandise, sold directly to members and visitors.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ShulCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationShulCloud provides the proprietary content management system powering Congregation Beth El's website, member services, event calendar, donation processing, and online member accounts. The platform is specifically designed for synagogues.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• JCC East Bay: Jewish Community Center in Berkeley providing comparable early childhood education, youth programming, summer camps, and adult learning to overlapping Jewish families — competes directly for programming dollars and member engagement in the same East Bay catchment area.
• Congregation Emanu-El: Large historic Reform Jewish synagogue in San Francisco offering an equivalent suite of religious services, K-12 education, early childhood, adult learning, and lifecycle programming; comparable in mission and operational scale, though drawing primarily from SF rather than East Bay.
• Stephen S. Wise Temple: Large Reform Jewish congregation in Los Angeles operating an integrated educational ecosystem (early childhood, K-12 day school, summer camps, adult learning) similar to Beth El's YAFE/BENS/Camp Kee Tov model — comparable as a programming-rich congregation with diversified revenue streams.
• Temple Sinai Oakland: Reform Jewish congregation in Oakland serving the same East Bay Jewish community with comparable religious school, early childhood programs, lifecycle events, and adult education — competes head-to-head for member families across the Berkeley/Oakland corridor.
• URJ Camp Newman: Reform Jewish summer camp in Santa Rosa, CA that competes with Beth El's Camp Kee Tov for Northern California Jewish families seeking overnight and day camp experiences with Jewish programming.
• Temple Beth Abraham: Reform Jewish congregation in the East Bay (Fremont area) offering religious services, religious school, and lifecycle events to a similar Jewish family demographic in the broader East Bay/South Bay region.
• Congregation Netivot Shalom: Reform Jewish congregation also located in Berkeley, offering similar Shabbat services, religious school (K-12), and adult learning programming to the same East Bay Jewish demographic — directly competes for member families within a 2-mile radius of Beth El.

Others

• Jewish Community Federation & Endowment Fund: Regional Jewish communal infrastructure organization that provides financial support to Beth El and coordinates grantmaking across Bay Area Jewish institutions — an ecosystem partner rather than a direct competitor, but materially shapes Beth El's funding environment.
• ShulCloud: Proprietary synagogue-focused CMS powering Beth El's website, member accounts, donations, and event calendar — a technology vendor whose product roadmap and pricing directly affect Beth El's digital operations and member experience.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/congregation-beth-el

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Congregation Beth El