Welcome to
Congregation Beth Israel
Corpus Christi
Congregation Beth Israel is a A Union of Temple Beth El & B'nai Israel Synagogue. We are a Reform and Conservative Synagogue located in Corpus Christi, Texas.
Shabbat Service Schedule
Fridays: 6:30 pm
Saturdays: 9:00 am
Visitor Policy for Congregation Beth Israel
Visitors are always welcome at our services. To help us serve you better, we hope you will let us know in advance of your arrival and provide some basic information.
With today’s growing security concerns, we want both our congregants and guests to gather for prayer and celebration with peace of mind. By completing our Visitor Information Card online before your visit, you will also save time at the door by not having to fill out a card upon arrival.
Please CLICK HERE to share your information, or call our temple office Monday through Thursday, 9:00 am-4:00 pm and on Friday 9:00 am-3:00 pm.
Office Hours
Monday-Thursday: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Friday: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday: Closed
Past, Present, and Future - South Texas has committed itself to continuing a strong sense of Jewish pride and a dedication to upholding the Jewish faith and cultural traditions. We offer a variety of enrichment classes, social outreach programs and mitzvah opportunities. Generations of families and friends have helped make the Jewish community in Corpus Christi and its surrounding areas the stronghold it is today. Today's families enthusiastically welcome tomorrow's new members.
Rabbi Gabrielle Cohn
As we move through the months of April and May, our Jewish calendar invites us into a season of profound memory and meaning. We gather around our Passover tables to retell the story of liberation, and only weeks later, we stand again at Sinai on Shavuot, recalling the moment we received Torah and entered into sacred covenant. These are not only ancient stories; they are living frameworks that help us navigate the present.
This year, many in our community and in the broader Jewish world are carrying a heightened sense of vulnerability. The rise in antisemitism has not only appeared in headlines around the world; it has been felt in quieter, more personal ways: in conversations, in concerns about safety, in questions about belonging. Even when unspoken, that fear can weigh heavily.
Our tradition does not ignore fear. In fact, it names it directly. As the Israelites stand at the edge of the Sea of Reeds in the Passover story, with the unknown ahead and danger behind, they cry out. And in response, Moses says: “אַל־תִּירָאוּ, Al-tira’u. Do not be afraid. Stand firm, and witness…” (Exodus 14:13). This is not a dismissal of fear, but a reframing of it. Fear may be present, but it does not get the final word.
There is a powerful teaching in the Talmud: “Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh”—all of Israel is responsible for one another (Shevuot 39a). In moments like these, this teaching becomes more than an idea; it becomes a call to action. We check in on one another. We show up. We create spaces where people feel seen, safe, and supported. Community itself becomes a form of spiritual resistance.
Passover reminds us that oppression is not the end of the story. Shavuot reminds us that our response to liberation is not isolation, but covenant, standing together, committing ourselves to a shared set of values rooted in justice, dignity, and sacred responsibility.
We are not the first generation to live through moments of uncertainty, nor the first to wrestle with what it means to be visibly and proudly Jewish in the world. And yet, we are also heirs to a tradition of resilience, wisdom, and deep connection.
In the weeks ahead, may we draw strength from one another and from the rituals that ground us. May our seders be filled not only with remembrance, but with renewed courage. And when we arrive at Sinai once more, may we hear the call of Torah as an invitation to stand together with clarity, with compassion, and with hope.
If you are feeling unsettled or alone in this moment, please know that you are not alone. Our community is here for conversation, for support, and for connection. If you wish to meet with me around this or anything else, please do not hesitate to reach out by calling the office or emailing me.
Wishing you a meaningful Passover, a joyful journey toward Shavuot, and days ahead filled with strength and peace,
L’shalom,
Rabbi Cohn
rabbigabriellecohn@bethisraelcc.com
Sue Williams, Congregation Beth Israel President
I was looking at my calendar the other day and realized that June and July seem to have disappeared somewhere! They say time flies when you're having fun. I suspect it also flies when you're attending meetings, writing grants, balancing budgets, and trying to keep up with everything happening at CBI!
Despite the summer heat, we've accomplished a great deal. We welcomed Joseph Pendelton, Carol Kins, Belinda Ladabaum, and Hana Bartlett to the Board of Trustees; completed the first year of our new Religious School curriculum thanks to the outstanding leadership of Rabbi Gabi Cohn, Diane Prewitt, and our wonderful team of teachers; continued making security improvements through our FEMA grant while refining plans for our next grant application; and kept working to strengthen CBI's financial future. None of these accomplishments would have been possible without the incredible volunteers who generously give their time, talents, and hearts to our congregation.
Sadly, we also said goodbye to four longtime members of our CBI family: Leigh Sheinberg z"l, L.A. Train z"l, Richard Schaffer z"l, and Eva Brown z"l. May their memories continue to be a blessing to all who knew them.
Now our attention turns to what promises to be a remarkably busy fall. Religious School will soon be back in session; committees are gearing up for another productive year; and before we know it the High Holy Days will be upon us. We are grateful to Rabbi Cohn and Cantor Monica O'Desky, who are already hard at work preparing meaningful services as we welcome the New Year together. If you are interested in purchasing your own copy of the new Mishkan HaNefesh mahzorim, be sure to look for the flyer included with this bulletin.
Our Rabbi Search Committee, chaired by David Krams, has embarked on its important work, and I am grateful to the many members who have stepped forward to help prepare CBI for the future. We have a great deal of work ahead, but I have every confidence that, working together, we will meet the challenge.
On a personal note, I am excited to be attending a retreat for presidents of small congregations sponsored by the Jewish Community Legacy Project in Atlanta from August 16–18 (thanks to a grant, so it won't cost CBI a penny!). Afterward, I'll finally be taking a few days to play tourist in Washington, D.C., my first real vacation in more than twelve years! I'm looking forward to visiting the Holocaust Museum, the Military Women's Memorial, and perhaps even the new Spy Museum. After all, every president deserves a little R&R... although I suspect I'll still be checking my email!
Thank you for everything you do to make Congregation Beth Israel the warm, welcoming family that it is. I look forward to seeing you in services as we begin another exciting season together.
L'Shalom, Sue Williams, President
2025-2026
CBI Officers
and Trustees
OFFICERS
President
Sue Williams
1st Vice-President
David Prewitt
2nd Vice-President
Robert Schmitchel
Secretary
Leslie Levy
Treasurer
David Loeb
Past President
David Krams
Sisterhood Co-President
Fifi Kieschnick
TRUSTEES
Gary Blum
Carol Kins
Belinda Ladabaum
Joseph Pendleton
Venita Crow
Joe Gazin
Josh Mintz
Elizabeth Susser
Suzy Hilliard
Chris Adler
Phyllis Roseman
Hana Bartlett
Sisterhood Organization
Sisterhood offers an opportunity for women to find spiritual, educational and friendship bonds within the congregation. For Sisterhood membership form, click here.
A tradition for over 30 years, the Sisterhood Organization's Annual Fundraiser serves delicious meals of Jewish Delicacies plus a sweet shop. This event usually takes place second weekend of November. CLICK HERE for more information.