All are welcome here.
At Beth Israel, belonging goes beyond being welcomed—it means being embraced. We come together in worship, in study, and in celebration, supporting one another as we live out Jewish tradition in today’s world. Wherever you are on your journey, you’ll find a place here.
Where tradition meets community.
Come join us at Beth Israel as we celebrate Judaism and its traditions. We are an inclusive synagogue that welcomes all who come through our doors. BIC has existed here in Jackson, Mississippi, for over 150 years, and we continue onward with a commitment to Tikkun Olam and Torah.
Weekly Drash
In the Beginning…Again
This week, we begin again. The scroll rolls back toבְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹהִים (b’reishit bara Elohim — When God began to create). And with those words, everything starts anew.
There’s something quietly miraculous about that. No matter what has happened — the chaos, the noise, the exhaustion of the year just past — we return to the beginning. And the Torah greets us not with “the first day,” but with a day.
That tiny difference matters. It’s as if the universe itself refuses to close the circle. Creation isn’t locked in history. It’s not finished. By saying a day — not the first — Torah leaves the door open for us to step inside the story, to take part in the making of the world.
Every sunrise becomes “a day.” Every choice, every kindness, every act of imagination can be the beginning of something new.
As we enter this Shabbat, and the days that follow, may we treat them not as a continuation of what’s already been, but as a beginning all over again — a chance to create light from darkness, order from confusion, hope from the raw material of our days.
Here’s to new beginnings, to unfinished worlds, and to the sacred work of beginning again.
שבת שלום,
Ben
Life at Beth Israel
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Reflect
Our congregation has been part of Jackson’s story for more than 150 years. Explore the history that grounds us and guides our future.
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Worship
Join us for Shabbat, holidays, and Torah Study—meaningful moments that anchor Jewish life here at Beth Israel.
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Learn
Through hands-on learning and community connection, our youth programs help shape the next generation of Jewish life.