A Spiritual Home
At CBB, people come to pray, in many different ways. Here you can find an all-Hebrew minyan, or inspirational worship in the Reform tradition, or a high-spirited singing service led by a rock band. An early morning meditation service. Or a simple gathering for readings and reflection. All are rooted in Jewish tradition, and all are commited to nourishing the human soul.
A Center of Learning
At CBB, every individual is challenged to engage with the sacred texts of our people, with the great Jewish minds of the past and also with the most powerful thinkers of the contemporary Jewish world. We prefer a good question to a good answer, and a lively and heated discussion to a roomful of agreement.
A Moral Center
At CBB, we take seriously the ancient Jewish mission to be a “light unto the nations.” We take pride in our history of compassion for the poor, welcome for the stranger, and justice for the oppressed. And we live by the prophetic message that religion is empty unless it motivates us to work for a better and more just society.
A Cultural Home
At CBB we are carrying on a four-thousand year old celebration of life through music, ritual, food, art, dance and literature. We seek out and enjoy the treasures of the past and we are creating the Jewish culture of the future…including film, interactive computer applications, new rituals, drama, humor and more!
A Compassionate Community
At CBB, we care for each other. In our lives we all go through times of grief and times of joy. We believe that being surrounded by community makes grief more bearable and joy sweeter.
A Place for Families
At CBB, families are made stronger within the context of community. Couples can get training in communication skills and counseling in times of crisis. With the help of our preschool (Beit HaYeladim) and our religious school, parents can raise their children with a strong Jewish identity and a solid ethical foundation.
A Place for Friendship
At CBB, a newcomer to Santa Barbara can meet the person who suddenly makes this place feel like home. Others come to Temple to see the people they knew as children. You can let your hair down here, and know you are among friends.
A Place to Grow
At CBB, we believe that every person has to keep growing, throughout their life, in order to stay fully alive. Growing emotionally, intellectually, and spiritually. CBB is a place where each member, whether they are five years old, or ninety-five, knows that each time they come, they will be invited and encouraged to grow into a more complete human being and a more complete Jew.
This is a vision statement that I offered as part of my installation weekend. This has not been formally adopted as the Temple's official vision statement.