Dear CBI Community and friends of CBI,

Fall and Winter is the time for CBI’s Annual Appeal to the General Fund – informing you about our priorities and how you can support the synagogue in the coming year. Last year, your generosity allowed us to repair and restore our beautiful stained-glass windows in both the main and small sanctuaries.

This year, our kehillah (community) is blessed to celebrate a momentous occasion: the 20th anniversary of Rabbi Tom’s service as our spiritual leader and teacher. Rabbi Tom started at CBI as a Rabbi Educator and became Senior Rabbi in the summer of 2016.

For two decades, Rabbi Tom has guided us with wisdom, compassion, and unwavering commitment to Charlottesville’s Jewish community. Through educational support, life cycle moments, weekly teachings, and community milestones, our revered Rabbi has helped shape our synagogue into the vibrant and inclusive home it is today.

In celebration of this milestone, we invite you to honor Rabbi Tom with a gift that ensures the future of our shared home; a contribution toward the ongoing maintenance and preservation of our beloved historic building. We are also planning to celebrate Rabbi Tom’s 20 years with the entire community later this year.

Our synagogue is more than brick and mortar. It holds the memories of generations including weddings, b’nai mitzvah, Shabbat services, and so much more. But as the building ages, so do its needs. This year we are replacing the roof above O’Mansky Hall, repairing our basement classroom, and upgrading essential systems. Your generosity will help us care for this sacred space and all who find meaning within it.

We hope you will consider a donation in honor of Rabbi Tom’s 20 years of service — a gift that reflects the enduring impact of his leadership and our collective commitment to sustaining Jewish life for generations to come.

Click HERE to make a donation.

When making a donation, please include a note indicating your gift is in honor of the Rabbi’s anniversary and feel free to share some kind words for Rabbi Tom on our “Notes of Appreciation for 20 Years of Service” website (link below) or in the box in our lobby.