{{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Infobox religious building | building_name = Bet Shira Congregation | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | map_type = USA Miami | map_size = 250 | map_caption = Location within [[Miami]] | location = 7500 SW 120th Street, [[Miami, Florida|Miami]], [[Florida]] | country = United States | coordinates = {{coord|25|39|31|N|80|19|2|W|region:US-FL_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | religious_affiliation = [[Conservative Judaism]] | rite = | consecration_year = | status = [[Synagogue]] | functional_status = Active | heritage_designation = | leadership = Rabbi Jesse Charyn | website = {{URL|http://www.betshira.org/}} | architect = | architecture_type = Synagogue | architecture_style = | established = 1985 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | general_contractor = | groundbreaking = | year_completed = 1988 {{small|(in current location)}} | construction_cost = | specifications = no | capacity = | length = | width = | facade_direction = | height_max = | materials = }} '''Bet Shira Congregation''' is a [[Conservative Judaism|Conservative]] [[synagogue]] located at 7500 SW 120th Street in [[Miami, Florida]], in the United States.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tyEAAghgYacC&dq=%22Bet+Shira+Congregation%22&pg=PA108 |title=The Jewish travel guide |publisher=Hunter Publishing, Inc |year=2001 |author=Sheldon, Betsy |isbn=9781588431998 |access-date=June 22, 2011}}</ref>
==History== In February 1985, a nucleus of families left Congregation Beth David to form a new congregation, Bet Shira.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=weL9M46TcU8C&dq=bet+shira&pg=PA102 |title=The American Synagogue: a historical dictionary and sourcebook |page=102 |last=Olitzsky |first=Kerry M. |isbn=0-313-28856-9 |year=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Co.}}</ref><ref name="bet history"/> The membership grew to 300 families in the weeks that followed. The name "Bet Shira" (House of Song) was selected to reflect the upbeat and dynamic character of the founders.<ref name="bet history">{{cite web |url=http://www.betshira.org/about/history/ |title=Bet Shira Congregation » History |publisher=Betshira.org |date=May 5, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111001071817/http://www.betshira.org/about/history/ |archive-date=2011-10-01 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In May 1988, the Letty Roth Synagogue Complex was dedicated as was the Arin Stacey Applebaum Sanctuary.<ref name="newsbank1">{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10A8248A6D8D8C1A&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Song and Service |work=Miami Herald |date=May 28, 2005 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.betshira.org/ |title=At Bet Shira ... |publisher=betshira.org |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
In January 1990, Mark Kula, a graduate of the Cantor Institute of the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America|Jewish Theological Seminary]] in New York City, became Bet Shira's new cantor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB33F47479D75CD&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title= He's Following in his Father's Footsteps |work=Miami Herald |date=January 18, 1990 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> In August 1992, [[Hurricane Andrew]] badly damaged the synagogue.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/09/05/us/religion-notes.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=Religion Notes |work=The New York Times |date=September 5, 1992 |access-date=June 24, 2011 |first=Ari L. |last=Goldman}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=WJgsAAAAIBAJ&sjid=WfwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4097,6843471&dq=bet-shira-congregation&hl=en |title=Storm-Hit Churches, Synagogues, Help Each Other |work=Lakeland Ledger |date= November 29, 1992 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
In 2005, the synagogue was serving 500 families.<ref name="newsbank1"/> That year, Sam Rosen of Bet Shira Congregation was chosen as co-winner of the Jewish community's Teacher of the Year, Excellence in Teaching Award by the Center for the Advancement of Jewish Education.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=10C7AB5E89C071D8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title= Bet Breira Teacher Receives High Honor |work=Miami Herald |date= September 1, 2005|access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> In 2007, the synagogue acquired a Torah scroll that during World War II had been smuggled out of the Polish town of [[Tarnów]], when it was invaded by [[Nazi]]s and its Jewish population destroyed, and protected by monks in a monastery near [[Kiev]] until the Soviet Union collapsed.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=11C54F8A6984A1B0&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Event Touches on Sacred Scroll |work=Miami Herald |date=October 14, 2007 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
==Community programs== Bet Shira holds an annual "[[Mitzvah]] day" every year, where volunteers, and members engage in activities such as: Beautification of community sites, planting trees at homes of the disabled and elderly as part of a "Treemendous Miami" project; blood drives; and many clothing, food, toy and medical supply drives to benefit the Miami community.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/MH/lib00245,11778951DCD685C8.html |title=Call to service answered on Mitzvah Day |work=Miami Herald |date= February 15, 2007|access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/MH/lib00245,1176982233BDBA40.html |title=Good word for a good deed |work= Miami Herald|date=February 8, 2007 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/MH/lib00245,126B541974B6E750.html |title=Walking tour of Kampong garden offered |work=Miami Herald |date= February 15, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
The synagogue's Early Childhood Center was also a site of "Project Kavod", a three-year pilot program in improving the culture of employment in early childhood, by the [[Coalition for the Advancement of Jewish Education]], which was launched in 2004.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WUxlo0Q6qBUC&dq=bet+shira&pg=PA479 |title=What We Now Know About Jewish Education: Perspectives on research for practice |page=479 |last1=Goodman |first1=Roberta Louis |last2=Flexner |first2=Paul A. |last3=Dale Bloomberg |first3=Linda |publisher=Torah Aura Productions |year=2008 |isbn=978-1-934527-07-8}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.jecei.org/PDF/Bidol%20Padva%20Informed%20and%20Passionate%20Dialogue.pdf |title=Informed and Passionate Dialogue: Transformative Community Change Initiatives |publisher=Jewish Early Childhood Education Initiative |author=Patricia Bidol Padva|access-date=June 22, 2011}}</ref>
===Drive-through sukkah=== For the holiday of [[Sukkot]], Bet Shira erects what is believed to be the first and only drive-through [[Sukkah]],<ref name="miamiherald1">{{cite news |last=Hines |first=Bea |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/09/20/1834449/new-senior-pastor-finds-a-sweet.html |title=New senior pastor finds a Sweet Home |work=Miami Herald |date=September 20, 2010 |access-date=June 24, 2011 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> a tent in the parking lot of the synagogue that it calls the "McBet Shira Sukkah", allowing the community to participate in the celebration of the holiday from the convenience of their cars.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/10/05/Watercooler-Stories/UPI-57011254738600/ |title=Watercooler Stories |publisher=UPI |date=October 5, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12B1641F780EAD70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025155318/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=12B1641F780EAD70&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2012 |title=Judaism: Pinecrest temple has drive-through 'sukkah', Showing a modern twist on a Jewish holiday, one temple has erected a temporary drive-through spot for prayer and reflection |work=Miami Herald |date=October 2, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2011 }}</ref> Members of the public can drive into the sukkah, park, lower their car window, and say the blessings for the holiday, including shaking a [[lulav]] and an [[etrog]], as volunteers hand them snacks at the end of their visit.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> The idea, put into effect first in 2009, is credited to Cantor Mark Kula, who noted that cars are "integral" to people's lifestyles.<ref name="miamiherald1"/> He explained that “We sit as we drive; this way, we can sit in our cars in the Sukkah." He also commented that "Perhaps realizing the fragility of the Sukkah will encourage us to drive more carefully.”<ref>Robert Hamilton, [http://www.communitynewspapers.com/south-miami/bet-shira-congregation-again-to-offer-%E2%80%98drive-thru%E2%80%99-sukkah/ Bet Shira Congregation again to offer ‘drive-thru’ Sukkah], ''South Miami News'', retrieved June 23, 2011</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2009/10/04/Drive-through-sukkah-makes-prayer-easy/UPI-96651254699109/ |title=Drive-through sukkah makes prayer easy |publisher=UPI |date=October 4, 2009 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
==Clergy and staff== David H. Auerbach was the founding rabbi of the synagogue. He is from Montreal, Canada, and had served as rabbi of Ahavat Achim synagogue in Atlanta, Georgia, and then senior rabbi of Beth David Congregation in Miami prior to the founding of Bet Shira. Since his retirement in 2005, he served as the rabbi emeritus of the synagogue, until his passing in September 2016. In 2005, Rabbi Auerbach was followed as rabbi by Micah Caplan,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-ZDpqkfYHLcC&dq=%22Bet+Shira+Congregation%22&pg=PT5 |title=Golden Bracelets, Common Threads |author=Steven Vajda |year=2010 |isbn=9781439270158 |access-date=June 22, 2011}}</ref> until 2010. In July 2010, Brian Schuldenfrei assumed the post of senior rabbi. Schuldenfrei had been associate rabbi at [[Sinai Temple (Los Angeles, California)|Sinai Temple]] in Los Angeles, California.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-10-05/news/fl-jjdc-schuldenfrei-1006-20101005_1_synagogue-new-era-sinai-temple |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905130522/http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2010-10-05/news/fl-jjdc-schuldenfrei-1006-20101005_1_synagogue-new-era-sinai-temple |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |title=New era begins at Bet Shira Congregation |work=Sun Sentinel |date=July 12, 2002 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
Mark Kula, brother of Rabbi [[Irwin Kula]], assumed the post of [[hazzan|cantor]] in 1989. Mark and his father Morton Kula are the only father and son that have been ordained as cantors by the [[Jewish Theological Seminary of America]] in New York. Prior to coming to Miami, Mark was the assistant cantor of New York's [[Park Avenue Synagogue]]. In 2013 Mark was appointed the Rabbi of the congregation and served as Rabbi until 2018.
In 2008, the synagogue appointed Renée Rittner as its education director.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://docs.newsbank.com/g/GooglePM/MH/lib00245,1226811004AF0D08.html |title=Neighbors |work=Miami Herald |date=July 31, 2008 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
in 2019, Ben Herman was hired as Bet Shira's rabbi.
==Religious school== The synagogue has an active religious school that serves students from pre-school through the [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah]] training.
==Customs== The congregation is a conservative synagogue and is affiliated with the [[United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism]]. As implied by its name (House of Song), Bet Shira values music and its incorporation into daily and ritual life. Although regular services are held in traditional style, without musical instruments, it is a custom of the synagogue to conduct services throughout the year accompanied by musical instruments.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.betshira.org/worship/ |title=Worship |publisher=betshira.org |access-date=June 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926053719/http://www.betshira.org/worship/ |archive-date=2011-09-26 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==Anti-semitic attacks== In February 1988, an improperly drawn [[swastika]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB337133A11F0AB&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title= Window-Smashing Vandals Deface South Dade Synagogue |work=Miami Herald |date=February 29, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> and anti-Semitic slogans and "Jesus Lives; You Can't Kill Him" and "Accept Hitler, Respect Christ" were plastered across the synagogue, and 30 windows were smashed.<ref name="google2581">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=M39RAAAAIBAJ&sjid=2wYEAAAAIBAJ&pg=2581,5321574&dq=bet-shira+miami&hl=en |title=Year After Miami, Jews Remain Uneasy with Pope |work=Ocala Star-Banner |date=September 10, 1988 |author=Nancy McVicar and Heather Dewar |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=GAAmAAAAIBAJ&sjid=dPwFAAAAIBAJ&pg=2918,7833154&dq=bet-shira+miami&hl=en |title=Vandals Damage Miami Synagogue |work=The Telegraph |date=February 29, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> In response, a neighboring church put a [[Star of David]] on its lawn, and its parish donated $1,000 towards repairing the windows.<ref name="google2581"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=wQFgAAAAIBAJ&sjid=7SINAAAAIBAJ&pg=4696,1812937&dq=bet-shira+miami&hl=en |title=Kristallnacht Elicits Haunting Memories |work= The Press-Courier |date=November 10, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=CqgeAAAAIBAJ&sjid=V84EAAAAIBAJ&pg=3406,285557&dq=bet-shira+miami&hl=en |title=One Year Later, Jews Remain Uneasy with Pope |work=Herald-Journal |date= September 16, 1988|author= Nancy McVicar and Heather Dewar |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> [[Miami Sunset High School]] students painted over the anti-Semitic slurs spray-painted by the vandals.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3373CED277556&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Outraged Sunset Students Paint Over Ethnic Slurs |work= Miami Herald|date=March 4, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> Four teenagers, three of whom were football players at [[Miami Palmetto High School]], were sentenced for having vandalized the synagogue to 200 hours of [[community service]] and ordered to pay the $14,800 (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|14800|1988|r=-2}}}} today) in damages.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB337F959066F68&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title= Teens Ordered to Pay for Temple Desecration |work= Miami Herald|date=May 21, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB3373CEE6AE0DA&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title="Very Hard to Understand", Father of Arrested Boy Says |work=Miami Herald |date=March 4, 1988 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
Two years later, on five occasions in six weeks vandals shot at windows at the synagogue.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB33F7A264E18AC&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Vandals Strike Again at Temple |work=Miami Herald |date=January 6, 1990 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB33F8047545210&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Hate Crimes |work=Miami Herald |date= January 8, 1990|access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref> Three teenagers, two of them students at Palmetto High School, were arrested for shooting out the windows.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=MH&s_site=miami&p_multi=MH&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB340BD1DD6B11D&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM |title=Teens Arrested in Slingshot Raids on Synagogue|work=Miami Herald |date=June 2, 1990 |access-date=June 24, 2011}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Timeline of antisemitism in the 20th century]]
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== *{{official website|http://www.betshira.org}} *[http://www.facebook.com/pages/BET-Shira-Congregation/113951361968772 Facebook page]
{{Miami}} {{Synagogues in the United States}}
[[Category:20th-century attacks on Jewish institutions in the United States]] [[Category:Antisemitism in Florida]] [[Category:Buildings and structures in Miami]] [[Category:Conservative synagogues in Florida]] [[Category:1980s crimes in Florida]] [[Category:Jews and Judaism in Miami]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1985]] [[Category:1985 establishments in Florida]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1988]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Synagogues in Florida]]