Our Community
The Brattleboro Area Jewish Community is also known as Congregation Shir Heharim. In Hebrew, “Shir Heharim” means Song of the Mountains. This name was chosen to reflect our commitment to practice and celebrate Judaism with creativity. While BAJC is affiliated with the Reform Movement, we do not limit ourselves to any one way of living a meaningful Jewish life. We often explore new liturgy, music, poetry writing, and other forms of expression as we build upon the traditions of our rich Jewish history.
Who are we? We are newly-weds and empty-nesters, toddlers and elders, doubters and the devout. We are teachers and students. We are the non-Jewish partners and the newcomers to Judaism; we’re those revisiting the comfort of our childhood rituals and those searching for something that might have been missing since then.
We welcome guests and celebrate our simchas, we visit our sick and we mourn with our bereaved, we stand with the State of Israel and we care for our planet. We are more than a synagogue, we’re a community.
Brattleboro Area Jewish Community… Welcome home.
Our History
More than 50 years ago, a group of women in the Brattleboro area began to meet for Jewish Study. They organized holiday celebrations and social gatherings for the few Jewish families in the area. The Jewish presence grew and formalized.
In 2001 BAJC found the perfect property for the home we needed for religious observance, education, social & cultural events – a place for all generations, now and in the future.
In 2007 we renovated the farmhouse on the property to use as a synagogue and school. It is wonderful to have an active tangible focus for being Jewish here in the “rural Diaspora” of southern Vermont. Our space both indoors and out continues to grow and thrive more each year. Be a part of our history…come grow with us.
Our Mission Statement
Our mission is to provide a context and structure for people to be Jewish together in a rural environment. This community fosters Jewish pride and identity by participating together in religious, spiritual, educational, social and cultural experiences. We welcome anyone interested in participating and learning.
Membership
BAJC is a place for us all to call home and to celebrate the joys of Jewish life together with our families and friends. At BAJC, everyone contributes to the synagogue’s vitality. We ask members to contribute what they can, no questions asked! To find out more about how you can become a part of our community, please contact us at 802-257-1959, email info@bajcvermont.org, or click on our Membership Information Page.