Beth Jacob Congregation (Mendota Heights, Minnesota)

Beth Jacob Congregation is a Conservative Jewish synagogue located in Mendota Heights, Minnesota. It was founded in 1985 and has a membership of 400 families. Beth Jacob is a community of Jews who come together to nurture relationships with God and each other. It is a Conservative synagogue that values Torah (study), Avodah (reverential service) and Gemilut Hasadim (acts of loving kindness). Men, women and children have equal opportunity to be part of the community. Its present Rabbi is Rabbi Morris Allen.
==Activities==
Regular services take place on weekday mornings, on the Shabbat, including dedicated children's services, and on the Jewish holidays.
The community has received nine national programming awards from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism for its social activities (Chesed, acts of thoughtfulness). It was one of only four synagogues selected to participate in a nationwide study of the Conservative movement in the United States. It was selected to participate because of its sustained growth, creative programming, and cohesive community. The results of this research were published in the book "Jews in the Center: Conservative Synagogues and their Members".
The innovative certification process Hechsher Tzedek ("Justice Certification") was pioneered by Rabbi Allen in response to a scandal involving kosher meat producer Agriprocessors in 2006.
==See also==
*List of Minnesota Synagogues
*Conservative Judaism
*Hechsher Tzedek
==References==
==External links==
* Official website
* Beth Jacob USY chapter
* Rabbi Allen's Blog on Hechsher Tzedek
* Jewish Daily Forward 50 Most Significant Jewish Leaders 2008
* America’s 25 Most Vibrant Congregations 2009
* Jews in the Center book
Category:Synagogues in Minnesota
Category:Conservative synagogues in the United States