Our leadership

From the President, Janet Kelley

Welcome to Congregation Beth Yam's home on the Internet. Please take the time to read more about who we are.

Our Congregation, founded in 1981, is a Reform Jewish congregation and a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. Today, our membership has grown to about 248 families consisting of both full-time and part-time residents, from all over the United States. We are the only full service synagogue in southern Beaufort County; our membership is comprised of families from many different backgrounds. We are a congregation where diversity is embraced and made a part of our everyday life.

Congregational life at Beth Yam is a tapestry of spiritual, educational, cultural and social activities. In addition to Shabbat and Holiday services, we provide a wide spectrum of adult education programs, an adult choir, a religious school program and a broad range of social activities.

About Rabbi Bloom 

Rabbi Brad Bloom and his wife Linda have been an integral part of Congregation Beth Yam and of the local Jewish Community since  becoming our full-time spiritual leader on July 1, 2009.

Rabbi Bloom was ordained by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Cincinnati in 1984, where he earned a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters. He did his undergraduate work at the University of Wisconsin where he received a Bachelor of Arts in History in 1977. In 1979, he was awarded a Masters of Social Work from the University of Maryland. Rabbi Bloom  also holds a  Doctorate  from the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Rabbi Bloom has over 41 years of rabbinic experience having served in synagogues across the country--from Florida to California to the Midwest and Deep South, and now here in Hilton Head. Prior to his appointment at Congregation Beth Yam, he was the Senior Rabbi at Temple Shalom in Naples, Florida for 2 years. From 1995 to 2006, he was the Senior Rabbi at Congregation B'nai Israel, Sacramento, California. Since 1984, Rabbi Bloom has served as Rabbinic Adviser/Faculty Educator at various Jewish Summer Camps -- Camp Swig, Ca.; Camp Newman, Ca; Olin Sang Ruby Union Institute, Wisconsin; and Camp Coleman, Georgia.

In the words of Rabbi Bloom; “ I have been blessed with a successful and meaningful calling to the Rabbinate. I am proud of my accomplishments. Starting my seventeenth year at Congregation Beth Yam, I look forward to continued growth for the congregation and for me spiritually.

An integral part of my role as rabbi is providing pastoral care and conducting meaningful services. As counselor and community leader, I derive much satisfaction that I am making a difference in the low country by being the Jewish voice in our region. Being the only full-service congregation in the low country, my philosophy is about creating a big tent that is inclusive of many outlooks about life, diverse religious backgrounds, and varied Jewish affiliations from our membership. I look forward to leading the congregation into greater understanding about how all of us must learn to treat each other with respect and to accept differences of opinion when it comes to politics and any matter relating to Jewish life.

At the heart of what I do, the role of Rabbi as teacher, whether it is with children, teens, or young and older adults, gives me the  ultimate joy of being a rabbi. I hope that the rest of my life I will always have the chance to teach Torah, Jewish history and mysticism. To teach Torah in all its many genres and forms opens my eyes and those of my congregants to the beauty of Judaism. My hope is to increase the amount of adult learning of Judaism and Hebrew in the future. We are all in this journey together. Kadima! We move forward to our destiny.”

Rabbi Bloom enjoys writing poetry and has a passion for playing the flute, often at services. In addition, he bike rides, plays a mean game of tennis, and loves to attend movies and concerts with Linda

We consider ourselves a family reaching out with love to all who want to join us. When you are in town, please join us for services and experience the warmth that personifies Congregation Beth Yam. Please stay for our Oneg immediately following Shabbat services and meet Rabbi Bloom and the members of our congregation. We, of course, welcome all visitors to our holiday programs. Please check our calendar on this website for the specific times of all of our services throughout the year.

We welcome you to any of our services.

To contact Rabbi Bloom, send an e-mail to rabbi@bethyam.org or call the office at 843-689-2178.

Board of Directors