Temple Beth Shalom

TBS To Celebrate 100th Anniversary Of First Bat Mitzvah Ceremony

By Rabbi Carl Choper, Temple Beth Shalom

On March 18, 1922, the first Bat Mitzvah ceremony in history was commemorated in the Reconstructionist synagogue in New York City.  One hundred years later, on March 18, 2022, Temple Beth Shalom in Mechanicsburg will mark the centenary of that histo…

Temple Beth Shalom Takes a Step to Address the Climate Crisis

By Ira Beckerman

About two-thirds into the Shema, there is a portion from Deuteronomy where God promises the Jewish people rain on their land at the right times for their crops and trees, and grass on the fields for their animals.  God instructs us to eat and be content (which shows up lat…

Rosh Hashanah in Prison: TBS Helps Collect Jewish Books, Funds for Meals

By Mary Klaus

Temple Beth Shalom members are helping their rabbi brighten Rosh Hashanah for Jewish inmates at the State Correctional Institute in Camp Hill.

The congregation is assisting Rabbi Carl Choper by collecting Jewish books, as well as funds to mail the books and to pay for Rosh Ha…

Resources and Best Wishes For Passover from TBS

by Rabbi Carl Choper, Temple Beth Shalom

Passover begins the night of Wednesday April 8 and continues for the next 8 days until it is dark on Thursday April 16.  During those days we avoid eating khumetz (leavening - any forms of grain other than matzah, yeast,  and traditionally also…

Seder Behind Bars: Area Prisoners Celebrate Freedom Story of Passover

by Mary Klaus

Jewish prisoners especially appreciate the Passover story of Moses leading the slaves out of Egypt to freedom.

While most Harrisburg-area Jews will attend Seders in homes or synagogues next month, about 20 Jewish inmates at the State Correctional Institute in Camp Hill will a…