This Website will help to acquaint you with the services and activities available to you as a member of the Temple. Please refer to this site often and feel free to consult with the Rabbi, the President, or the office staff for more detailed information on our various programs and activities. You can do so by calling the Temple office at 342-0350.

The following years saw change in the Temple organization. First, Mr. Saul Goldforb was Cantor, and in 1923, William S. Horn was named Cantor and teacher. Also, a new Rabbi, Max Arzt, was hired on January 15, 1924. With the growth of a larger membership, a new building became a necessity. Many fund-raising events were held in the community to offset the cost of both a new Temple edifice and a new Hebrew school, which already had four teachers, including Cantor Horn and Louis Wolf, a famous Jewish educator. The new building was to be built on the site of the older one. Albert Gottlieb and Louis Reisman, the latter a Scranton native, were hired as architects. The official "Laying of the Cornerstone" of the Temple took place on June 19, 1927.

The later years saw four other men hired as spiritual leaders in Temple Israel, Rabbi Arthur T. Buck in June 1939, Rabbi Emeritus Dr. Simon H. Shoop in December 1948, Rabbi Yaacov Rone in 1990, Rabbi David Geffen in 1993 and our present spiritual leader, Rabbi Joseph Mendelsohn in 2004.

Cantor William S. Horn retired in 1973. He was succeeded by several other Cantors until Cantor Marshall Wolkenstein was hired in 1988, and Cantor Vladimir Aronzon in 1998.

Temple Israel looks to its proud heritage of the past as a firm foundation to a strong future.

Our religious services are all inclusive, with daily services every morning and evening of the week. Our Shabbat, High Holy Days, and other Holiday services highlight the traditional Jewish practices while providing an opportunity for complete egalitarian participation.

Our Reba and Art Douglass Religious School offers a five-year program leading to Bar and Bat Mitzvah, and a creative high school program .

On a weekly basis. the Rabbi's class deals with such topics as Jewish concepts, Jerusalem in history, the five scrolls and their meaning. The M.L. Hodin Scholar-in-Residence program brings in to Temple Israel outstanding scholars for a 2-3 day program of lectures, study and discussion. The Rosenfeld-Shoop ecumenical lecture brings leading Christian and Jewish figures to the Temple for lectures in the field of Jewish-Christian relations.

The Temple Israel Sisterhood organizes social programs, lectures and discussions for the congregation. The Sisterhood also provides the Kiddush after every Shabbat morning service and they give treats to the children for the holidays and other special events.

I hope that you will stop by my office so I can meet you. It will be an opportunity for me to welcome you personally to Temple Israel and our community.

Rabbi Joseph Mendelsohn

The Tree of Life is the focal point of the Maiman-Rock Foyer. Located on either side of the foyer are sections of the Smulowitz, Krieger and Plottle Gift Shops. The foyer also contains the Shabbat elevette, allowing handicapped members access to the main sanctuary. Center doors on this level lead to Levy Hall, the kitchen and restrooms equipped for the handicapped. Adjoining the foyer is the M.L. & Sara Goodman Chapel and Justan Lounge, used for regular Shabbat services and daily morning and evening minyans. The upper portion of the Temple houses the Engel Family Sanctuary used for holidays and special services.

A new wing, the Gus & Lena Weinberger Memorial Building, was added in 1974, housing the M.L. & Sara Goodman Chapel, the Justan Lounge, Alperin Sukkah, Nathan Kiddush Room, as well as the expanded Levy social hall and Sisterhood kitchen.

On the second level, which is more accessible from the Gibson Street entrance, is the Harry & Helen Mack Educational Center built in 1950, which houses the Jacob & Rae Kramer Study (Rabbi's office), the Temple office, the Cantor's office, Koppelman Hall, the Robert Roth Kitchenette and the Louis Wolf Library.

The third floor houses the Reba and Art Douglass Religious School and offices.

The best way to find the answer is to read the Messenger, the Temple bulletin, which is published monthly and mailed to you, our membership. It details schedules of prayer services, notices of events and activities, U.S.Y. and Junior Congregation news, Sisterhood events, comments and quotes by the Rabbi and President of the Temple, some community notes and a complete listing of all donations made to the various funds.

In short, to be a well-informed Temple Israel member, read the Messenger. . . . . . . . . .

Sabbath School is held for the children every Sabbath during the school year. On special occasions, such as birthdays or holidays, the children join the adult congregation.

The Sisterhood is affiliated with the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, the parent body of the Sisterhoods of the Conservative Synagogues in the United States, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and women's groups in Israel. Temple Israel's Sisterhood is part of the Eastern Branch. There are three luncheon meetings a year, plus several outstanding programs sponsored by the Sisterhood.

All women members of the Temple are welcome to join the Sisterhood, an exciting, challenging organization!

The Reba and Art Douglass Religious School offers classes for children from kindergarten age and older. The Gan class (kindergarten and first grade) meets on Shabbat morning only. The Mechina class meets one weekday and Shabbat morning, and grades Alef through Heh classes (grades 3 through 7) meet two weekdays plus Shabbat morning.

Emphasis is placed on teaching Jewish family life and customs, as well as Hebrew reading. Junior Congregation, which is held on every Shabbat morning, teaches prayer skills to our youth. On special occasions, such as Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, the Junior Congregation participates in the adult service.

The conservative movement requires a minimum of six hours and fifteen minutes of education per week to fulfill the requirements for Bar and Bat Mitzvah. We accomplish this goal with weekday classes of two hours each and Shabbat morning classes and services lasting approximately two hours and fifteen minutes.

We hope that you will help your children fulfill the goals of Jewish education by actively encouraging them to attend the Religious School and joining them as active participants in Junior Congregation. The Rabbi, Education Director and all teachers encourage parental involvement. Please feel free to contact them.

The Cantor also teaches classes in how to read the prayer book and how to lead the prayer service. Please feel free to contact the Cantor for any of these services or choir information.