100 Years of Serving the New Hampshire Seacoast

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Top 10 Reasons to Be a Member of Temple Israel 

10. We are the only Conservative Congregation serving the Seacoast New Hampshire Area.

• To the North, 50 miles to Portland, ME; South, 46 miles to Peabody, MA
• To the West, 44 miles to Manchester; East 3,400 miles to Ireland.
• We are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.

9. We are located in an historic community and enjoy a long, proud history.

• In 1789, Abraham and Rachel Isaac became the first Jewish family to settle in Portsmouth, NH.
• Our congregation was organized in 1905; with relatives of some of the charter members present day congregants.
• Today, our membership is about 300 families and our religious school enjoys enrollment of about 100 students.

8. Our Temple is in a well cared for landmark building.

• Our sanctuary is housed in a building dating back to 1827 and was dedicated as the Temple of Israel in 1912.

7. Building upon our past, we are creating a comprehensive vision for our future.

• As we approach our 100^th anniversary, a master plan has been created to transform and expand our physical facilities, to accommodate the needs and desires of our congregation and to anticipate our requirements for the future.

6. We are committed to actively participate in community activities and promote the understanding of Jewish values in our local community at large.

• Our Congregation performs monthly mitzvah projects within our Temple and the greater Seacoast area.
• Our Rabbi is an active member of the Portsmouth Ministerium, and our congregants participate in community Interfaith Services.
• The local community takes part in our Annual Interfaith Holocaust Service, at which we have had participation from the local clergy and their congregants, City Mayor and the Governor of New Hampshire.

5. We are a conservative, philanthropic, participatory congregation.

• We are affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and follow its standards of practice.
• Our congregation actively supports the Greater Seacoast UJA and Seacoast Hadassah, providing financial support to those in need in our community and in Israel.
• Our members actively participate a broad range of congregation activities including:
  • Teaching at our religious schools.

  • Assisting the Rabbi in conducting services.

  • Volunteering as members of our Chevra Kadisha to provide the proper Jewish burial procedures and attendance prior to internment.
   

4. Ours is a diverse, egalitarian congregation.

• We reach out to the nonaffiliated Jews in our community.
• We welcome and encourage participation by non-Jewish spouses of members.
• We are proud to count women among our leadership including our past President as well as current officers and board members.
• Women congregants sit on the bimah, are given aliyahs, read Torah and Haftorahs and lead services.

3. We offer a full range of Jewish activities and are committed to the preservation of Jewish values and traditions.

• Our religious services embrace weekday minyans, Friday night and Saturday Shabbat services and Yom Tov services for all holidays.
• From:
  • baby naming and Bris Milah,
  • to Bar-Bat Mitzvah,
  • to marriage ceremony,
  • to the sharing of life’s Simchas,
  • to providing a minyan for Yahrzeit observance,
  • to Chevra Kadisha and burial at our Temple Israel cemetery,
  we are there for our congregants to offer spiritual guidance and support.
• We have an active Sisterhood, Brotherhood, Community Service Society, and Jewish Library and offer a wide range of cultural and religious programs throughout the year.

2. Education receives our highest level of financial and resource support.

• Starting at preschool, to kindergarten, through bar/bat mitzvah and on to our post bar/bat mitzvah programs, our commitment to the teaching of Jewish values to our children is paramount. We have a full time religious school director and support staff to support our goals.
• We offer a range of adult educational programs including classes in adult Yiddish and Hebrew and our Rabbi leads stimulating classes dealing with Jewish topics.

1. We are a family. Come join us.
Daven, schmooze, enjoy a Kiddush, light your menorah, attend our Community Seder, wish your Seacoast neighbors Shabbat Shalom and good Yom Tov, and help preserve our 5700+ year heritage.