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Temple Beth El Membership

Welcome to Temple Beth El, a congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. We are located in East Central Alabama in Anniston about 3 miles from I-20, approximately halfway between Atlanta, Georgia and Birmingham, Alabama. Currently (as of 2009) we have a membership of 38 households. We draw members from our immediate area (Anniston, Oxford, and Jacksonville) and from across the state line from Carrollton, Georgia to Atlanta – and on to Birmingham. We have scheduled Shabbat services twice a month. Services are led by Rabbi David Baylinson and Rabbi Irving Bloom, both of Atlanta. Our music is provided by a soloist and an organist. Interfaith families make up a majority of our membership.

Our congregation worships in a historic building (constructed in 1893), the oldest Jewish house of worship in the state in continuous (and current) use as a house of worship. Temple Beth El is listed on the National Historic Register as well as the Alabama State Historic Register. We have our own cemetery section in Hillside Cemetery located between 10th and 11th Streets in Anniston. The cemetery is listed on the Alabama Historic Cemetery Register.

Our warm and friendly congregation invites you to worship with us. We are dedicated to providing meaningful Shabbat worship and to maintaining a solid sense of community whether we are sharing a pot luck supper or gathering at an Oneg Shabbat after services. Our congregation generously supports a variety of charities including Interfaith Ministries and the local soup kitchen. A yearly High Holy Days food drive provides supplies for All Saints Interfaith Center for Concern. Our members have taken in the past and continue to take, varied involved roles in the community – from sitting on the boards of local foundations to holding office in area civic clubs.

Please take a look at our web site and contact us at templeinfo.anniston@gmail.com if we can answer any questions.