B'er Chayim Temple

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B'er Chayim Temple
Congregation B'er Chayim.jpg
The synagogue, in 2024
Religion
Affiliation Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status Synagogue
LeadershipCantor Jessica Roskin
StatusActive
Location
Location107 W Union at South Centre Streets, Cumberland, Maryland
CountryUnited States
USA Maryland relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Maryland
Geographic coordinates 39°39′2″N78°45′38″W / 39.65056°N 78.76056°W / 39.65056; -78.76056
Architecture
Type Synagogue architecture
Style Greek Revival
General contractor John B. Walton
Date established1853 (as a congregation)
Completed1864(160 years ago) (1864)
Website
berchayim.org
B'er Chayim Temple
AreaLess than one acre
NRHP reference No. 79001106
Added to NRHPNovember 15, 1979(44 years ago) (1979-11-15)
[1]

B'er Chayim Temple (transliterated from Hebrew as "Well of Life", [2] a metaphor in which Torah is likened to water) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in Cumberland, Maryland, in the United States. As of 2008, B'er Chayim counted approximately 50 families as members. [3]

Contents

B'er Chayim is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use as a synagogue in Maryland and the sixth oldest in the United States. [4] [5]

Clergy and leadership

Jessica Roskin is the spiritual leader of B’er Chayim since July 2024.A native of North Miami Beach, FL, Cantor Roskin graduated from Indiana University with degrees in music and religious studies and Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. She was ordained in 1994. Prior to joining B’er Chayim, Cantor Roskin served as interim cantor at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, NC and at Temple Emanu-El in Birmingham, AL for 20 years.

Brian Lang serves as President of B'er Chayim.

Religious services and programs

Shabbat services are held Friday evening. [6] Services and celebrations of Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah, [7] [8] Yom Kippur, [2] and Chanukah, [9] are held throughout the year. [6]

History

The first Jewish resident recorded in Cumberland dates to 1816. Twelve Jewish families were living in Cumberland, which then had a population of 6,150, in 1853 when congregation B'er Chayim was chartered by the Maryland state legislature. [4] The congregation was Orthodox when the temple was built, [10] although it is now a Reform congregation.

Between 1865 and 1867, the congregation built a two-story, Greek Revival synagogue building on the corner of South Centre and Union Streets. The building cost $7,427.02 to construct. [4] The facade is ornamented with four pilasters, a handsome pediment, and four very un-Greek Rundbogenstil, or round-arched, windows. [10] The building was constructed by local builder John B. Walton. [5]

Prayers and sermons were originally held in German, rather than Hebrew. [11]

Beth Jacob Synagogue, which was also located in Cumberland, merged with B'er Chayim Temple in 1996. [3]

In 2011, the synagogue underwent renovation. [2] The brickwork's mortar was redone, the wrought iron gates outside the entrance were restored, improved the interior, and made the synagogue wheelchair-accessible. [12] [13] The synagogue's building was reopened on August 17, 2014, and the synagogue was rededicated on November 7, 2014. [14] The Cumberland Historic Preservation Board gave an award to B'er Chayim for the synagogue's restoration. [15]

See also

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The city of Cumberland, Maryland is home to a small and declining but historically significant Jewish community. The city is home to a single synagogue, B'er Chayim Temple, one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. Cumberland has had a Jewish presence since the early 1800s. The community was largest prior to the 1960s, but has declined in number over the decades. Historically, the Jewish community in Cumberland maintained several synagogues, a Jewish cemetery, and a Hebrew school. By 2019, Cumberland's Jewish community had its lowest population point since the early 1900s.

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. 1 2 3 Barkley, Kristin Harty (September 18, 2011). "B'er Chayim temple had a major renovation in 2014. Built in 1864, brick building recognized as longest continuously operating synagogue in Maryland". The Cumberland Times-News.
  3. 1 2 Pash, Barbara (October 31, 2008). "'We Don't Give Up': Cumberland's sole synagogue helps maintain Western Maryland's Jewish presence". The Baltimore Jewish Times .
  4. 1 2 3 "Jewish community celebrating restoration of historic city temple". The Cumberland Times-News. November 2, 2014.
  5. 1 2 Gordon, Mark W (1996). "Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues" . American Jewish History (2019 update ed.). pp. 11–27.
  6. 1 2 "Services". B'er Chayim Temple. n.d. Retrieved October 9, 2016.[ self-published source? ]
  7. ↑ Shapiro, David (August 28, 2010). "Jewish New Year starts Sept. 8". Mineral Daily News-Tribune.
  8. ↑ "Celebrations offer hope for new birth, new ways". The Cumberland Times-News. September 1, 2010.
  9. ↑ "How area residents celebrate Chanukah". Mineral Daily News-Tribune. November 22, 2009.
  10. 1 2 "B'er Chayim Temple". National Park Service. n.d. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  11. ↑ Pratt, William; Dorsey, Dave (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: B'er Chayim Temple" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  12. ↑ Bieniek, Matthew (January 13, 2012). "Cardin visits city temple". The Cumberland Times-News.
  13. ↑ "Temple renovations". The Cumberland Times-News. November 17, 2011.
  14. ↑ "Congregation announces move back to temple". The Cumberland Times-News. July 24, 2014.
  15. ↑ Barkley, Kristin Harty (August 30, 2012). "Commission recognizes B'er Chayim temple - Greene Street property also receives preservation commission award". The Cumberland Times-News.
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