The Reformed Jewish Congregation of Peabody

A Reform congregation affiliated with

The Union for Reform Judaism

489 Lowell Street Peabody, MA 01960

(978) 535-2100 Fax: (978) 536-3115

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ABOUT US

About Temple Beth Shalom....

Temple Beth Shalom of the North Shore was founded in 1959 by thirteen families to help fulfill the religious needs of unaffiliated Jewish families within the Greater Peabody area. Today, we are proud to be a vibrant temple community which welcomes everyone; provides a warm, spiritually nurturing environment; encourages the religious and educational exploration of children and adults; and makes social action, or tikkun olam, a priority.

We are pleased to have as our spiritual leader Rabbi Emily Mathis, a graduate of the Hebrew College Rabbinical School, a pluralist rabbinical program in Newton, MA. A St. Louis native and a resident of Providence, RI for the past 24 years, Rabbi Mathis graduated from the Hebrew College Rabbinical School in 2009, having served in a variety of congregational and organizational settings over the past 11 years. She has taught in Reform and independent religious schools, and served as the education director both at Tifereth Israel Congregation in New Bedford and The Friday School in Providence.

She taught a two-year adult bat mitzvah course at Temple Habonim in Barrington, RI; she also served as a rabbinic intern at Temple Beth El in Sudbury, and at Orchard Cove, a continuing-care community affiliated with Hebrew SeniorLife in Canton. For the past two years, she also led Reform High Holiday services at Brown University.

Prior to her work in Jewish settings, Rabbi Mathis worked at several non-profit educational organizations in Providence, working with city elementary-school students, faculty, and families in the fields of environmental education, vegetable gardening, and family literacy. She lives in West Roxbury with her spouse, Hali Diecidue, with her 10-year-old stepdaughter and 9-month old daughter.

Religious Observances....

Temple Beth Shalom is a Reform congregation whose worship style is rooted in the principles of Reform Judaism. We use the Reform movement’s siddur, Gates of Prayer. In its various Shabbat and Festival services, Hebrew and English language are utilized which speak to the ever-evolving needs and aspirations of congregants. Our prayer is enriched as contemporary expression is woven into traditional forms of Jewish worship.

Music has always been an integral part of our worship experience. Our musical staff blends elements of classic chazzanut with more modern themes to create an atmosphere conducive to prayer. Of course, we encourage our congregants to participate in the singing!

In addition to our regular Shabbat evening services, Family Shabbat celebrations occur monthly with an early congregational dinner followed by a specially designed family service. Our Religious School classes and Shir Shalom our youth choir, often participate in Shabbat services as well.

During Shabbat morning services we are privileged to share with our children in the joy of their becoming B’nai Mitzvah. Our young people participate fully in the service. In doing so, they express their willingness to respond to our traditions in a personal and positive manner. Educationally, we capitalize on the experience as our B’nai Mitzvah continue their studies for three additional years. This culminates with Confirmation, when once again our children ascend the bimah and with increased maturity reaffirm their commitment to God and Judaism.

In all our religious life-both for our children and for ourselves-Temple Beth Shalom strives to address the eternal needs of the spirit and the temporal demands of our world. By addressing these forces we have forged a worship experience which is uplifting and warm.

Reform Judaism - What We Believe (by Gilbert Rosenthal)...

Reform sees Judaism as an evolving ever-dynamic religious culture that adapts to every age. Flux is only constant in Judaism. Reform believes in a varied interpretation of God, with wide latitude for naturalists or mystics, super naturalists of religious humanists. The ethical aspects of Torah are God’s revelation and forever binding. The ritual mitzvot are valuable means of infusing spirituality, ennobling the individual installing God-like traits and uniting the People. The Halakah...is to guide. Not govern, the life of the Jew whose conscience must be (the) final guide. Reform believes in the unity of the Jewish People as a spiritual world entity. It urges all Jews to help one another and it seeks cooperation with Jews of all stripes. Reform is deeply committed to the survival of the State of Israel, which it hopes will become a religious spiritual center to the world and a beach light of social justice and morality. Reform is a movement in flux. It is “process” rather than a static fixed movement. Hence, liturgy, ritual practices and theology must constantly be revised and changed. Reform is passionately committed to social activism in battling for equity, justice and peace for all (humankind). In a word, Reform believes that the strength of Judaism has been its ability to evolve and change. The survival of Judaism depends on the maintenance of that protean quality in the future.