Who We Are

Mission Statement

The purpose of this Congregation shall be to worship God in accordance with the faith of Judaism; to cultivate a love and understanding of the Jewish heritage; to stimulate fellowship in the Jewish community and to strengthen the bonds of loyalty with the Jewish people everywhere; to bring us nearer to God through an emphasis of the principles of righteousness and humanity in society at large.

(TBS By-laws Amended 2023)

Temple B’nai Sholom is the center of Reform Judaism in North Alabama, and a spiritual home to life-long Jews and seekers knocking on our door for the first time, where diversity and the richness of Jewish thought and practice are embraced. We believe that Judaism is timeless, evolving, and relevant in all that we do.

We are Yisrael, a community of God wrestlers (Genesis 35:10) with diverse understandings of the nature of the Divine, ever exploring what it means to be created in the image and likeness of יהוה (Genesis 1:26).

Temple B’nai Sholom is a Reform congregation affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism.

We find meaning and purpose within Judaism:

Fostering a sense of community, connection and belonging,
Cultivating life-long learners who seek wisdom from our tradition and develop their own expression of Jewish identity,
Pursuing social justice and striving for a world filled with wholeness and peace,
Discovering and creating awe and wonder in all aspects of our lives through our sacred texts, rituals, and customs.

Our Values

B’tzelem Elohim

Inclusion and Human Dignity

We believe that each person matters and we value each of them for who they are.

Kehillah

Community

We believe that community and relationships are the essence of Judaism.

Chochmah

Wisdom

We believe that Judaism serves as a blueprint for living and we are committed to Jewish study, engaging with our sacred texts, and Jewish values, practices, and traditions to discover new ways to experience Judaism.