Temple Beth Shalom is a warm, welcoming, participatory synagogue, which places great emphasis on the practice of hospitality. Founded over 55 years ago, we pride ourselves on maintaing the traditions of our anscestors, while adapting the teachings of the Torah to the situations of today. We are affliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Our families reflect the diverse cross-section of the Long Beach-South Bay-Orange County area. Founders of the congregation mingle with many new congregants who associated with Temple Beth Shalom in recent years. Our membership spans the generations and the diversity of households. We have seniors, families, singles, teens, young couples, gay and lesbian households, empty nesters, and visitors. We welcome intermarried couples and people in the community who are considering associating with the Jewish community. People in the wider community are welcome to join us for worship, our fantastic musical Shabbat services, study, social action, Sabbaths, and festivals activities that we hold throughout the year.
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg is our spiritual leader. He is a well respected and experienced Rabbi who is a Southern California native. His innovative approaches to Jewish community are nationally recognized. Rabbi Gartenberg provides compassionate, spiritual, and moral leadership while endeavoring to encourage your participation in the diverse and enriching opportunities of our communal life.
Temple Beth Shalom offers dynamic Friday evening and Shabbat morning services which include highly regarded special services such as special musical Friday evening services featuring our Shul House Rock Band and our Jewish Stars Youth Musicians. Temple Beth Shalom teems with activity as we mark the rhythms of the Jewish year. We offer beautiful and participatory High Holiday services, a festive outdoor Sukkah dinner, freilich (lively) Simchat Torah and Purim celebrations, unique seders for Tu Bishvat and Passover, and a lovely services for all the major festivals. Temple Beth Shalom will be offering a comprehensive adult education program including the the new Living the Jewish Year Program, Learner's Minyans, and a teen learning program. Temple Beth Shalom will also be developing a strong Tikun Olam-social action program in the coming years..
Temple Beth Shalom provides outstanding educational and social opportunities for our children and youth. Check out our Community Torah School, an excellent supplementary school for grades K-7th. We also have many day school families whose children attend the area day schools and participate in the life of the synagogue. Young people participate in synagogue life in many ways, helping to lead services, tutoring, study, social activities, and community service, as well as our youth groups.
