Congregation M'kor Shalom

Congregation M'kor Shalom (meaning "Source of Peace") is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 850 Evesham Road in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.[1]

Congregation M'kor Shalom
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
LeadershipSenior Rabbi: Jennifer L. Frenkel
Rabbi:Richard Hirsh
Cantor: Rhoda J. Harrison
StatusActive
Location
Location850 Evesham Road,
Cherry Hill, New Jersey, U.S.
Geographic coordinates39.873526°N 74.930933°W / 39.873526; -74.930933
Architecture
Completed1990
Website
mkorshalom.org

Founded in 1974, M'kor Shalom is affiliated with the Reform Movement.[2]

History

Originally established at former locations in neighboring Marlton and Mount Laurel, the current building, which The New York Times described as "spectacular new gold brick and red-topped",[3] opened in 1990 and is located on Evesham Road (CR 544) in an affluent area in Cherry Hill.[4] Its main hall has polished wood, and stained glass windows created by Paul Friend.[3][5] The synagogue is built on the site of the Butts House, built in the 18th century near the boundary of the township with Evesham Township and believed to have been first owned by the Matlack family.[6]

In 1990, an Atlantic County grand jury indicted a man from Brooklyn on charges relating to his alleged theft of Torahs from the synagogue.[7] That year the financially troubled Congregation Beth Jacob-Beth Israel in Cherry Hill loaned the synagogue torahs, went bankrupt, was purchased by Congregation M'kor Shalom, and planned to transfer all of its assets to it.[8][9]

Rabbi Fred Neulander founded the synagogue with a few supporters from the Reform synagogue Temple Emanuel,[3] and served until his resignation in 1995. He became publicly known after he was convicted of paying congregant Len Jenoff and drifter Paul Daniels $18,000 to murder his wife Carol on November 1, 1994.[10] Her memorial service was attended by almost 1,000 people at the synagogue.[11]

In 1997, 100 people were evacuated from the synagogue when a bomb threat was called in. No bomb was found.[12] In 2000, the synagogue marked its 10th year of preparing casseroles for Ronald McDonald House and soup kitchens, as a mitzvah.[13] That year, the synagogue also joined Temple Emanuel in Cherry Hill and Congregation Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel as well as the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey to raise money to build "Shalom House" in Camden.[14] Also in 2000, congregants planted a 2,400-square-foot (220 m2) meditation and tzedakah garden from which food was to be donated to food banks and soup kitchens.[15]

Leadership

Current clergy include Rabbi Jennifer Frenkel, Rabbi Richard Hirsh and Cantor Rhoda Harrison. Steve Angstreich serves as the Congregation President and Michelle Bross is the Executive Director.[16]

Rabbi Gary Mazo is a former rabbi of the synagogue, who began there as an assistant rabbi in 1990.[3][17][18] Barry Schwartz was senior rabbi of the synagogue, before leaving to become the new CEO of the Jewish Publication Society in 2010.[19] Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min. is the immediate former senior rabbi at M'kor Shalom.[20]

Prayer book and programs

The prayer book used during services is Mishkan Tefillah. M'kor Shalom offers a religious school program for grades pre-K through 12, a full-time Early Childhood Center for ages 2 through Kindergarten, as well as adult education programs.

References
  1. Oscar Israelowitz (2003). Jewish New Jersey in vintage photographs. ISBN 9781878741592. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  2. National Association of Temple Administrators (U.S.), Union of American Hebrew Congregations (2003). The Temple Management Manual. ISBN 9780807409022. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  3. Jonathan Miller (October 20, 2002). "The Other Rabbi". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  4. "2 religions find common ground in spirit". Courier Post. January 18, 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  5. Margo Nash (October 20, 2002). "Jersey Footlights". The New York Times. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  6. Mike Mathis (2001). Cherry Hill. Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 9780738509174. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  7. "Suspect in A.C. Torah Thefts Indicted in Mt. Laurel Cases". Press of Atlantic City. September 23, 1990. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  8. "Torahs Returned for Rosh HaShanah". Sun Journal. September 21, 1990. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  9. "Neighbors; Cherry Hill". The Philadelphia Inquirer. December 8, 2002. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  10. Friedman, Sally (July 2, 2009). "Rabbi Redux: Folks React to Latest Twist in the Saga". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved January 12, 2011.
  11. Arthur J. Magida (2004). The Rabbi and the Hit Man: A True Tale of Murder, Passion, and Shattered Faith. HarperCollins. ISBN 9780061750687. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  12. "Synagogue in Cherry Hill is Target of Bomb Threat". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 7, 1997. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  13. "Collecting Casseroles for Camden with Hot Dogs, Tuna and Beans, Cherry Hill Synagogue volunteers keep cooking for those in need". The Philadelphia Inquirer. November 10, 2000. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  14. "Synagogues Join to Build Home for Needy". The Philadelphia Inquirer. July 21, 2000. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  15. "Synagogue Plants Seeds of Peace with its New Community Garden; The 2,400-square-foot-plot in Cherry Hill is Designed to Fee the Hungry – and the Congregation's Spirit". The Philadelphia Inquirer. June 9, 2000. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  16. "M'kor Shalom: Clergy and Staff". Mkorshalom.org. Archived from the original on 2015-12-08. Retrieved December 3, 2015.
  17. Judith Redlener (1996). Ccar Yearbook 1995. Central Conference of Amer. ISBN 9780881230727. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  18. Gary Mazo (2000). And the Flames Did Not Consume Us: A Rabbi's Journey Through Communal Crisis. ISBN 9780933670068. Retrieved June 21, 2011.
  19. Passman, Aaron (July 8, 2010). "From pulpit to publishing: Rabbi takes over at JPS". Jewish Journal. Retrieved June 22, 2011.
  20. "Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min". Jewish Sacred Aging. July 30, 2010.
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