A smaller side chapel is used to accommodate smaller gatherings, like the Thursday morning minyan, which is a gathering of 10 or more people and is shorter than the Shabbat on Saturday. All of the stained glass and the ark in the chapel were once a part of the Beth Jacob synagogue in Lewiston before the merger with the Lewiston Community Center and the creation of Temple Shalom.
Temple Shalom is familiar to those who attend regularly, but few people who are not of the Jewish faith have been inside the temple on Bradman Street in Auburn.
The two congregations of Beth Jacob of Lewiston and the Lewiston Jewish Community Center merged in 1982 to form the Temple Shalom, located on Bradman Street in Auburn.
Yarmulkes and kippas sit by the door to the sanctuary, and also near the door in the smaller chapel of Temple Shalom. According to a sign on the door of the sanctuary, all men must wear a head covering inside the synagogue while women have the option to cover their heads.
Five of Temple Shalom's eight Torahs are housed in the sanctuary's ark and feature art by Suzan Katzir.
This ark stands at the front of the sanctuary; another is in the chapel. They house Temple Shalom's eight Torahs — five in this ark and three in the chapel's.
The sanctuary of Temple Shalom was recently set up for a wedding, with a chuppa (canopy) placed in front of the ark. The glass block menorah embedded in the sanctuary wall glows at night when the building is lit up.
A menorah sits in front of a stained-glass window in the chapel. The window was originally part of the Beth Jacob synagogue in Lewiston.
Just inside the door of Temple Shalom is the Tree of Life, created by a member artist. The Tree of Life is a way to honor and remember loved ones and raise money for the temple.
Stored in the ark in the sanctuary at Temple Shalom are shofars, or rams horns. They are blown on the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashana, which is the Jewish New Year and the first of the High Holy Days. This year it starts at sunset on Sept. 16.
Like every house of worship, Temple Shalom has a large sanctuary used on High Holy Days, which fall this year from Sept. 16 through 26, and whenever a larger attendance is expected.
It also has a smaller chapel used for gatherings like Thursday morning's minyan or prayer service.
Both rooms have ornate cabinets at their fronts, called arks, that house the eight Torahs at the temple.
Also inside each sanctuary's ark are shofars, or rams horns, and silver adornments for the Torahs.
Adorning the walls of both rooms are magnificant stained-glass windows. Some came from Beth Jacob synagogue in Lewiston and others are newer, from when Beth Jacob and the Jewish Community Center merged in the 1980s to form Temple Shalom.
All visitors are welcome at the temple's services and are invited to contact the temple if interested in a tour at 786-4201.
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Beth Jacob
What are they going to do with that building? It's a wonderful space,with I'm sure a lot of history. Of course it could never really be the same without Rabbi Geller.
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