Temple Beth Shalom Mission Statement

 This statement developed out of a clarification process in which a representational cross-section of the congregation was brought together to discuss what we understood ourselves to be and what we wanted to see ourselves become.  Eventually, the statement was approved by the board of directors and the membership of the congregation.  Every year we review the statement, assessing ourselves and our words against each other.  The statement is reaffirmed, sometimes with emendation and sometimes not, each year at our May membership meeting.


Temple Beth Shalom, the Jewish Reconstructionist Congregation of Greater Harrisburg, is a growing and inclusive community committed to embracing all Jews and those interested in our Jewish heritage.

We are a family, in a mutually supportive nonjudgmental atmosphere of continual learning.

We have a vigorous commitment to continually re-examine our Jewish values and traditions as they relate to our everyday lives.

We commit to religious, educational and spiritual growth by promoting the study, practice and ideas of Reconstructionist Judaism.

We are dedicated to dealings with people and issues with a sense of integrity and honesty.

We promote open dialogue and actions addressing how decent human beings deal with social issues of the day.

We also engage in the creative development of Jewish patterns of practice that may be models for the lives of other Jewish communities.

In Reconstructionism we believe that tradition has a vote, but not a veto.

Reconstructionists believe that Judaism is the evolving civilization of the Jewish people.

Important issues are discussed openly and decisions are reached through concensus.