Congregation M'Kor Shalom
Encyclopedia
Congregation M'Kor Shalom (meaning "Source of Peace") is a Reform
Jewish synagogue
located on 850 Evesham Road in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
.
Founded in 1974, M'Kor Shalom has over 1,000 members and is affiliated with the Reform Movement
.
.
and Mount Laurel
, the current building, which The New York Times described as "spectacular new gold brick and red-topped", opened in 1990 and is located on Evesham Road (CR 544
) in an affluent area in Cherry Hill. Its main hall has polished wood, and stained glass
windows created by Paul Friend. 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.
In 1990, an Atlantic County grand jury
indicted a man from Brooklyn on charges relating to his alleged theft of Torahs from the synagogue. 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.
Rabbi
Fred Neulander
founded the synagogue with a few supporters from the Reform synagogue Temple Emanuel, 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. Her memorial service was attended by almost 1,000 people at the synagogue.
In 1997, 100 people were evacuated from the synagogue when a bomb threat was called in. No bomb was found. In 2000, the synagogue marked its 10th year of preparing casseroles for Ronald McDonald House and soup kitchen
s, as a mitzvah
. 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 in starting a campaign to raise money to build a house called "Shalom House" for needy residents in Camden
. Also in 2000, congregants planted a 2400 square feet (223 m²) meditation and tzedakah
garden from which food was to be donated to food bank
s and soup kitchens.
Rabbi Gary Mazo is a former rabbi of the synagogue, who began there as an assistant rabbi in 1990. Barry Schwartz was senior rabbi of the synagogue, before leaving to become the new CEO of the Jewish Publication Society in 2010.
used during services was created by the congregation. M'Kor Shalom offers an educational program for preschoolers, as well as adult programs. The synagogue also offers a special life-cycle related membership program, through which free memberships are granted those who become connected to it through a new marriage, or being a newly born child.
Reform Judaism (North America)
Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
Jewish synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
located on 850 Evesham Road in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
.
Founded in 1974, M'Kor Shalom has over 1,000 members and is affiliated with the Reform Movement
Reform movement
A reform movement is a kind of social movement that aims to make gradual change, or change in certain aspects of society, rather than rapid or fundamental changes...
.
Mission Statement
The synagogue's Mission Statement is featured in The Temple Management Manual (2003), by the National Association of Temple Administrators (U.S.), Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The Mission Statement lists six goals of the synagogue, the first of which is the lifelong study of the TorahTorah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
.
History
Originally established at former locations in neighboring MarltonMarlton, New Jersey
Marlton is a census-designated place and unincorporated area located within Evesham Township in Burlington County, New Jersey. As of the United States 2000 Census, the population of Marlton was 10,260.-History:...
and Mount Laurel
Mount Laurel Township, New Jersey
Mount Laurel Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States, and is an edge city "suburb" of Philadelphia. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 40,221...
, the current building, which The New York Times described as "spectacular new gold brick and red-topped", opened in 1990 and is located on Evesham Road (CR 544
County Route 544 (New Jersey)
County Route 544, abbreviated CR 544, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Cooper Street in Deptford Township to Taunton Boulevard in Medford Township.-Gloucester County:...
) in an affluent area in Cherry Hill. Its main hall has polished wood, and stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows created by Paul Friend. 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
Evesham Township, New Jersey
Evesham Township is a township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. The township population was 45,538 as of the 2010 United States Census....
and believed to have been first owned by the Matlack family.
In 1990, an Atlantic County grand jury
Grand jury
A grand jury is a type of jury that determines whether a criminal indictment will issue. Currently, only the United States retains grand juries, although some other common law jurisdictions formerly employed them, and most other jurisdictions employ some other type of preliminary hearing...
indicted a man from Brooklyn on charges relating to his alleged theft of Torahs from the synagogue. 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.
Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Fred Neulander
Fred Neulander
Fred Neulander is an American Reform rabbi, was convicted of paying two men to carry out a "hit" on his wife Carol Neulander who was murdered in the family home in 1994...
founded the synagogue with a few supporters from the Reform synagogue Temple Emanuel, 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
Murder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
his wife Carol on November 1, 1994. Her memorial service was attended by almost 1,000 people at the synagogue.
In 1997, 100 people were evacuated from the synagogue when a bomb threat was called in. No bomb was found. In 2000, the synagogue marked its 10th year of preparing casseroles for Ronald McDonald House and soup kitchen
Soup kitchen
A soup kitchen, a bread line, or a meal center is a place where food is offered to the hungry for free or at a reasonably low price. Frequently located in lower-income neighborhoods, they are often staffed by volunteer organizations, such as church groups or community groups...
s, as a mitzvah
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
. That year, the synagogue also joined Temple Emanuel
Temple Emanuel (Cherry Hill, New Jersey)
Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish congregation located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. It was founded in 1950 on the western side of Cherry Hill, and moved in 1992 to Cherry Hill's east side. Its first rabbi was Herbert M. Yarrish, who served from 1956 to 1975. , the senior rabbi is Jerome P...
in Cherry Hill and Congregation Adath Emanu-El in Mount Laurel as well as the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey in starting a campaign to raise money to build a house called "Shalom House" for needy residents in Camden
Camden, New Jersey
The city of Camden is the county seat of Camden County, New Jersey. It is located across the Delaware River from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 77,344...
. Also in 2000, congregants planted a 2400 square feet (223 m²) meditation and tzedakah
Tzedakah
Tzedakah or Ṣ'daqah in Classical Hebrew is a Hebrew word commonly translated as charity, though it is based on the Hebrew word meaning righteousness, fairness or justice...
garden from which food was to be donated to food bank
Food bank
A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
s and soup kitchens.
Leadership
Current clergy include Rabbi Richard F. Address, D.Min., Rabbi Jennifer Frenkel, and Cantor Anita F. Hochman. Stefanie Cohen serves as the Congregation President and Gail Donner is the Executive Director.Rabbi Gary Mazo is a former rabbi of the synagogue, who began there as an assistant rabbi in 1990. Barry Schwartz was senior rabbi of the synagogue, before leaving to become the new CEO of the Jewish Publication Society in 2010.
Prayer book and programs
The prayer bookSiddur
A siddur is a Jewish prayer book, containing a set order of daily prayers. This article discusses how some of these prayers evolved, and how the siddur, as it is known today has developed...
used during services was created by the congregation. M'Kor Shalom offers an educational program for preschoolers, as well as adult programs. The synagogue also offers a special life-cycle related membership program, through which free memberships are granted those who become connected to it through a new marriage, or being a newly born child.