Temple Beth Israel is a Reform

Reform Judaism

Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...

 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 at 3004 Union Avenue in Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona, Pennsylvania

-History:A major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad in 1849 as the site for a shop complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868...

. It was found in 1874 as the Orthodox

Orthodox Judaism

Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...

 Ahavath Achim (brotherly love in Hebrew). The congregation moved to adopt Reform liturgy in 1877. In 1890 the congregation reorganized and was renamed Mountain City Hebrew Reformed Congregation. The congregation changed its name to Temple Beth Israel in 1922, and moved to its current location in 1924.

Former rabbis include Nathan Kaber, Gary Klein, Richard Zionts, Burt Schuman

Burt Schuman

Burt Schuman is the first Polish postwar rabbi of Reform Judaism. Originally from New York, NY, Rabbi Schuman spent 11 years as the rabbi of Temple Beth Israel in Altoona, Pennsylvania.-External links:*...

(1995–2006), and Nicole Luna. Consisting of approximately 70 member units, Temple Beth Israel serves the greater Altoona metropolitan area. , the rabbi was Audrey Korotkin.