B'er Chayim Temple

B'er Chayim Temple (Hebrew for Well of Life,[2] a metaphor in which Torah is likened to water) is a synagogue in Cumberland, Maryland that is currently affiliated with the Reform movement. B'er Chayim counts approximately 72 families as members.[3]

B'er Chayim Temple
B'er Chayim Temple, May 2008
B'er Chayim Temple is located in Maryland
B'er Chayim Temple
LocationUnion and South Centre Streets, Cumberland, Maryland, United States
Coordinates39°39′2″N 78°45′38″W
AreaLess than one acre
Built1866 (1866)
Built byJohn B. Walton
Architectural styleGreek Revival
NRHP reference No.79001106[1]
Added to NRHPNovember 15, 1979 (1979-11-15)

B'er Chayim is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use as a synagogue in Maryland and the sixth oldest in the United States.[4][5]

Clergy and leadership

Mark J. Perman has served as the rabbi of B'er Chayim since July 2016.[6] A native of New York City,[7] Perman graduated from the High School of Performing Arts, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, and New York University.[6] Perman was ordained a cantor in 1997,[6] and he was ordained a rabbi by Mesifta Program in Queens, New York, in 2013.[6] Prior to joining B'er Chayim, Perman served as the interim cantor at Congregation Emanu El in Houston.[7]

Lee Schwartz serves as president of B'er Chayim.[8]

Religious services and programs

Shabbat services are held Friday evening.[9] Services and celebrations of Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah,[10][11] Yom Kippur,[2] and Chanukah,[12] are held throughout the year.[9]

Torah study sessions are held twice a month.[9]

History

The first Jewish resident recorded in Cumberland dates to 1816. Twelve Jewish families were living in Cumberland, which then had a population of 6,150, in 1853 when congregation B'er Chayim was chartered by the Maryland state legislature.[4] The congregation was Orthodox when the temple was built,[13] although it is now a Reform congregation.

Between 1865 and 1867, the congregation built a two-story, Greek Revival synagogue building on the corner of South Centre and Union Streets. The building cost $7,427.02 to construct.[4] The facade is ornamented with four pilasters, a handsome pediment, and four very un-Greek Rundbogenstil, or round-arched, windows.[13] The building was constructed by local builder John B. Walton.[14]

Prayers and sermons were originally held in German, rather than Hebrew.[15]

Beth Jacob Synagogue, which was also located in Cumberland, merged with B'er Chayim Temple in 1996.[3]

In 2011, the synagogue underwent renovation.[2] The brickwork's mortar was redone, the wrought iron gates outside the entrance were restored, improved the interior, and made the synagogue wheelchair-accessible.[16][17] The synagogue's building was reopened on August 17, 2014, and the synagogue was rededicated on November 7, 2014.[18] The Cumberland Historic Preservation Board gave an award to B'er Chayim for the synagogue's restoration.[19]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Barkley, Kristin Harty."B'er Chayim temple will undergo major renovation: Built in 1864, brick building recognized as longest continuously operating synagogue in Maryland". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). September 18, 2011.
  3. Pash, Barbara. "'We Don't Give Up': Cumberland's sole synagogue helps maintain Western Maryland's Jewish presence". Jewish Times (Baltimore, Maryland). October 31, 2008.
  4. "Jewish community celebrating restoration of historic city temple". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). November 2, 2014.
  5. Gordon, Mark W. "Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues". American Jewish History. 84.1. p. 11–27. 2019 article update.
  6. "Meet Our Rabbi". B'er Chayim Temple. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  7. Blaisdell, Elaine. "New rabbi has plans for theater at B'er Chayim". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). October 3, 2016.
  8. "Board Members, Committee Chairs and Contacts". B'er Chayim Temple. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  9. "Services". B'er Chayim Temple. Retrieved October 9, 2016.
  10. Shapiro, David. "Jewish New Year starts Sept. 8". Mineral Daily News-Tribune (Mineral, West Virginia). August 28, 2010.
  11. "Celebrations offer hope for new birth, new ways". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). September 1, 2010.
  12. "How area residents celebrate Chanukah". Mineral Daily News-Tribune (Mineral, West Virginia). November 22, 2009.
  13. Staff (undated). "B'er Chayim Temple". National Park Service. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  14. Gordon, Mark W. (1996). "Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: Update on United States Nineteenth Century Synagogues". American Jewish History. 84.1. pp. 11–27.(registration required). 2019 article update.
  15. William Pratt and Dave Dorsey (December 1977). "National Register of Historic Places Registration: B'er Chayim Temple" (PDF). Maryland Historical Trust. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  16. Bieniek, Matthew"Cardin visits city temple". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). January 13, 2012.
  17. "Temple renovations". The Cumberland Times-News. (Cumberland, Maryland). November 17, 2011.
  18. "Congregation announces move back to temple". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). July 24, 2014.
  19. Barkley, Kristin Harty. "Commission recognizes B'er Chayim temple - Greene Street property also receives preservation commission award". The Cumberland Times-News (Cumberland, Maryland). August 30, 2012.
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