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See our picture postcard [click]
See
Paul Kottler's 360° view of our sanctuary (allow ample time for
film to load) [click]
Brith
Sholom's sanctuary, social hall, religious school, and offices comprise
two adjoined buildings nestled on a wooded lot at the intersection
of Macada and Jacksonville Roads in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. The
wood and glass construction and the surrounding trees and shrubbery
create a feeling of warmth and bring a sense of beauty and nature
into the sanctuary. The main sanctuary, with its wooden structures
and central pulpit, is reminiscent of the old synagogues of Europe,
most of them destroyed by the Nazis during World War II.
The
four large stained glass panels adorning the sanctuary were brought
from the original Brith Sholom building on the south side of Bethlehem.
The beautiful ark, which houses the Torah scrolls, is clothed in
a custom-designed, woven tapestry that suggests the revelation on
Mount Sinai. The antique eternal light suspended above the ark was
originally a gas-powered eternal flame that hung in a Moroccan synagogue.
These symbols of our history and traditions serve as an ongoing
link between our past and our present.
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Satellite
view of Congregation Brith Sholom
(click image for enlargement)
© Google Earth |
The
recent addition to the buildings and grounds, a result of the successful
2001 Capital and Endowment Campaign, "From Strength to Strength,"
included an expanded social hall that can be partitioned for multiple
uses, an expanded and renovated kitchen, and additional parking.
Excavation created a large basement area, which can be used for
youth and teen activities; a second floor loft provides much needed
storage space. Additional renovations enhanced the beauty and utility
of the adjacent chapel, classrooms, and administrative space.
Click
for driving directions to Congregation Brith Sholom. |