18 Shoolman Way, Milton, MA 02186 | (617) 698-3394 | Email Us

Congregation Beth Shalom of the Blue Hills

South Shore Jewish Congregation

Ritual Art & Items

Our Siddur and Chumash

On all weekdays, Shabbat, and holidays, we use the Sim Shalom Hebrew/English prayer book published by the Conservative Movement along with the Eit Ratzon prayer book that has full transliteration of the Hebrew along with the Hebrew, English translation, and additional commentary. To read along, understand, and follow the Torah and Haftarah (Prophetic) readings we use the Etz Hayim Chumash. 

 

 


Holocaust Torah

Holocaust Torah Early Nineteenth Century Torah from a Synagogue in Dolni Kounice, Czechoslovakia, rescued from the Holocaust, and acquired by Temple Shalom through the generosity of these survivors of the Holocaust and their families:

Mary and William Erlich
Rhoda and Jack Novin
Marilyn and Israel Geller
Adele and Samuel Primack
Freda and Norman Katz
Lieba and Joshua Wainer
Fay and Noah Lewin
Barbara and Philip White

More about the Dolni Kounice Synagogue https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doln%C3%AD_Kounice_Synagogue

Read this article (PDF) about our Holocaust Torah Scroll first arriving at Temple Shalom in 1987.

MST-LogoOur Holocaust Torah is MST#263 and on permanent loan from the Memorial Scrolls Trust, London England. Learn more about Czech scrolls at The Memorial Scrolls Trust, a U.K. non-profit organization working to link over 1000 Czech Torah scroll holders around the world.

View the certificate here.

 

Ritual Objects in the Shul

Coming Soon – Ark and Ner Tamid!

Learn more about our ark, ner tamid, and more.

 

Rabbi’s Chair

The Rabbi’s Chair and bookstand located to the left of the ark were commissioned by Ed Guzovsky, a devoted and longtime member of Temple Shalom of Milton.  It was given as a gift to the congregation in honor of Rabbi Alfred Benjamin.  With input from Rabbi Benjamin, the chair and stand were designed and made by David Strauss.

Rabbi's ChairThe gift of a chair reflects both the deep pride Ed had about his family’s connection to the great Hassidic Rabbi, Rebbe Nachman of Breslov, who had his own special Rabbi’s Chair, and his respect for the rabbi’s role as leader of the Jewish community.  To learn more about the Rebbe’s Chair click here: http://www.breslov.org/about- rebbe-nachmans-chair/

Our Rabbi’s Chair was designed to complement the tree motif found on the Ark’s Parochet and the view of the trees visible from the sanctuary.  Thematically the five branched trees located on either side of the chair-back highlight the idea that the Torah, the Five Books of Moses, is the Jewish People’s “Tree of Life”.  The English translation of the Hebrew quote located on either side of the chair is “Make for yourself a Rabbi and acquire for yourself a companion/friend” (Perkei Avot 1:6).  It was chosen not only to reflect the profound friendships that can develop between rabbis and congregants but also that people who choose the same rabbi often become lifelong friends with one another.  The two Hebrew words engraved in gold at the top of the chair are pronounced “Kiseh HaRav” and mean “Rabbi’s Chair”. 


Maintaining our Torahs

Learn more about the processes for creating and maintaining a Torah scroll, as well as information about the synagogue’s sifrei Torah.


The Holocaust Window

The Holocaust Window

For information on our Holocaust Window please go here.