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Temple Bat Yam – A Welcoming Jewish Community at the Beach
Your spiritual needs don't necessarily take a vacation, even when you do.
Temple Bat Yam, a Reform Jewish congregation serving the Delmarva community, welcomes visitors and newcomers to its quaint and homey temple in Berlin, MD, about 15 minutes from Ocean City and an easy drive down Rte. 113 from the Delaware beaches.
"We often get visitors who are at the beach who are observing a Yahrzeit, or want to participate in Shabbat or festival celebrations," says Rabbi Arthur Rutberg, who is in his third year as the congregation's spiritual leader. "Sometimes, especially now with the tragic events in Israel, some people just want to be with other Jews, part of a community. We are here for that, too."
Bat Yam, which means "Daughter of the Sea" in Hebrew, prides itself on its welcoming nature. "We like seeing new faces and meeting new people," said congregation president Candy Gusst. "We have a warm, friendly community. Someone will greet you at the door and, when we have a little nosh after services, invite you to stay and shmooze."
Rabbi Rutberg said that while the congregation identifies as part of the Reform Jewish movement, "we have members and visitors from across the spectrum of Judaism. Some of our members were raised in Orthodox Judaism, some in the Conservative movement, some from Reform backgrounds." Rutberg said he and the congregational lay leaders are mindful of the diversity of their community in planning and conducting religious observances.
For a relatively small congregation of about 150 family and individual members, Bat Yam maintains an active and vibrant schedule of social and educational events. In the past year, Gusst noted, the congregation's activities included a 1950s style sock hop, a golf-and-dinner outing, a barbecue and sing along, musical events with a local chorus and chamber music quartet, a Purim celebration, Chanukah feast, interfaith activities with other local houses of worship, and a Chinese dinner on Christmas Eve. Bat Yam also has a growing religious school for its young members and multiple adult education activities including weekly Torah study, an Introduction to Judaism course, and most recently a course entitled “Are You There God?"
"We ask members what's on their minds, what do they want us to study together," said Rabbi Rutberg. "And we do."
Bat Yam holds weekly Shabbat services at 7 p.m. on Friday. It is located at 11036 Worcester Highway, Berlin, MD, and telephone number is 410-641-4311. www.templebatyam-oc.org
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