Young, old, single, family, native, transplant, year-round, seasonal. We are the people of Temple Beth Joseph, the synagogue of Herkimer, New York. You’ll find us to be friendly (but not nosy,) welcoming and helpful.

Temple Beth Joseph is named for Joseph Basloe, whose family history and our town’s are closely intertwined. Our current synagogue was built in 1949.

We are affiliated with the Conservative movement, and provide a rich variety of opportunities to live Jewishly:

• Sabbath - Shabbat - and holiday services
• Celebrations and life events
• Classes, discussions and library
• Sunday school and youth activities
• Sisterhood
• “Hesed” - charitable deeds

Herkimer, our town, is a village of 8,000 in a county of 66,000. We are located in Central New York, between Albany and Syracuse. Herkimer sits on the Mohawk River at the base of the Adirondack Mountains. Our region is rich in history, culture and nature.

Our Rabbi is Ellen Miriam Brandwein, an alumna of the Jewish Theological Seminary, in New York City. Temple Beth Joseph has been served by several generations of full-time Seminary graduates, students and alumni. Each one has made his or her impression on us. We are proud to have learned from them and hope they are proud to have led us.

Worshiping and celebrating

Ancient yet modern. Universally recognizable yet uniquely ours. We converse with God, express ourselves and connect with our traditions through our prayers. Temple Beth Joseph meets weekly for Shabbat – Sabbath – prayers on Friday evenings and Saturday mornings. Prayers are led alternatively by our Rabbi and by volunteers from the congregation. Our services are egalitarian. The atmosphere is reverent but easygoing.

We celebrate the Jewish calendar with special services for the Jewish holidays. The synagogue is also the place where major life events are marked and celebrated; births, “Bar and Bat Mitzvah” - a child’s thirteenth birthday and marriages.

Temple Beth Joseph is also home to communal celebrations such as the annual President’s Brunch, held in the Summer.

We hope you’ll come worship and celebrate with us.

Participate!
We encourage you to lead a service and are willing to teach you. To volunteer and/or learn how to conduct a service, please call the synagogue and leave us a message.

It's your turn!
Please consider sponsoring an Oneg (post service get-together) at a forthcoming Friday night service. It doesn't have to be fancy. A platter of cookies, perhaps some tea. It makes for wonderful fellowship. Can be done in honor of a a birthday or most anything, or...just do it! Please call the synagogue to set up your date.

Learning and teaching

Study and learning are integral elements of Jewish life. Learning lives at Temple Beth Joseph:

• Study groups led by our Rabbi
• Hebrew school and pre Bar & Bat Mitzvah training
• A well-stocked library of Judaica and Jewish interest books and periodicals
• Book discussions
• Classes taught by TBJ members at local schools, colleges and education programs

Caring and remembering

"I have seen you come en-masse to wish someone a happy 70th birthday. I have seen you visit and telephone members who are ill. I have seen you attend funeral services in large numbers for our beloved members, may their memories be a blessing, along with preparing and serving shiva meals. I have seen you help out others when they have lots of out-of-town company, by providing sleeping arrangements and meals. And I have seen 14 members gather within 20 minutes to pray for an ill congregant.

I have resided in numerous areas, but none have been as warm-hearted and as the folks here at Temple Beth Joseph. You just won't find people doing so many mitzvot and good deeds and doing them with such sincerity." - Annette Reeder

Our hearts are what make us a community. In a small town, we all know each other and we care for each other. At Temple Beth Joseph, we visit and look after those who are ill or in need of help or companionship and we think of them in our prayers.

Our community stands as a living memorial to our ancestors and loved ones. We remember them in our hearts and on the plaques in our sanctuary. We celebrate and remember their lives in our prayers. Their names on our walls tell their stories and ours.

To participate in caring activities or learn more about dedications, please call the synagogue office.

Improving the world

Our community’s concern for our neighbors goes beyond our village. TBJ members are active in the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism, raising funds to support education and youth activities.

We work to create a better world and a more vital Jewish community by participating in the United Jewish Appeal campaign.

To learn more about communal and charitable activities in Herkimer, please contact the synagogue office.

Visiting Temple Beth Joseph

We welcome you to visit us. The synagogue is normally open for Sabbath and Holiday services, classes and scheduled events throughout the year. We are located at the corner of Prospect and Church Streets in Herkimer. If you are attending services for the first time, we recommend that you call to confirm their schedule or if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you. Shalom!