Our History

 On October 17, 1970, TBS founder Metz Kranzel placed an ad in the Harrisburg Patriot-News asking if any readers might be interested in a synagogue on the West Shore of Harrisburg.  The respondents met in December and later received permission to use Christ Presbyterian Church for Jewish worship.

The first Shabbat service was held on April 23, 1971 with Rabbi David Ben-Ami as spiritual leader.

In 1974, the Kranzel family donated land to build a synagogue outside Mechanicsburg.  The Temple building was largely constructed by TBS members and dedicated in October, 1974.  From the outset, our synagogue was built to accommodate worship, a religious school, community events and offices.

Temple Beth Shalom affiliated with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation in 1982.