Our Mission

Thank you for your interest in knowing about Temple Brith Sholom.

There has been a substantial Jewish community in Cortland for over a century. We used to be bigger, and we used to conform to traditions more. We probably now land somewhere between Conservative and Reform, with most of our weight in Reform!

We recognize that there are many ways to be a Jew, and we welcome all ways. We welcome women to the Bema, as well as men. All congregants and friends, all who identify as Jews, may connect with others at services or special events.

Back in the day, we had many Eastern European and Russian-born Jewish families, several who were successful farmers and practiced as Orthodox Jews. They were wonderfully generous with their financial support of the Temple, and they were graciously accepting of those of us who followed Torah less fervently. Most member families were Conservative in their practice of our faith. Some of us still remember the Ashkenazy melodies and rhythms of those times. When you hear them, you know you’re in a place for Jews. It has been said that our little temple was paid for by Orthodox, thinks of itself as Conservative, and is populated by Reform Jews! Whatever we are, we’re still here, and we definitely are a place for Jews.

In an era of shrinking religious observance among all faiths, and particularly when many rural synagogues are closing, we struggle to maintain our synagogue, housed in an architecturally and historically significant building in Cortland, New York.

Our mission, then, is simply to survive, to be a place where Jews may come together to be Jews. To be sure, we welcome all faiths, all orientations – we especially welcome college students who wish for a bit of family on the holidays and sabbaths when they can’t get home.

At the end of the day, we exist to serve the Jews in our little shtetl, those who live here, and those passing through. We have a dedicated cemetery space in Cortland Rural Cemetery, which is consecrated ground for us to bury our dead. We provide for the religious education of our children, when there are families needing that. We provide for Friday night services as often as we can, except in summer months. We have professionally led high holy days services in autumn.
In the words of Tevye, our existence is as precarious as that of a Fiddler on the Roof. But we don’t give up – how could we do that? We are Jews. We have survived worse than this.

Join us when you can for services and events. We would love to have you as members, but we turn no one away at any time, who wishes to come and pray, or laugh, or argue with us.
We’ll keep a light on for you, God willing.

Fondly,

TEMPLE BRITH SHOLOM