Pottstown Congregation Hesed Shel Emet To Host Open House At Synagogue

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet will host an Open House on Sunday, February 23, 2014, from 10 a.m. - Noon. The event is open to those interested in membership in the synagogue, adult education or conversion classes, children’s religious education, social and cultural events.  Attendees can tour the synagogue’s building facility, meet the rabbi, learn about adult and children’s education, hear about Jewish Women’s League activities and other programs available to members.  Refreshments will be served and visitors can view several displays depicting Jewish holidays.

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet is associated with Conservative Judaism and offers traditional services in an egalitarian setting.  The congregation dates back to 1892, with their first synagogue located on Hale Street in Pottstown.  In 1925, the congregation built a new synagogue at High and Warren Streets.  With a rapidly growing congregation and religious school, the congregation needed to expand. In 1962, they moved to their current location on Keim Street.  The synagogue previously was known by the English translation of its Hebrew name, Congregation Mercy & Truth.

“Our members enjoy a wide variety of benefits, aside from religious services for Shabbat and holidays,” explains congregation president, Janet Prince. “We are proud to offer tuition-free religious education to our members’ children from age 5 through Bar and Bat Mitzvah age. It is our belief that the education of our children is the responsibility of the entire community.” 

In addition, the synagogue has its own cemetery on North Hanover Street in Pottstown.  Cemetery guidelines were recently expanded to allow for burial of a non-Jewish spouse of a member.  “We feel it is important to acknowledge that many of our members are married to those outside the Jewish faith,” says ritual chairman Jack Wolf.  “These non-Jewish spouses are an important part of our congregation.  We welcome them to be involved in all aspects of their spouse’s faith, and this includes the hereafter.”

Rabbi Daniel Zucker joined the congregation in 2011.  A 1971 graduate of the University of California-Berkley with a Bachelor of Arts in Archaeology of the Near East, he holds a Master’s degree in Hebrew Letters from Hebrew Union College in Los Angeles. Rabbi Zucker received his Rabbinic Ordination from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, and his Doctor of Divinity from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America in New York. He  has extensive adult education teaching experience and has published numerous books and articles.  Currently Rabbi Zucker offers adult education classes in “Understanding our Prayerbook,” I”ntroduction to Judaism,” and “Torah Study.”

“Like all congregations, Hesed Shel Emet is made up of a wide variety of types of people,” explains Rabbi Zucker.  “But that said, it is remarkably unified in supporting a strong Jewish presence in our corner of Montgomery and Chester counties. And as a group it takes great pride in the synagogue and in being Jewish. Add to that the warmth of all, and you begin to realize how special it is.”

Congregation Hesed Shel Emet (previously Congregation Mercy and Truth) is located at 575 North Keim Street in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.  For more information about the open house, or to RSVP, please call the synagogue office at 610-326-1717 or email openhouse@hesedshelemet.org.  Information on membership, education and schedule of services can be found on their website at www.hesedshelemet.org  Snow date for the event is Sunday, March 2.

[Press release provided by Amy Wolf.]