What makes a community special is often the ordinary, and the unremarkable everyday. Here are some things that make Temple Beth El special.

The Rabbi's study sessions are so good that one of the participants tele-commuted from over five hundred miles away.

There is no assigned seating during the High Holy Days. During the services several years back, a visitor sat down where the Synagogue's largest benefactor typically sits. No problem.

We've been featured in an Albany Times Union article entitled The Global Shtetl.

There is a distinct lack of plaques and markers at the Shul. In fact it is our policy not to emphasize such matters. No memorial chairs, doorframes, and window panes here!

There seems to be some disagreement about what to call Beth El. Older members seem to prefer the grand name of Temple. Younger members often refer to Beth El using the more informal term, The Shul. Beth El's Constitution mysteriously refers to a Congregation Beth El, though perhaps that is just a typo!

Yes really...

After the daily Morning Minyan, breakfast is served. For some reason, bagels with peanut butter seems to be a favorite.

Our building was once a Grand Union super market. We used to have a beautiful structure in downtown Troy, but it burned down many years ago. See our Short History.

Why not help us to add to this comfortable list of idiosyncracies.

Yes, I've got one! Please contact us at info@betheloftroy.org.