Home - Temple B'nai Israel, Panama City, FL % The Reform Jewish Congregation of Bay County, FL %

Shalom Y’all

We’re a close-knit and inclusive Reform synagogue, celebrating Shabbat, holidays, and life’s special moments with joy and meaning. At our temple, personal connections flourish, and the discovery of Judaism becomes a shared journey. Join us as we celebrate traditions, share in one another’s joys and sorrows, and find purpose in a supportive and caring Jewish community. Welcome to our Bay County Reform Temple family.

High Holy Day services for the new year 5785 will be conducted by rabbinical student Doug Hauer, and B’nai Israel’s own cantorial soloist, Daniel Sternlicht.

Wednesday	10/02	7:00 p.m.	Erev Rosh Hashanah
Thursday	10/03	10:00 a.m.	Rosh Hashanah
Thursday	10/03	12:00 p.m.	Taschlicht
Friday	10/11	7:00 p.m.	Kol Nidre
Saturday	10/12	10:00 a.m.	Yom Kippur Morning Service
Saturday	10/12	4:00 p.m.	Yom Kippur Yizkor / Neilah

Temple B’nai Israel stands with the people of Israel, and as with all terrorist attacks, we unequivocally condemn the appalling attacks by the Hamas terrorists. We mourn the loss of innocent lives and pray for the safety of all of the innocent civilians involved.

“The Gaon of Vilna said that ve-samachta be-chagekha (You shall rejoice in your festival; Deuteronomy 16:14) is the most difficult commandment in the Torah. I could never understand this puzzling remark. Only during the war did I understand. Those Jews who, in the course of their journey to the end of hope, managed to dance on Simhat Torah, those Jews who studied Talmud by heart while carrying stones on their back, those Jews who went on whispering Zemirot shel Shabbat (Hymns of Sabbath) while performing hard labor . . . ve-samachta be-chagekha was one commandment that was impossible to observe—yet they observed it.”

Elie Wiesel

There are no upcoming events.

No events scheduled for November 20, 2024.

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Temple B’nai Israel celebrated 20 years at its current location on Frankford Avenue! Check out the Video!

In the News

Hanukkah 2022

Yom Kippur 2019

Rosh Hashanah 2019

Rebuilding After Hurricane Michael

From the Union For Reform Judaism / Reform Movement

For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard

For Some of Us the Holidays Are Just…Hard jemerman November 18, 2024

Death and Mourning

As we head into the holiday season, I am acutely aware of how much different this year is going to be than previous ones. I will be celebrating without my mom for the first time. My mother died in January 2021, and I'm still dealing with the unexpected waves of grief that wash over me, sometimes out of nowhere. As I head into this first winter holiday season without her, I'm not quite sure I know what to expect, other than everything is going to be very different.

Enjoy A Crockpot Shabbat

Enjoy A Crockpot Shabbat jemerman November 18, 2024

Shabbat

As the weather begins to get chillier, many home cooks pull out their trusty slow cookers to create easy yet warm dishes. Slow cooking is nothing new. It hasn't had staying power with Jewish communities just because the resulting food is delicious; it also allowed observant Jews to keep Shabbat by kindling a fire before sundown on Friday and keeping food warm until Saturday afternoon.

The Cost of Free Land

The Cost of Free Land jemerman November 14, 2024

Native American issues

The author's Great-Great-Uncle Louie Sinykin posing with men in Dakota garb in South Dakota's Black Hills. Date unknown.

When I was a child growing up in the 1980s, the story I learned about Thanksgiving followed the classic script: it highlighted amity between the Pilgrims and their Indigenous neighbors. Due to this connection, the hunger of the European settlers was met with squash and turkey.

Ten Things We Say When We Talk About Antisemitism

Ten Things We Say When We Talk About Antisemitism sdolgov November 4, 2024

Modern Day Issues in Antisemitism

URJ leaders have had thousands of conversations about antisemitism over the past years, especially after October 7th. The following list summarizes the ideas that arise most often in these discussions.