Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas

01/12/2026

Statement on Fire at Temple Beth Israel

Temple Shalom is devastated to hear of the fire at Beth Israel Congregation (BIC) of Jackson, MS. We do not yet know the extent of the damage, but we know it was significant and includes at least four Torah scrolls. This was an intentional act of anti-Jewish hatred, and an arson suspect is in custody. This is not the first time Beth Israel Congregation has been the site of such attacks; in 1967 it was bombed by members of the Ku Klux Klan. In spite of these incidents, Beth Israel Congregation will continue to exist as a beacon of refuge for the Jewish Community in Jackson.

Beth Israel Congregation’s building is also the headquarters of the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life (ISJL), which supports dozens of smaller congregations across the south, including our own. Each year we attend their "Southern & Jewish" conference, use elements of their Hineni Y’all curriculum in our Religious School, and invite their resident rabbis to lead services and events here at Temple Shalom. Their current Director of Spirituality, Rabbi Salem Pearce, has been a mentor for our conversion students and a guide for our spiritual leadership.

We understand this is a frightening event, one that hits close to home. Just like Beth Israel Congregation, our Temple and our Board will remain unshakeable in our commitment to the Jewish community and members of Temple Shalom. Over the coming days and weeks, we will provide information on the incident as it becomes available and suggest ways to help our brothers and sisters at BIC and ISJL.

Most importantly, we will continue to add light to the world and do the work of tikkun olam — repairing the world.

"When you come to a place of darkness, you do not chase out the darkness with a broom. You light a candle" - Rav. Yekusiel Halberstam

Authorities have taken a person into custody after a fire heavily damaged a historic synagogue in Mississippi. No congregants were injured.

12/16/2025

Board Statement on Bondi Beach Mass Shooting

We are heartbroken at the news of the mass shooting at the Hanukkah celebration at Sydney’s Bondi Beach on December 14. The death toll has now reached 15, with dozens of others injured. This was a targeted antisemitic attack, motivated by extremist ideology and intentionally committed during Hanukkah. The victims include Chabad Rabbi Eli Schlanger and Ukrainian Holocaust survivor Alex Kleytman. May the memories of all the victims be for a blessing.


Even as we are reeling at the news of this senseless attack, we are grateful for the many Australian citizens who sprang into action, most notably Ahmed al-Ahmed, a 43-year-old Muslim and father of two, who tackled one of the shooters from behind and wrestled away his gun. He is currently recovering in the hospital from injuries sustained during his heroic act. We honor his selflessness on behalf of our Jewish community and wish him, and all who were injured in these horrific attacks, a r’fuah shlema, a complete recovery.


Through these and other recent attacks, Temple Shalom continues to maintain a strong security presence. We are here to offer support and resources for members who need it. Rabbi Rick Jacobs, the president of the Union for Reform Judaism, wrote, “the spirit of the defiant Maccabees is part of the Hanukkah story. Our Jewish community will not go into hiding. We are proud Jews and will remain so even as we make the security of our Jewish community a primary obligation.” In this season, we remember the spirit of the Maccabees, as we stand proudly as a Jewish community. We will continue to respond to this as we do all violence against the Jewish people: standing together to shine our light more brightly than before.


Chag Chanukah Sameach

12/14/2025

11/02/2025

Temple Shalom is hiring

Temple Shalom Office AdministratorTemple Shalom is seeking a part-time administrator and office manager for an average of 10-12 hours of work per week with some flexibility in scheduling. This position pays $15 an hour. We are looking for a person able to manage and prioritize competing needs. This....

10/13/2025

Statement on Hostage Release & Ceasefire Plan

Just over 2 years after the horrific attacks on the Nova Music Festival and multiple Kibbutzim, where over 1,200 Israelis were slaughtered and over 250 taken hostage, we welcome the news of a complex plan to release the hostages and end the war in Gaza. We are grateful to the multiple nations and officials who have worked diligently to secure their freedom, including President Trump and his administration, Prime Minister Netanyahu, and the mediators from Qatar, Turkey, and Egypt for their negotiations with Hamas. The ability to reach a compromise between nations that are raw and ragged with the physical and emotional toll of this conflict is nothing short of a miracle.

The hostages are set to be released on Monday morning, October 13. Hopefully by the time you read this, Alon Ohel, David Cunir, Omri Miran, and the other living hostages will be safe in Israel, surrounded by their loving families and medical professionals to begin healing from their unimaginable ordeal. While we will breathe a sigh of relief once they are free, we realize this is just step one in a complex 20-step process to demilitarize and remove Hamas from governing in Gaza, ensure the safety and dignity of all Palestinian and Israeli citizens, and once again turn our sights towards the vision shared by the vast majority of Americans and those in Israel-Palestine – a democratic two-state solution and peaceful co-existence.

As we rejoice at these developments, we grieve at having recently learned of the terrible deaths by su***de of Yelena Giler and Roei Shalev, both survivors of the Nova Massacre. For many of us, the end of the war will mark the beginning of reckoning with the shock, anger and sadness that we have not allowed ourselves to fully feel as long as the war continued. Like so much of our history as Jews, we must embrace grief and joy together to move forward.

This also marks the beginning of a reckoning and reconciliation among the Jewish people here in our own community, state, and country. We must reclaim the term Zionism as it was initially defined – the right of Jews to self-determination, and a chance for Jews to live in their ancestral homeland. For many of us, this represents a deeply personal, spiritual and historical connection to Israel. As Reform Jews, we hold this connection in tandem with our commitment to Tikkun Olam – healing of the world – and b’tzelehem Elohim – the recognition that every human being is made in the image of G-d, and therefore inherently worthy of dignity and respect. Zionism is not a supremacist belief, a denial of the rights of others, or permission to force others off their own land. Neither is it a carte blanche approval of the Israeli and American governments’ actions. We must continue to hold both administrations responsible for their choices in this conflict, and accountable to see their negotiations and plans through to the end. Only then will there be the possibility of lasting peace in the region.

As always, Temple Shalom is here for our members and wider Jewish community. If you are struggling to cope with the complex emotions of the Israeli-Gaza war or our region’s response to it, please reach out. There is help available for you, through our own committees and through the Jewish Federation. We must come together as a community if we are to realize the words of the prophet Micah: Nation shall not take up Sword against nation; They shall never again know war (Micah 4:3). Temple Shalom remains steadfastly committed to not just the end of the war, but the beginning of peace.

05/22/2025

Statement on shooting at Jewish Museum in DC
Dear Temple Shalom Community

We are still processing the murders of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Lynn Milgrim outside the Jewish Museum in Washington DC last night.

We all know that the outcome of antisemitic rhetoric is violence and vigilantism that puts Jews and non-Jews in harms way. We at Temple Shalom condemn the murders in the strongest terms and call for a deescalation of rhetoric around the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

As longtime and proud advocates for peace, we offer condolences to the surviving family members and comfort to the whole community as we grieve.

Please note that all of our upcoming events have security present and our security committee is connected with law enforcement to ensure your safety at Temple Shalom.

‎בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה אֲ-דֹנָי אֱ-לֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם דַּיָּן הָאֱמֶת

Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas leadership

03/17/2025

Once per semester, Temple Shalom hosts an Educational Shabbat service sponsored by the University of Arkansas Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. This service is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about Judaism, Jewish spiritual practices, and the Jewish community in Northwest Arkansas. If you are not Jewish and are curious about what a typical Shabbat service is like, this is an appropriate opportunity to attend.

Our next Educational Shabbat service will take place on Friday, April 11 at 6 pm. The service will last approximately 90 minutes and will be followed by an oneg and open discussion session.

Once per semester, Temple Shalom hosts an Educational Shabbat service sponsored by the University of Arkansas Tyson Center for Faith and Spirituality in the Workplace. This service is open to anyone who wishes to learn more about Judaism, Jewish spiritual practices, and the Jewish community in North...

01/12/2025

Mah Jongg Announcement

Due to the weather and many saying they are unable to play tomorrow, we will cancel our January game. The next two Sundays have other events in the afternoon so we will not try to reschedule in January. Our next scheduled game is on February 9 at 1 pm. Hope to see you then!

11/27/2023

Join us for Super Saturday at the Fayetteville Public Library!

Join us for a story time about Hanukkah with Temple Shalom

11/10/2023

Temple Shalom is hiring an office administrator. Please see our posting:

Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas

11/01/2023

TEMPLE SHALOM of NORTHWEST ARKANSAS is pleased to invite you to An Educational Shabbat Service sponsored by the Tyson Center for Faith-Friendly Workplaces at the University of Arkansas.

10/08/2023

Standing in Solidarity with the People of Israel

Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas stands with other Reform Jewish congregations across the U.S. and around the world to condemn the attacks on Israel Saturday, October 7.