Welcome to Congregation B’nai Israel. We are a small congregation with a long history. We are affiliated with the Union of Hebrew congregations. However, like many small congregations, our members come from a variety of backgrounds and we strive to make everyone feel at home. We hope that you will find in us your Jewish home and join our congregation. We serve the Golden Triangle of Mississippi – Starkville, Aberdeen, West Point, and Columbus – as well as Western Alabama. Lay Leader Bonnie Oppenheimer will be leading our Shabbat services.
Let us know what your Jewish family can do to help you feel more at home.
Selected Israeli Charities
Magen David Adom
Friends of IDF
Upcoming Services at Temple B’nai Israel
Shabbat Service Dates
May 3, 2024 – Friday Evening at 7:30 pm (Oneg to follow)
May 17, 2024 – Friday Evening at 7:30 pm (Oneg to follow)
June 7, 2024 – Friday Evening at 7:30 pm (Oneg to follow)
(For Hillel Shabbat Services on the MSU Campus, see the Hillel page.)
Upcoming Special Events
Please check back for upcoming special events!
The following are additional available resources.
- Podcasts from ReformJudaism.org
- Livestream Broadcast of Services from Temple Emanu-el, NY, NY
- Livestreaming at Central Synagogue, NY, NY
Past Events
Passover Seder – April 22, 2024
The Sisterhood hosted a Community Passover Seder! Members and guests, led by Leader Bonnie Oppenheimer, participated in the Haggadah reading, which commemorates the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt!
Purim Party – March 24, 2024
B’nai Israel’s Purim Party was a lively, entertaining event. In addition to the usual fellowship, participants took turns reading the Purim story aloud. Other highlights were the delicious snacks prepared by the Sisterhood and the beautiful costumed Esther! (For several more photos see the Photo Gallery!)
Shabbat Across America – March 1, 2024
All attending enjoyed a home-style Shabbat dinner, with prayers, commentary and conversation. It was truly a special event!
Chanukah Party – December 2, 2023
The Chanukah Party was a huge success. Delicious hors d’oeuvres and desserts! And a successful Sisterhood fundraising auction!
Welcome Back Brunch – August 27, 2023
The Welcome Back Brunch was enjoyed by all attendees. Delicious food, drink and fellowship!
Passover Seder – April 5, 2023
The Passover Seder participants enjoyed a meaningful and memorable experience, connecting them with the story of the Exodus and its enduring message of freedom and liberation.
Shabbat Across America – March 3, 2023
We joined thousands across America to light candles, say the Shabbat blessings and enjoy a “home style” dinner together. This was a great celebration of Jewish unity!
Chanukah Party – Sunday December 11, 2022
The Chanukah party and auction was enjoyed by all!
Anne and Emmett – Starkville Community Theatre – November 10
The Janet Langhart Cohen drama highlights Frank, a 13-year-old Jewish girl whose diary provided insight into the Holocaust, and Till, a 14-year-old African American youth whose brutal murder in Mississippi sparked the American Civil Rights Movement.
A Special visit from Rabbi Caroline Sim, Director of Rabbinical Services for ISJL. October 21, 2022
Author T.K. Thorne discussed her latest book, “Behind the Magic Curtain: Secrets, Spies, and Unsung White Allies of Birmingham’s Civil Rights Days” – July 17, 2022
All who attended enjoyed this informative talk by T.K. Thorne!
Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day
Remembrance event – Columbus Air Force Base April 28, 2022
Community Passover Seder – Friday, April 15, 2022
The Seder was a great success! The temple celebrated in person with a great turnout! Bonnie did a wonderful job leading the seder service!
Chanukah Celebration, December 5, 2021
We had a wonderful Chanukah celebration. We thank each of you for coming in, and for the money raised in the Sisterhood raffle.
Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer led our High Holy Day services – 2021.
Going Away Party – June 12, 2021
Going away party was held for Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer to honor him for his 14 years of service to our congregation. The event was at the Plymouth Bluff Pavilion. Coffee and lunch was provided with a short service in between led by Rabbi Oppenheimer.
Passover Seder – March 27, 2021
The online Passover seder, led by Rabbi Oppenheimer, was a success! We were not able to eat at the same table,
but still enjoyed each other’s company and reading from the Haggadah!
Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer held virtual services bi-weekly from April 8, 2020 to April 23, 2021 using WebEx
Visit and discussion with Rabbi Rozovsky on Zoom was held on Sunday, May24, 2020
Temple B’nai Israel held “Shabbat Across America” on February 28, 2020
This was a traditional “at home” Shabbat celebration with candle lighting and blessing,
Kiddush, the blessing over challah, a traditional Shabbat dinner, zemirot, and
birkat hamozon. The evening was rich in spiritual achievement, special dishes and amiability.
The reciting of the Kiddush expressed the holiness of Shabbat! More pics in the Photo Gallery!
Shabbat Across America
Rabbi Rozovsky from ISJL led a Torah Study Sunday, January 19, 2020
The Torah Study was on the “Fathers of Reform Judaism”. The study included
early controversies to the current “wide breadth in what it means to be reform”.
Torah Study January 2020
Chanukah Brunch and Auction Fundraiser Sunday, December 8, 2019
Chanukah Brunch and Auction Fundraiser was very enjoyable!
Lots of delicious food and many items to bid on at the auction! Pictures in the Photo Gallery!
Welcome Back Luncheon – August 24, 2019 – Followed morning Services
It was a delicioius luncheon and everyone enjoyed great comradery.
Passover Seder, Friday, April 19, 2019
The Sisterhood made a special Passover for our members, friends and guests.
Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer leads the Seder with knowledge, humor, and in song
which makes our Seder a special experience. Check out Photo Gallery for more pics!
Passover Seder 2019
April 5, 2019 – Shabbat Service
Guest speaker: Noah Levine, Jewish Community Legacy Project
Noah Levine, from the Jewish Community Legacy Project (JCLP), was the
guest speaker at Shabbat services, April 5, 2019, 7:30 p.m. JCLP works exclusively
with congregations in small towns around the United States, including congregations in
Mississippi and elsewhere in the South. JCLP assists temple boards in addressing issues
that are important to their congregations. Noah is temple past president of Congregation
Etz Chaim in Marietta, Georgia. He currently assists the congregation in leadership
development and the establishment of Havurah groups.
Saturday, March 30, 2019
Torah Study with Rabbi Rozovsky – A discussion on “War Crimes in the Bible.”
March 22, 2019 – Shabbat Service, Megillah reading and Potluck Dinner.
The Shabbat Service was followed by a potluck dinner and Megillah reading. Members participated in the Megillah reading, dressed in costumes
and shook graggers when Haman’s name was mentioned!
March 1, 2019 – Shabbat Across America
“Hundreds of synagogues across the continent took part in an historic national Jewish event to celebrate what unifies all Jews — Shabbat!”
Temple B’nai Israel had a delicious meal with traditional rituals and more of the Shabbat experience!
Torah Study/Visit with Rabbi Rozovsky from ISJL (Institute of Southern Jewish Life), Sunday, January 20, 2019
Many thanks to Rabbi Rozovsky, ISJL and the Sisterhood of Temple B’nai Israel for the insightful program and tasty brunch! Rabbi Rozovsky also visited our Jewish cemetery. For more pictures see the Photo Gallery!
Visiting Cemetery
Chanukah Potluck Dinner and Auction Fundraiser Sunday, December 2, 2018
Chanukah Potluck Dinner and Auction Fundraiser had a great turnout! Members and friends enjoyed the delicious dishes
and friendly folks at the dinner. The auction was fun and a great fundraiser for the temple! There was also a Chanukah lighting at the Columbus AFB, see picture below. More pictures in Photo Gallery!
Columbus AFB Chanukah Lighting
Sukkot Celebration – Sunday September 30, 2018
There were prayers and ritual services around the Sukkot booth, plus additional prayer and study with a light snack.
Welcome Back Potluck Luncheon – Sunday, August 26, 2018
B’nai Israel Passover Seder – March 30, 2018
The Sisterhood worked hard to make this a special Passover for our members, friends and guests.
Rabbi Seth Oppenheimer led the Seder with knowledge, humor, and in song
to make our Seder a special experience.
Shabbat Across America – March 9, 2018,
Our temple joined hundreds of synagogues across the continent in taking part in an historic
national Jewish event to celebrate Shabbat with the traditional Shabbat rituals – lighting
candles, Kiddush and Hamotzee. It was an amazing, delicious dinner.
Shabbat/Purim Service & Celebration, March 2, 2018
Purim Celebration was quite an event! It included both food and a play!
Everyone enjoyed participating in a Purim script! Our own ALEPH Rabbinical Student, Seth Oppenheimer
handed out parts and led the script! An informative and entertaining evening!
Temple Brochure
717 2nd Ave. North
Columbus, MS 39701
Temple B'nai Israel 