Beyond TBJ

According to the figures of the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire there are about 3,000 self-identified Jewish households in the state. The communities range in size from Manchester’s 900 families to Bethlehem’s 50 families. Thirteen congregations have full-time or part-time rabbis and two are lay-led. Eight congregations identify with the Reform movement, five with the Conservative movement, one Reconstructionist and three are Chabad (Manchester, Dartmouth University, and UNH). There are also two organized Chavurot. Activities of all these congregations cover a wide range of options and often are jointly sponsored by several congregations.

The Federation was formerly known as the Jewish Federation of Greater Manchester, but in 2007 became the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire and now serves the entire state. Temple Beth Jacob is a Federation affiliate. Federation’s newspaper, The New Hampshire Jewish Reporter, informs the community about the many programs happening across the state, as well as local, national, and international issues of interest. The Federation’s website is an excellent local resource page.

Additional Jewish life is found in Hillel at the University of New Hampshire and Dartmouth. There is also the Southern NH Men’s Club and chapters of Hadassah in Concord, Dover, Manchester, Nashua, the Seacoast and Upper Valley (Hanover area).

The numbers of those identifying with the Jewish community in New Hampshire have increased over the last several years, as have the program offerings of Jewish culture and education in many communities, reflecting the national trends.

Rabbi Robin and Cantor Shira are members of the Jewish Clergy Association of New Hampshire. Both active and retired rabbis and cantors living in New Hampshire are welcome to join this organization, which meets monthly. The purposes are to support one another, to exchange information, to find coverage when a synagogue clergy person will be taking time off, and to brainstorm ideas about how to collaborate and grow the affiliated Jewish community of New Hampshire. JCANH works with the individual congregations and with the Jewish Federation of New Hampshire to ensure the best possible Jewish life for Granite Staters.