Visitors

We would like to invite anyone visiting the Scranton area or contemplating a move to Northeastern Pennsylvania to stop by Temple Israel. We are the only Conservative synagogue in Lackawanna County and the surrounding counties north, west and east of us. You will be amazed by the beauty of our facility.

Temple Israel is a very friendly and welcoming congregation. We have regular daily services, as well as on Shabbat and holidays. Stop by any day during regular hours and we will give you a tour. If you live in Scranton, or anywhere in northeastern Pennsylvania and have not chosen where you wish to worship, please consider becoming a member of the Temple Israel family. We look forward to meeting you!

Temple Israel Cemetery and Affiliated Jewish Cemeteries

Temple Israel maintains its own cemetery in the borough of Dunmore, Pennsylvania. Membership in Temple Israel entitles you and your family to full religious burial privileges in the cemetery.

There are no internment fees for members in good standing. Fees for individual and family plots, maintenance and general burial costs and regulations concerning the cemetery should be discussed with the Cemetery Committee. Temple Israel also operates its own Hevre Kadesha (Ritual Burial Society). We also own, maintain and operate the cemeteries of the former Jewish synagogues in Carbondale, Jessup and Dickson City. These congregations ceased to exist in the last century. We welcome donations from family and descendants of those loved ones who are interred in any of our cemeteries, to help defray the major expenses associated with maintaining these facilities

Throughout history, many Jewish communities made their first priority the acquisition of land to consecrate for Jewish burial, even before building synagogues or schools.  So it was with the founders of Temple Israel of Scranton. Just as Abraham established the Cemetery of the Patriarchs at the Cave of Machpela, our synagogue’s founders established our cemetery as its first order of business when founding the Congregation in 1921. Our handsomely landscaped Cemetery, as well as the cemeteries we maintain, offer our members, the Jewish community and relatives of our members and former members the opportunity for dignified burial in the spirit of Jewish tradition.

Whether you are faced with pre-need or at-need arrangements, we are here to help you. We know how important it is to comfort each other in times of loss and grief. Those who walk our cemetery grounds recall, with love, those buried there, and recognize that ours is a congregation that provides for its members in joy and in sorrow, in life and in death.

Temple Israel is an affiliate synagogue of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and follows Conservative burial practices.  As such, non-Jewish spouses and other gentile relatives are not presently allowed to select their eternal resting place in the Cemetery among their Jewish loved ones. However, since the Reform cemetery is adjacent and contiguous with ours, its possible to arrange for burial of a Jewish and non-Jewish member near the couple’s other Jewish relatives.

You are free to select the mortuary of your choice. However, we recommend that you ask for guidance in selecting a mortuary since some have greater experience and training in Jewish funeral traditions and are better at coordinating arrangements.

It is only natural to avoid discussions of death and dying; that’s understandable. However, leaving the decision–making and expenses to bereaved loved ones during a time of emotional duress can be easily avoided. We are here to help guide you to act lovingly by selecting and reserving individual burial sites ahead of time, thereby eliminating this stressful at-need decision for your closest family and friends.

Let us know how we can be of service to you and your family. It is our duty and honor!

Parking

The Temple Israel parking lot is located at the northwest corner of Monroe Avenue and Pine Street, in close proximity to the main entrance on the Monroe Avenue side of the building. It may be used by our members whenever Temple functions are being held. Limited drop-off space for the handicapped is available on the Monroe Avenue side of the building directly in front of the chapel. Advance notice of handicapped drop-off allows us to assist you. Street parking on Monroe Avenue may also be utilized. You may park in the areas marked ‘Temple Israel Parking’. City parking permits are available for Minyanaires and others who regularly attend Temple Israel services and who wish to park in ‘Permit Parking Only’ areas.