Away from the highway, hidden behind the tall trees, nestled by a beautiful hillside leading up to Heavenly Valley, you might be surprised to find a synagogue. Just turn onto Saddle Road from Pioneer Trail and that is where you will find Temple Bat Yam, which serves the South Lake Tahoe and Carson Valley Jewish community. You would also find a facility originally converted from a building housing a kindergarten school to the temple that it now is. A fully equipped playground augments recreational and outdoor activities.
Having been frequent visitors to the Tahoe area since the 1950s, we decided to permanently locate in the area. Discovery and exposure to Temple Bat Yam by very dedicated members welcomed us into the community with open arms. For more than 20 years it has been most gratifying to be actively involved with Temple Bat Yam to help secure its future and well being.
The temple’s board of trustees, Rabbi Evon Yakar and the volunteers steer and implement the temple’s policies and activities. Scheduled religious services are held at the temple as well as in a valley location. High Holiday services are celebrated to capacity crowds.
Volunteerism, outreach and integration into the greater community, driven and sponsored by Rabbi Yakar, are an important part of the agenda of the Temple Bat Yam. A weekly bulletin published and edited by Rabbi Yakar is disseminated via the Internet to several hundred people to keep the community informed.
We, the some 90 member families of Temple Bat Yam, hope to enhance the temple’s future and the community at large.
This summer, over the weekend of Aug. 16-18, Temple Bat Yam will be celebrating 30 years and we invite all to join our events. Watch for continued “reflections” from our temple members and updates with details about our weekend.