JOIN US FOR SERVICES
THIS SATURDAY
WHEN
TRADITIONAL: 9:00 a.m.
LITURGY AND TORAH SERVICE
(SERVICE CONDUCTED IN HEBREW)
MODERN: 11:00 a.m.
WORSHIP MUSIC AND WEEKLY TEACHING
(RECOMMENDED FOR 1ST TIME GUESTS)
VISIT
Looking for a deeper revelation of God and to know Jesus better? Searching for a congregation that will connect you with others who want more from their place of worship than repetitive, stale teaching?
Shalom Macon wants to help you learn about God with new and profound insights from the Bible in a Jewish context, connect with other like-minded believers in community, and grow as a disciple of Jesus, understanding his teaching with new clarity. Click below to find out more and plan a visit.
WHAT ABOUT
MY KIDS?
Have children? Great! We can't wait to meet them. If you have kids from 6 weeks thru 5th grade, Shalom Kids offers engaging age-appropriate classes for them to grow in the knowledge of God and have fun doing it.
FROM OUR RABBI
Damian Eisner
I want to thank you for considering a visit to Shalom Macon. It's certainly exciting to consider checking out a new community but it can also be a bit frustrating to figure out from a website whether or not it's a fit for you. My hope is that you'll find enough here to feel comfortable making the step to visit.
Shalom Macon is a great place to learn, connect, and grow in God and in relationship with others. Your kids will be well cared for, you'll meet some new people, and with God's help, you'll leave inspired and excited to come back. Please let me know if I can answer any questions for you and I hope to meet you soon!
FAQ
Have questions? We have the answers!
We are located at 6733 New Forsyth Road in Macon, Georgia. New Forsyth Road runs parallel to Interstate 75. We are between Bass Road (home to Macon's Bass Pro shop) and Pate Road.
We hold two services on Saturdays at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. All are welcome and invited to particpate in one or both services.
Most first-time guests will choose to attend the 11:00 service as it is conducted in English and tailored to those interested in learning about Messianic Judaism.. This service includes praise and worship music, Shalom Kids children's education,, and the rabbi's weekly teaching.
For those looking for a traditional synagogue morning prayer service, 9:00 am offers the traditional elements with added Messiainic components. It is conducted primarily in Hebrew drawing from the siddur, a book of liturgical prayers (pulled primarily from the Hebrew Scriptures) used in synagogues. An abbreviated Torah service (reading from one of the first five book of the Bible) and a reading from the Gospels is also included.
In Judaism, the celebration of the Sabbath (Hebrew: Shabbat), God's commanded day of rest, begins Friday evening at sundown and ends Saturday evening just after sundown. Leviticus 23:3 instructs us to assemble on this special day, saying, "The seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation." Therefore, in concert with the Bible and Jewish practice, Sabbath services at Shalom Macon are held on Saturday morning.
The 9:00 am service concludes at 10:30 am.
The 11:00 am service concludes around 12:30 pm.
After services, around 12:30 pm, all are invited to gather for a light meal. It's a great opportunity to meet and be met! Guests are certainly welcome and do not need to bring anything.
At 1:00 we often have a topical Messiainic Jewish study that varies depending on the season.
An in-depth, participatory study of the weekly Torah portion is held at 2:30 pm.
Again, all are welcome to participate in the supplementary studies.
If you have kids from 6 weeks thru 5th grade, Shalom Kids offers engaging age-appropriate classes for them to grow in the knowledge of God and have fun doing it.
We have nursery, pre-school, and elementary classes. Safety and security are priorities. Each teacher has a background check on file and a check-in system is in place.
You can learn more and pre-register your kids here.
Judaism provides the foundation of the Christian faith. The Bible is a Jewish book. Jesus and all his disciples were Jews, living, worshipping, and teaching in Israel. They regularly attended the Temple and synagogue, both central elements in their practice.
When Jesus was resurrected a new form of Judaism emerged— Messianic Judaism. It incorporates the familiar and beautiful elements of the faith and practice of the early community of discples, i.e. Judaism, with a central focus on Jesus as the Messiah of the world.
Messianic Judaism as we define it includes the recognition of the beauty and ongoing validity of Jewish tradition and practice as defined by Jesus and the writers of the Apostolic Scriptures (the New Testament).
No. You do not need to be Jewish to attend.
Shalom Macon is a diverse community, comprised of families from many nations, tribes, and tongues (Revelation 7:9) and at least half of the regular attenders are from a Christian church background.
We are a community first and yes, we are also a synagogue with a very special misison and purpose. At the Jerusalem council in the book of Acts, James the brother of Jesus, says these words:
"For Moses from ancient generations has in every city those who preach him, since he is read in the synagogues every Sabbath.” (Acts 15:21 NASB)
In other words, Jews and Gentiles will learn together in the synagogue!
Shalom Macon exists to bring exciting Messianic Jewish teaching to Jews and Christians in an effort to encourage disciples of Jesus in their faith and understanding of the Kingdom of God, the true gospel message, and the ongoing importance of Israel and the Jewish people.
You will certainly experience the feeling of being in a synagogue. You will see Jewish elements in the sanctuary including Torah scrolls and the beautiful ark that houses them, prayers books, etc. We have an extensive library of Jewish and Christian texts. Some members wear a kippah/yarmulke, a traditional head-covering worn by Jewish men. We celebrate the biblical festivals throughout the year as outlined in Leviticus 23. So yes, we are happy to say that we are a Messianic Jewish synagogue.
Faith in Jesus (Yeshua) unites the Messianic Jewish community and the Christian Church, which is the assembly of the faithful from the nations who are joined to Israel through the Messiah.
The simple meaning of the term "Christian" is a follower of the "Christ" (Messiah) so in that sense any disciple of Jesus is a Christian. There is however a particular connotation with the term which includes attending church, celebrating traditional Christian holidays, etc. .
Shalom Macon is not a church. We do not practice Christianity in the traditional sense.
It is a picture of the ekklesia, one Body of Messiah, a community of Jews and Gentiles who, in their ongoing distinction and mutual blessing, anticipate the shalom of the world to come as promised through the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.
No.
At the 11:00 service, we might sing a couple of worship songs in Hebrew but the service and teaching is conducted entirely in English.
READY TO VISIT SHALOM MACON?
Great news! We're looking forward to meeting you. Since you're brand new to the synaogue we want to help you feel right at home. We encourage you to plan you visit below. Let us know you're coming and we'll be ready to roll out the red carpet for you when you arrive.
If you still have questions, we can help with that too.