Temple's time capsule will reveal reminders for future generation

In 50 years, 9-year-old Taylor Rose Harris may or may not remember Sunday.

But she will have reminders.

Sunday was the day that members of the Temple B'nai Sholem in New Bern buried a time capsule in the Jewish Cemetery near the National Cemetery in New Bern.

In 50 years it will be opened. Inside will be the Gates of Prayer, three-part Jewish prayerbook.

The Haggadath, a relious text that explains Passover ritual, will also come from the earth.

The time capsule contains many photographs of the members, along with local newspaper articles beginning in the late 1980s, Sunday's edition of the Sun Journal, the local real estate magazine and a Food Lion flyer. "We want to show how much things cost," said Carla Byrnes, worship committee chairwoman.

She said other items buried in the sealed time capsule include the temple's membership list and handbooks that contain the synagogue's constitution and by-laws.

Old invitations to weddings and bar mitzvahs are included, as are the temple's budget and Sunday school packet.

Each of the congregation members took a turn with the shovel to help bury the capsule. They included Taylor Rose Harris and other children.

Taylor is studying for her bat mitzvah, which will take place when she is 13. She said she is proud to be Jewish.

"My friends are fascinated by me because I know Hebrew prayers," Taylor said.

Byrnes said there has been a strong Jewish presence in New Bern for 100 years. "We are here today so that history will not be forgotten," she said.

"In 50 years many of the youngsters could be here and you will be able to remember the older members. Most of us will be gone then. Maybe we will become a little more real to you."

Byrnes told the youngsters gathered at the ceremony to never forget.

"Continue to fight anti-Semitism," she said. "It is still with us, in the Middle East and Europe. We hope today that anti-Semitism will be something of the past in 50 years."

Marc Harris reminded everyone that through the time capsule, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will not forget the history that the temple had in New Bern for the past 100 years.

Worshippers at the New Bern synagogue come from six counties in Eastern North Carolina.

Francine Sawyer can be reached at 635-5671 or at fsawyer@freedomenc.com