Governor Bentley to Address State’s Largest Synagogue

Alabama Governor Robert Bentley will be the guest speaker for Shabbat services at Birmingham’s Temple Emanu-El on April 15. Elected to the Alabama House of Representatives from the Tuscaloosa area in 2002, Bentley was elected governor last year.

Hours after his inauguration, he made waves during a speech at the Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church when he spoke about “brothers and sisters in Christ,” saying those who had not accepted Jesus were not his brothers and sisters.

Emanu-El Rabbi Jonathan Miller was among the participants in an interfaith group that sat down with Bentley two days later, where he apologized to those who were offended by the remarks.

The April 15 service will begin at 5:40 p.m., followed by a Shabbat dinner. Advance reservations are required for the dinner, which is $10 for adults and $5.50 for children ages 5 to 11.