Beth Shalom B'Nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation is a Jewish temple in Chicago's Chicago Lawn neighborhood. It is the oldest temple in the Chicago area serving the Israelite community. Rabbi Capers Funnye, Jr. serves as Rabbi. Beth Shalom is an affiliate congregation of the international Israelite Board of Rabbis. While they avoid referring themselves as "Black Jews", congregants practices were formulated by the late Honorable Chief Rabbi Wentworth A. Matthew, one of the progenitors of the faith formerly referred to as such.
Beth Shalom is a family oriented synagogue. All Jewish high holy days (such as Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashana, and Yom Kippur) are observed. In addition, they have instituted days of celebration to honor the mothers, fathers, and children of the congregation.
Beth Shalom has a choir, a staff of shamuses (ushers), and Jewish education classes as well as Torah study. They have both a Sisterhood (Nashe Or), and Brotherhood (Anshay Chayil) as auxiliaries supporting the congregants. Rites of faith (marriages, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, funerals, counseling, letters of reference) are provided for members of the congregation.