B’Nai Israel, Beth Shalom to merge

Baton Rouge’s two synagogues—B’Nai Israel and Beth Shalom—have announced they are merging  and will become a single congregation, effective Jan. 1. In an interview on the radio show Talk Louisiana with Jim Engster earlier this morning, officials from the two synagogues disclosed the merger, which became official Aug. 22, after board members from both congregations