NATCHEZ — Area residents are invited to stop by Temple B’Nai Israel tonight for a Shabbat service led by a traveling rabbi from New York City’s oldest synagogue in continuous use.

Rabbi Peter J. Rubinstein, senior rabbi at Central Synagogue, will lead the Shabbat service at 7:30 tonight at the temple on South Commerce Street.

Temple B’Nai Israel member Paris Winn said Rubinstein will lead the service as part of an outreach program during August coordinated by the Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life in Jackson.

The program brings rabbis and cantors to the 13 Southern states, Winn said, to lead Shabbat services.

“The rabbi travels to these 13 states going to smaller towns that have congregations but do not have a full-time rabbi,” he said.

Winn said Temple B’Nai Israel is very fortunate to have Rubinstein, who Winn said leads the third or fourth largest Reform Jewish congregation in the country, at the temple here in Natchez.

“We’re really very lucky to have him come and speak. We’ve not had anybody like that in Natchez in years, if ever,” Winn said. “We’re very lucky to be part of this and part of the institute’s program.”

Temple B’Nai Israel, Winn said, has a unique membership and is open to people of all faiths.

Soloist and flutist Kathleen Mackey King and organist Anna Rose Davis will perform the musical accompaniment for the Shabbat service.

An Oneg, or a social gathering, with desserts and coffee will follow the service downstairs in the temple’s community room.