WESTPORT — A new vending machine at Temple Israel is not your ordinary lunchroom dispenser of snacks, but what the congregation calls the “world’s first Jewish vending machine.”

And since the device dispenses resources to fulfill spiritual desires, and not to satisfy a sweet tooth, it just may avoid those glitches that bedevil typical vending machines and leave customers hanging.

“This vending machine is a one-stop shop for living a Jewish life,” Temple Israel’s senior Rabbi Michael Friedman said in a statement.

The machine can dispense “an array of essential Jewish items, from Shabbat candles to mezuzah scrolls and even Israeli snacks, encapsulating the full spectrum of Jewish practice,” he added.

Friedman suggested the idea of exploring whether a vending machine could be adapted to make available items for “Jewish rituals in easy reach,” according to associate Rabbi Zachary Plesent, who then decided to try to make  it a reality.

It became a reality Friday, when the vending machine was installed at the Coleytown Road synagogue.

Temple Israel is “not just embracing innovation; we’re making it a tangible part of our community. This Jewish vending machine physically manifests our commitment to making Jewish tradition accessible to everyone,” Plesent said in the congregation’s announcement.

The vending machine is not considered a novelty, according to synagogue officials, but a blend of innovation and tradition.

John Kaufman, president of the temple’s Board of Trustees, described the machine’s role as matching “the efficiency of modern technology with the depth of Jewish culture. 

“It’s designed to resonate with our tech-savvy younger members while providing a service that congregants of all ages will find invaluable,” he added.