Congregation Beth Elohim

Not to be confused with Beth Elohim, founding member of the Union Temple of Brooklyn.
For similarly named synagogues, see Beth Elohim.
Congregation Beth Elohim
Hebrew: בֵּית אֱלֹהִים
The front entrance of a hexagonal building capped by a dome is visible, facing a street-corner. The entranceway is framed by large stone columns and flanked by metal seven branched menorahs on each side. There are four wooden doors, one on each side and two in the middle, topped by a large arched stained-glass window. A stone stairway with metal railings on each side leads up from the sidewalk to the doors.
Sanctuary main entrance
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Rachel Timoner
  • Rabbi Matthew Green (Associate)
  • Rabbi Stephanie Kolin
  • Rabbi Gerald I. Weider (Emeritus)
StatusActive
Location
Location274 Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue, Park Slope, Brooklyn, New York City, New York
CountryUnited States
Congregation Beth Elohim is located in New York City
Congregation Beth Elohim
Location in New York City
Geographic coordinates40°40′16″N 73°58′27″W / 40.6712°N 73.9743°W / 40.6712; -73.9743
Architecture
Architect(s)
  • Simon Eisendrath & B. Horowitz (Sanctuary)
  • Mortimer Freehof & David Levy (Temple House)
TypeSynagogue
Style
Date established1861 (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking
  • 1909 (Sanctuary)
  • 1928 (Temple House)
Completed
  • 1910 (Sanctuary)
  • 1929 (Temple House)
Specifications
Direction of façadeWest (Sanctuary)
Capacity1,200 worshippers
Dome(s)One
MaterialsCast stone
Website
cbebk.org
  • Temple Beth Elohim;
  • and The Temple House
Part ofPark Slope Historic District (ID80002636)
Significant dates
Designated CPNovember 21, 1980
Designated NYCLJuly 17, 1973
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

Congregation Beth Elohim (Hebrew: בֵּית אֱלֹהִים, lit. 'House of God'), also known as the Garfield Temple and the Eighth Avenue Temple, is a Reform Jewish congregation and historic synagogue located at 274 Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue, in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, New York, United States.

Founded in 1861 as a more liberal breakaway from Congregation Baith Israel, for the first 65 years it attempted four mergers with other congregations, including three with Baith Israel, all of which failed. The congregation completed its current Classical Revival synagogue building in 1910 and its "Jewish Deco" (Romanesque Revival and Art Deco) Temple House in 1929.[6][2] These two buildings were contributing properties to the Park Slope historic district, listed as a New York City Landmark district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7][8]

The congregation went through difficult times during the Great Depression, and the bank almost foreclosed on its buildings in 1946.[2] Membership dropped significantly in the 1930s because of the Depression, grew after World War II, and dropped again in the 1960s and 1970s as a result of demographic shifts.[9][10] Programs for young children helped draw Jewish families back into the neighborhood and revitalize the membership.[9]

By 2006, Beth Elohim had over 1,000 members,[11] and, as of 2009, it was the largest and most active Reform congregation in Brooklyn,[12] the "oldest Brooklyn congregation that continues to function under its corporate name",[13] and its pulpit was the oldest in continuous use in any Brooklyn synagogue.[14] In 2009, it was listed by Newsweek as one of America's 25 "Most Vibrant" Jewish congregations.[15]

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