Congregation Beth Israel (Worcester, Massachusetts)

For similarly named synagogues, see Beth Israel.
Beth Israel
Hebrew: בית ישראל
Beth Israel synagogue building
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Aviva Fellman[1]
StatusActive
Location
Location15 Jamesbury Drive, Worcester, Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
Congregation Beth Israel (Worcester, Massachusetts) is located in Massachusetts
Congregation Beth Israel (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Location in Massachusetts
AdministrationUnited Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
Geographic coordinates42°16′59″N 71°49′41″W / 42.283111°N 71.828077°W / 42.283111; -71.828077
Architecture
Date established1924 (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking1958[2]
Completed
  • 1941 (first synagogue)
  • 1959 (current synagogue)[3]
Construction cost$735,000[2] (today $7.7 million)
Capacity
  • 476: Sanctuary
  • 110: Chapel
  • 950: Social hall[4]
Website
bethisraelworc.org

Congregation Beth Israel (Hebrew: בית ישראל) is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue and congregation located at 15 Jamesbury Drive in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.[5] Founded in 1924 as an Orthodox synagogue, the congregation formally affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in 1949,[6] and describes itself as the "leading Conservative congregation in Central Massachusetts."[7]

The congregation first worshipped at a house on Pleasant Street; it constructed a synagogue building in its place in 1939.[8] It completed its current location on Jamesbury Drive in 1959.[3][4]

The congregation hired its first permanent rabbi, Israel Chodos, in 1940.[6] Subsequent rabbis have included Emanuel Green (1942-1944), Sidney Guthman (1944-1948), Herbert Ribner (1948–1955), Abraham Kazis (1955–1973),[9] Baruch Goldstein (1971–1986),[9] and Jay Rosenbaum (1983–2003).[2][10][11] In 1994, the synagogue and Rosenbaum were the subject of the book And They Shall be My People: An American Rabbi and His Congregation by Paul Wilkes.[12]

Joel Pitkowsky succeeded Rosenbaum as rabbi in 2003.[1] Pitkowsky left in 2011 and was succeeded by Rabbi Steven Schwarzman.[13] Rabbi Schwarzman left in 2014 and was succeeded by Rabbi Aviva Fellman.

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  13. ^ Porter, Laura. Congregation Beth Israel Welcomes New Rabbi to Pulpit. Jewish Central Voice, Aug 2011.