Beth El Congregation
Religious Life
During the early part of the 20th century, Phoenix was home to one congregation, Temple Beth Israel. In the 1930’s the congregation spilt over the decision to hire a Shochet (kosher butcher) and whether to hire a Reform or Conservative rabbi. A group of congregants gathered at Abraham Goodman’s clothing store in order to form Beth El, which would become the first successful and permanently established conservative synagogue in the area.
Beth El Congregation attending the Sabbath ca. 1950
From Fourth and Filmore to Third and McDowell
Beth El Congregation’s first synagogue resided in Phoenix on Fourth and Fillmore Street, in a small stucco building that only held a small number of congregants. By the end of World War II, membership grew to over four hundred families, driving the congregation to find a new home. Beth El Congregation would start off the midcentury looking for bigger place to worship. In 1950 they relocated their synagogue to Third Avenue and McDowell Road. Through the strong leadership of Harry Zeitlin and Sam Schurgin the congregation remained at this location for close to twenty years.
CLICK HERE: Consecration Service at Beth El for the new synagogue
CLICK HERE: Rabbi Signal Start of Synagogue - The Phoenix Jewish News, April 28, 1950
1: Children building a Sukkot
2: Portrait of Jeffrey Phillip Boshes at his Bar Mitzvah on October 2, 1964
By the early 1960’s, the population in Phoenix had grown immensely and Beth El needed to relocate to a larger facility. There was a need to provide for that growth and to follow the majority of the congregants, who had made the decision to move away from the downtown area of Phoenix, north into the surrounding area. In 1967, Beth El relocated to its current location at 1118 West Glendale Ave., where they remain to this present day.
Beth El Synagogue on Glendale Avenue in the 1980's
Did You Know?
There are several different terms that describe where a Jewish congregation gets together to worship.
Orthodox Jews typically use the word “shul,” which is Yiddish meaning “school,” and emphasizes the synagogue’s role as a place of study.
Conservative Jews also use the word “synagogue,” which is actually a Greek translation of Beit K’nesset and means “place of assembly.”
Reform Jews use the word “temple,” because they consider every one of their meeting places to be equivalent to, or a replacement for, The Biblical Temple in Jerusalem.
Sources: https://www.bethelphoenix.com
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Beth El Phoenix
CLICK HERE: BETH EL PHOENIX
1118 W. Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85021
(602) 944-3359
