Beth Jacob Synagogue
2010 - 2011
Executive Committee
Michael Seroussi........................ President
Al Ruditzky.................................. 1st Vice President
Ernest Todd ............................... 2nd Vice President
Tracy A. Gorin............................ Treasurer
Roslyn Etra ................................ Secretary
Marvin Horwitz........................... Chairman of the Board
Stacy L. Gould ........................... Acting House & Grounds Chairman
Michael Gere .............................
Advisors & Vice-Chairmen
of The Board
Jerald Navick
Marc J. Bokoff ........................... .Ritual Committee Chairman
Scott D.Camassar....................... Past President
Board of
Directors
Steven Bokoff
Harriet Burchman (Past
President)
Ellen Deleon
Arlene Dressler
Joel
Etra
Evert Gawendo
Leo Gerechter
(Honorary)
Helen Glick (Past President)
Nancy Gordon (Past
President)
Steven Green
Joseph Haroun
David Hecht (Past
President)
Norman Katzoff
Steven Morse
Mindy Pedersen
Martin
Shapiro (Past President)
Phyllis Stern (Honorary)
Harold Welling (Honorary)
Robin Wolf
History of Beth
Jacob Synagogue
Beth Jacob was founded in 1929 by a group of 29 families, mostly first and second generation Americans. Their religious convictions were deep enough for them to be concerned about providing a traditional Jewish education for their children, but they wanted a form of Judaism which allowed them to better integrate their secular and religious lives/ The philosophy of the Conservative movement provided the answers these founders sought.
The first High Holiday services were led by student rabbis in the borrowed Community House of the United Congregational Church. Weekly Shabbat services were soon initatied at the B'nai B'rith clubrooms on Shetucket Street. By 1931, a rabbi had been hired, a religious school established, and the Community House on Church Street purchased as the first permanent home of the synagogue. The synagogue was renamed Beth Jacob in honor of Jacob Slosberg. During these early years, one of the most Jewisly-active young people in the congregation was Marshall Meyer. He was eventually ordained at the Jewish Theological Seminary, established Conservative Judaism and a Rabbinical Seminary in Argentina, and re-vitalized Congregation B'nai Jeshurun in New York City before his untimely death.
Beth Jacob extended full and equal religious rights to women in 1975. Shortly thereafter, Beth Jacob's leaders sought a means to relocate the synagogue, because of the deteriorating physical plant and environment on Church Street. Groundbreaking for the new synagogue building took place on October 8, 1978, and the building was dedicated in 1979.
In June 2009, Beth Jacob celebrated its 80th anniversary with a gala celebration with keynote speaker Attorney General Richard Blumenthal. Senator Christopher Dodd also gave remarks.
Beth Jacob provides religious education to its students through the Jewish Life and Learning Program. This program meets mostly on Sunday mornings, but with occasional Friday night and Shabbat morning programs as well.
Many of our students also attend the Solomon Schechter Academy in New London. High School students attend the Jewish Community High School under the auspices of the Jewish Federation of Eastern Ct. Beth Jacob sponsors a nursery school for 3 and 4 year olds which enrolls children of any religious background; for more information on the Nursery School, contact the office.