About BTBJ
Our History
THE HISTORY OF BETH TIKVAH B’NAI JESHURUN
50 YEARS OF TRADITION
- 1956 – A group of dedicated families incorporate the
name “Temple Beth Tikvah” – House of Hope.
- 1958 – Groundbreaking ceremonies are held on a site
on Paper Mill Road. Our modest building is completed just before the High
Holidays.
- 1959 – Rabbi Alexander M. Shapiro becomes the first
rabbi of Temple Beth Tikvah.
- 1961 – Because of a dramatic increase in religious school
enrollment, a school building is added to the synagogue building. Temple
Beth Tikvah is officially inducted as a member of United Synagogue of America.
- 1963 – Temple Beth Tikvah receives its first Solomon
Schechter award for excellence in education. Our membership reaches 285
families over the next year.
- 1968 – Bernard Walters assumes the role of Cantor of
our Congregation.
- 1969 – Rabbi Shapiro leaves our congregation and Rabbi Joseph Teichman
is selected as our next rabbi.
- 1972 – Rabbi Shalom Podwol replaces Rabbi Teichman.
Following several years of unrest and a dramatic drop in membership, merger
talks begin with B’nai Jeshurun Synagogue of Mt. Airy.
- 1973 – The board of Beth Tikvah unanimously approves
the principles of merger. The merger officially takes place in August
1973. The name of the new congregation is Beth Tikvah B’nai Jeshurun.
- 1975 – Rabbi Podwol leaves BTBJ and Rabbi Robert Layman
assumes the pulpit. The next few years can be described as united and
stable. Another Solomon Schechter Award for education is awarded to our
school.
- 1977 – BTBJ starts a modest preschool with an enrollment
of 10 children ages 3, 4 and 5.The preschool becomes a major factor in
attracting young members to our synagogue.
1987 – Our preschool, started by Barbara Abrams, continues to grow and thrive under the direction of Valarie Hurwitz with the help of many dedicated teachers and parents.
- 1988 – Rabbi Layman becomes Executive Director of United
Synagogue, Delaware Valley Region and Rabbi David Klatzker becomes the
new rabbi of BTBJ.
- 1995 – Cantor Arlyne Unger, who had assumed the Educational
Director’s position two years earlier, becomes Cantor of BTBJ, replacing
Cantor Walters who leaves after 27 years of service.
- 1997 – The preschool adds summer camp, kindergarten
and tot power programs to meet the needs of the community. A beautiful
addition with dramatic renovations to our building begins.
- 1998 – Rabbi Klatzker leaves the synagogue and Rabbi
Saul Grife becomes rabbi in August 1998. Rabbi Grife, his wife, Linda and their three daughters, Gabriella, Alana and Shira bring a new sense
of enthusiasm to our congregation.
- 2001 – Cantor Arlyne Unger assumes the title of Hazzan.
Our religious school continues to grow and flourish. BTBJ establishes
a program for our teenage population aptly entitled Teens Together under
the direction of Rabbi Saul Grife.
- 2007 – Marcie Leshner becomes the new preschool director
replacing Valarie Hurwitz as she becomes executive director of BTBJ.
- 2008 – Under the spiritual guidance and wisdom of our
beloved Rabbi Saul Grife, Beth Tikvah B’nai Jeshurun, continues to prosper
and thrive. Many new programs are inaugurated during this period including
our innovative Shabbat Synergy Services, BTBJ University and Adult B’nai
Mitzvah and Confirmation. In July 2008, our Extended Care program for
children ages 12 months to Pre-K opens allowing working families to take
full advantage of our preschool and camp programs. Our halls ring out with
excitement, ruach and joy.
- 2009 – Our synagogue embraces the motto "New Beginnings... Timeless Traditions". We are very proud of our roots, our beliefs and our heritage. At the same time, we look forward to our future with renewed vigor, strength and energy.
MAZEL TOV TO BETH TIKVAH B’NAI JESHURUN.
HERE’S TO A LONG AND PROSPEROUS FUTURE!
