B'nai Torah History

In 1955, at a meeting at the Highland Park Recreation Center, Highland Park Reform Temple, later to be renamed B’nai Torah, was born. Our first home was a rented office over Gsell’s drug store on Central Avenue; our first Torah was a gift from North Shore Congregation Israel. Our first full-time rabbi, Sholom A. Singer, also joined the congregation in 1955.

A religious school was established, meeting Sunday mornings at Lincoln School. Friday evening services were conducted wherever facilities could be rented, usually at Lincoln School, but also at other public schools in the area.

In 1958, we purchased the property at 2789 Oak Street, the historic site of the Old Port Clinton Lighthouse. The Spanish-style mansion on the property is referred to in an old history book as “Miralago,” which is Spanish for “behold the lake.”

In 1966, we added our present sanctuary building to the property.

In our 50 plus years, we have remained a constant and dependable fixture on the North Shore, providing enriching education to our children, spearheading engaging forums for our adults and providing opportunities for meaningful community involvement.  B'nai Torah is at the intersection of that which is traditional and contemporary.  We as Jewish Americans evolve along with the world, but the B'nai Torah family has never waivered in providing dedicated clergy and staff  to help our congregants create deeper meaning in their lives by activating the presence of God through study, prayer, and connecting with others.  Our commitment to the future of our people and our community was solidified in our beautiful Neil Coleman Education Center, built in 2008. 

We are proud to be members of the Union for Reform Judaism (URJ) which affords us the following resources (and many more):

· Congregational consulting

· Youth programs in North America and in Israel

· Placement services for professional personnel

· Union support and guidance in many areas,
including: Fundraising and endowment issues, leadership development, lifelong Jewish learning, membership recruitment, |integration and retention, music, workshop and religious living, religious school curricula and textbooks, social action/tikkun olam, synagogue management, subscriptions for Reform Judaism Magazine, assistance in resolving clergy-congregation disputes.

Today we number nearly 300 families, and new members are always welcome!  
Please, come visit us and see how we experience Judaism!