The History of Beth Jacob Congregation
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In
1925 a group of 33 people decided that Jews who lived in the West Adams
section of Los Angeles needed a synagogue with a Talmud Torah and
social center close to their homes. This small group chose the name
“West Adams Hebrew Congregation.” The new congregation purchased a lot
at the corner of West Adams Street and Hillcrest Drive. By the
following year women of the congregation organized a sisterhood. In
1928, the congregation dedicated its first building. Originally, it was
organized as a conservative synagogue, with some calling it
"semi-orthodox." Over the years, the West Adams Jewish Community grew,
as did the synagogue. Services and Torah studies for adults were held
daily. Rabbi Nathan Addelson joined the congregation in 1933 and
remained until 1938. In 1938 a newly ordained Rabbi from the Hebrew Theological
College of Chicago, Simon Dolgin z"l, followed Rabbi Addelson and led
the congregation.
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Rabbi Simon A. Dolgin z'l
Rabbi Emeritus
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In
1949, Beth Jacob Congregation established its own day school. In 1954
Rabbi Dolgin z"l moved the congregation from West Adams to Beverly
Hills, an "exclusive area." Beth Jacob not only moved geographically,
but spiritually as well. Rabbi Dolgin z"l gradually moved the
congregation to a more meticulos Orthodox practice and the congregation
took an increasingly traditional image. With the move to Beverly Hills
and the more traditional approach, attendance increased, adult
classes flourished, and the growth of Yiddishkeit was in evidence in Beverly Hills.
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In
1955, Beth Jacob's day school changed its name to Hillel Hebrew Academy
and it moved in 1964 into a new building located one block from the
congregation where it flourishs today.
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In
1964, Beth Jacob merged with local congregation B'nai Israel. In 1971,
Rabbi Dolgin z"l made aliyah and opened a branch of Beth Jacob in Ramat
Eshkol section of Jerusalem where it thrives today.
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Rabbi Maurice Lamm succeeded Rabbi Dolgin as the Rabbi and led Beth Jacob until 1984 when Rabbi Abner Weiss succeeded him.
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Rabbi
Steven Weil became Beth Jacob's Rabbi in 2000 and led Beth
Jacob until 2009 when Rabbi Kalman Topp succeeded him as Beth Jacob's Senior Rabbi. Beth Jacob prides itself as a place of Torah and
community. Beth Jacob's membership consists of over 750 families and
sees itself as a model for other Orthodox Synagogues across the nation.
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To Read Beth Jacob's Mission Statement, Click HERE
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