Congregation Beth Israel | |
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Religion | |
Affiliation | Reconstructionist Judaism |
Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
Leadership | Rabbi Linda Potemken [1] |
Status | Active |
Location | |
Location | 542 South New Middletown Road, Media, Pennsylvania |
Country | United States |
Location in
Pennsylvania | |
Geographic coordinates | 39°53′20″N 75°24′14″W / 39.88899°N 75.403998°W |
Architecture | |
Date established |
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Website | |
bethisraelmedia |
Congregation Beth Israel is a Reconstructionist synagogue located at 542 South New Middletown Road in Middletown Township in Delaware County, near Media, Pennsylvania, in the United States. [2]
Formed in 1925 and granted a charter by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1929, Beth Israel is the first Jewish congregation founded in Media, the second-oldest in Delaware County, and the oldest Reconstructionist congregation in Delaware Valley. [3]
In 1935 the congregation bought the old Quaker school on Gayley Street in Media. [4] Originally Orthodox and led by lay members, Beth Israel allowed mixed seating in the 1940s. [3]
The congregation started hiring part-time rabbis from the Yeshiva University Synagogue Council in 1948, and in 1957 it hired its first full-time rabbi, a Yeshiva University graduate. Jewish families became attracted to local Conservative synagogues in the 1960s, and demographic changes and a deteriorating building led to a significant membership decline, with the synagogue almost failing. In 1972, Beth Israel affiliated with the Reconstructionist movement, and by the 1980s it had hired its first full-time Reconstructionist rabbi, and had outgrown its building. It moved into its current building on Middletown Road in 1997. [3]
As of 2009 [update], the rabbi was Linda Potemken. [1]