Since its establishment in 1916, Beth Israel Congregation has had a seminal influence on Jewish life in Ann Arbor. Growing in size along with the city, this Conservative congregation has successfully met the challenges of expansion and change, always seeking to meet the needs of its diverse membership.

The congregation began informally by celebrating the Jewish High Holidays in the home of furrier Osias Zwerdling. For the next 40 years Mr. Zwerdling served as President of the congregation. Over the course of that time, Beth Israel functioned as the sole Jewish congregation in Ann Arbor, serving a diverse congregation in a traditional fashion. The congregation, like many in smaller towns, continued without a Rabbi, hiring various functionaries who wore several hats at the same time: very often that of the Hebrew teacher, the schochet (kosher slaughterer), and the cantor. The first employee, Reverend Pincus Gropstein was paid a salary of $18 (Chai) per week to serve the 30 families of the congregation.

The congregation's first ordained Rabbi was Rabbi Joshua Sperka who served from 1932 - 1934. Afterwards, the congregation sometimes had a Rabbi, and at times the congregation made do without one, sustained by a wonderful spirit of volunteerism. A summer picnic organized by members became a yearly event. In the 1930's the picnic cost $16.50.

The congregation was blessed with several spiritual homes. The first was a small house on Main Street (today the site of the Greek Orthodox Church). A larger house was purchased on 538 North Division Street, later the site of the Catholic Youth Center. After World War II, Beth Israel occupied a house at 1429 Hill. Together with the Hillel Foundation, the congregation rebuilt a new building on the same site, which they shared until 1968. For a brief period, from 1951 - 1963, Beth Israel Congregation changed its name to the Beth Israel Community Center.

The longest serving Rabbis were Julius Weinberg (1952-1961) and Allan Kensky (1971-1988). Though the congregation existed with no competition for many years, the creation of the Reform, Secular and Orthodox congregations affected Beth Israel initially with a decrease of membership. This trend was reversed during the tenure of Rabbi Kensky, and the congregation continues to grow to this day. In 1978, with 189 families, Beth Israel struck out on its own, and built its own structure on Washtenaw Avenue. Under the leadership of Rabbi Kensky, the congregation transformed itself from a non-egalitarian congregation (as most Conservative congregations were at the time) to a fully egalitarian congregation. This occurred over a period of ten years, but the fabric of the congregation was kept intact because of the deliberateness of the discussions and the respect shown by people to divergent views.

Rabbi Robert Dobrusin was hired to succeed Rabbi Kensky in 1988. Over the past 15 years, the congregation has experienced a 25% increase in membership. Today there are 480 member households. There are currently 170 children and adolescents served in the Religious School and another 45 children attend the Hebrew Day School (half its total enrollment), and another 16 students who participate in Keshet, the Community High School program's CR Hebrew classes (about half its total enrollment). The Religious School also began to experiment with programming for teens, initiating the Madrichim (teacher assistant and Judaic enrichment) program, and a broad spectrum of programs for the post Bar Mitzvah student. In 1997 the house next door to the synagogue at 2010 was totally renovated to provide modern classrooms and a youth lounge for the congregation. The 8th grade program has been totally revamped, and a tikkun olam program with hands on experiences has been implemented in the school for all ages.

Participation in leading or chanting the service was considerably broadened and many more members began to lead the various parts of the service. The services became more "relaxed" and comfortable and seemed to reflect the eclectic feel of the city of Ann Arbor itself. Alternative services were also encouraged, and provided an important outlet to congregants seeking new ways of worship.

In 2000, the congregation joined the nationally led Synagogue 2000 project, along with 13 other local Reform and Conservative Congregations in Southeast Michigan. The congregation undertook a major fundraising effort and raised close to 1.4 million dollars to renovate its main facility, which was completed over two years by September 2005. In the Fall of 2007 the congregation took a leadership role in advocating for the ordination of gays and lesbian Rabbis, which was one of the positions adopted by the Law and Standards Committee of Conservative Judaism. In May of 2008, the Congregation voted to hire the new position of Assistant Rabbi, a position filled by Rabbi Kim Blumenthal in August of the same year.

Proud of its past, Beth Israel Congregation looks confidently to the future as a strong and proactive Conservative congregation.

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