The History of B'nai Israel
In 1978, as the Jewish community here at Rossmoor began to grow, 16 Rossmoor residents, motivated by the desire to hold formal religious services in Rossmoor, began to meet in the Redwood Room and, together, formed what is now our B’nai Israel of Rossmoor. For a time, Shabbat services were held in the Home Savings Bank in the Rossmoor Shopping Center before finding our home in the Vista Room. By then, the congregation was 50 members strong. Services were led by residents and many volunteers contributed their time and energy to do set-up, clean-up, kitchen duty and provide for the Oneg afterwards.
By 2008, our congregation had grown to 150 members. We had added High Holiday Services which were held initially in what is now the Tice Creek Fitness Center and then moved to Fireside Room. It was the first time that we hired a Cantor, pianist and cellist to lead our HHD service!
As we grew, we have been fortunate to have had donations of prayer books, our Ark and our Bima from our congregants and local congregations. One particular donation holds a very special place in all of our hearts. As retold in our YK bulletin article about 10 years ago. “Stephen Loeb, of blessed memory, and his wife Betty had both escaped Nazi Germany. On the 50th anniversary of Kristallnacht, Nov 10, 1988, Stephen was invited back to the City of Viotho to attend a ceremony commemorating the Jews of the city. After much thought, he returned and reconnected with other Jewish survivors and with non-Jews of the town. Neither the synagogue nor its two Torahs were ever restored or returned, but his childhood home stood. He sold the home and with the funds, he and Betty purchased a Torah as a gift to B’nai Israel. On August 30, 1996, a dedication ceremony was held in the Fireside Room.”
B’nai Israel has come a long way since its beginnings back in the Redwood Room some 47 years ago. What began as a small number of residents gathering in each other’s homes to a congregation of almost 500 members. We celebrate 8 nights of Chanukkah, we build a sukkah and celebrate the 8 nights of the holiday with services and time to socialize; we offer a Purim festival for all – young and old, congregants, their families and community friends. We close our High Holiday services with a community Break Fast. What has contributed to that incredible growth? How were we able to sustain our services and community through a pandemic and still continue to grow?
The strength and sustainability of a congregation is dependent, in large part, upon the strength of its volunteer community. At B’nai Israel, we have a strong community of volunteers and dynamic clergy leadership. We learned how to use Zoom and transferred as much as we could onto that platform. We duplicated what we could provide on Zoom with the use of Facebook. Shabbat services continued; High Holiday Services moved onto Zoom; committee meetings continued where possible. Our community stayed together, supported one another and grew. We have listened to our members, explored their interests and needs and created new opportunities to get together. Committees focusing on social and event-planning; programs focusing on religious and educational activities; a ritual committee to oversee and advise on all aspects of religious services within our synagogue; communication committees to guide administrative and religious operations and to keep the congregation informed through weekly online and quarterly Bulletins.
We have accomplished much in our 47 years – while retaining our $20 yearly membership fee. This has been accomplished through generous member donations, strong volunteer participation and careful financial budget management. We have always been a volunteer run organization and retain that structure today. May we all come together in 3 short years to celebrate B’nai Israel’s 50th anniversary. May we continue to be a vibrant, strong and caring community.
If You Build It, They Will Come!