Welcome

Welcome to Temple Beth Israel in Waltham.

We are a small, egalitarian, traditional, friendly, unaffiliated synagogue, serving the Jewish community in the Waltham area for nearly 100 years.

Many of our  members are deeply rooted in the community. They, their parents, and grandparents grew up here, or were synagogue founders.  Today, our members come from Waltham and surrounding towns.   We have about 110-120 households; many are older (over the age of 65); a growing number are in their 30’s-50’s.  Students from Brandeis or Bentley also join us on occasion.

We do not currently have a Hebrew School. Some members send their kids to BJEP, others to the B’nai Or school that currently meets in our building on Sunday mornings.  We try to offer special family programs such as a recent oral history program and delivering shalach manot, that will involve parents and kids, and integrate them with members of the synagogue.

Every member is valued, and encouraged to participate as he or she can, whether ritually at services, or socially on a committee.

We are your synagogue.

Our History

The Jews in Waltham started arriving in the late 1800’s. Those that were here met in homes for services. When the group grew too large for a house they decided to buy a house at our present location and converted that to a beautiful Orthodox shul in the early 1900’s.

In the late 1940’s it became apparent that the house was again too small,  and so a new building was was constructed on the same site. The building was completed in 1950. The new building had several classrooms, a modern kitchen, and function rooms in the lower level. The sanctuary was on the main floor.  While men and women now sat together, services were still Orthodox in style. The building was remodeled again in the late 1960’s.

Through the years the congregation has evolved from Orthodox to Conservative.  Today, Temple Beth Israel is an unaffiliated, traditional egalitarian synagogue.  We welcome you to come by and join us for services held every Shabbat and Yom Tov as well as morning minyan every day except Tuesday.