Beth Meyer Synagogue at 150: An Interview
On March 8, Beth Meyer Synagogue (BMS) will be celebrating the 150th anniversary of its founding. We spoke with Beth Meyer Synagogue’s Executive Director, Jonathan Wertheim, to learn more about the congregation’s history and his and others’ hopes for its next 150 years.
Q: How is Beth Meyer Synagogue celebrating its 150th anniversary?
A: With a bang, of course! Really, we want to joyously mark this extraordinary milestone with our Greater Raleigh Jewish community and our supporters. This is our shared achievement, and it’s a real sheheheyanu moment!
And the joy is palpable here. Since we announced plans for the 150th, our offices have just been flooded with messages. Folks are saying, “I’m proud to have been a part of 150 years of Jewish life!” and sharing stories, photos and videos of special moments they’ve experienced with Beth Meyer Synagogue. It’s especially touching to receive these from our newest members, who already feel the bonds of community.
I can’t emphasize enough our heartfelt gratitude for the leadership, generosity, and belief that has nurtured and sustained our community to the present. We stand on the shoulders of those who have come before us! I have no doubt, as we close the chapter on our first 150 years and dream about what comes next, their blessings will continue to be with us.
Torah procession down Newton Road, 1983.
Q: How has Beth Meyer Synagogue changed in the last 5-10 years?
A: Growth. I mean, over 500 households now call Beth Meyer home. When I share this number with our oldest families, they’re just floored. They remember when the shul was much, much smaller. And it didn’t have so many expats from the Tri-State area! This growth has certainly changed the shul’s “feel” and organization. We’ve had to adapt everything — from our approach to management and governance, to how we run our educational programs and prayer services — to accommodate this population BOOM. And with growth comes both opportunities and growing pains, right? We’re still trying to strike a balance between the beloved, mom-and-pop synagogue that our oldest families remember, and the center for Conservative Judaism that we’ve become.
House of Jacob religious school, circa 1920s.
Q: What is your favorite piece of Beth Meyer Synagogue trivia?
A: I’ll give you two! From 1913 until 1949, Beth Meyer Synagogue was called the House of Jacob. Legend has it that, in December 1913, Sadie Glass (z”l) bid $80 at a Hanukkah auction to win the privilege of choosing a name for our congregation, and she picked the House of Jacob. The congregation was renamed again in 1949 as “Beth Meyer Synagogue” as a memorial to Meyer Dworsky, a long-time volunteer leader.
And here's my other one: during the first half of the twentieth century, Beth Meyer’s rabbis typically supplemented their wages with gig jobs to make ends meet. Rabbi Isaiah Printz, who joined us in 1923, was no exception. He ran a deli! His 'side hustle’ was making and selling pickles and sauerkraut.
Q: How do you want to see BMS grow and change in the future?
A: I want to see Beth Meyer Synagogue really lean in on 150 years of experience to help mentor Jewish leadership. I think Beth Meyer has a role to play supporting the ‘ecosystem’ of Jewish organizations in Greater Raleigh — clearly, we know how to build something that lasts. Let’s humbly share with folks what we’ve learned from a sesquicentennial (yup, that’s the word for it) of triumphs, setbacks, and reflection.
Q: What would you like people to know about the anniversary celebration?
A: The celebration is for everyone, not just Beth Meyer Synagogue members. Truly, this evening is an occasion to toast to us all and the work we’ve put in. The Jewish Federation of Greater Raleigh, our chief partner, and our many allies across North Carolina have contributed to our success. So put on those dancing shoes and come party!
“A Celebration of 150 Years of Jewish Life at Beth Meyer Synagogue” will be held on Saturday, March 8 from 7-10pm at Beth Meyer Synagogue. Click here to purchase tickets.