Although local history records that in pre-Revolutionary days there was a Jewish family in York, the Ettings, it was not until 1847, when the Lehmayer family settled here, that the present Jewish community came into existence. By 1877 there were twenty-four families who banded together to found the Hebrew Reformed Congregation Temple Beth Israel on September 1.

For thirty years the congregation worshiped first, in the home of Solomon Kahn on West Market Street, and later in rented rooms in downtown buildings with lay leaders conducting the services. The Religious School was organized circa 1901 and it welcomed all Jewish children regardless of their affiliation.

The year 1904 saw the start of formal planning for a building to insure stability for the coming generations. A site was purchased on the corner of South Beaver Street and Newton Alley. On August 30, 1907, the congregation, consisting of forty-one families, dedicated the first Temple building.

The year 1907 was a decisive one in Temple History. In addition to erecting a house of worship, the congregation joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, and adopted the Union Prayer Book for its rituals. It also employed its first ordained spiritual leader, Rabbi Emmanuel Schreiber.

During the years of WWII many of the members of our congregation took part in fighting the war against the Nazis. Most famous was Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, who left this pulpit in 1943, and became a chaplain. He and three Christian chaplains became American heroes when they chose to remain aboard the troopship Dorchester after it was struck by a torpedo and sank.

It was not until 1942, thanks to the generosity of Martin and Joseph Lehmayer, that the mortgage on the Beaver Street Temple was finally paid off. In 1953 there was now a membership of one hundred and fifty families, and the facilities were no longer sufficient to accommodate the worshipers for the High Holy Day service, making it necessary for the Rabbi to repeat the services. The Temple also found it necessary to move its Religious School to various venues in town.

In 1962, the present structures were begun with the building of the Religious School wing, the auditorium, and the social facilities, and completed with the dedication of the Samuel and Clara Lebovitz Sanctuary in 1966. Because of its location, our Sanctuary became a jewel on the hill. The unique hexagonal design suggests a crown of jewels resembling the facets of a diamond enhanced by richly stained glass. With the completion of the new Temple, the congregation of Beth Israel expanded its activities to include a very active and dedicated Youth Group, affiliated with NFTY/PAR and an equally active Men's Club. In the past twenty-nine years two adult study weekends were initiated, the Clarisse and Arthur Markowitz Scholar in Residence and the Mary McStravick Grumbacher Memorial, which has now become part of the Community Shabbaton.

The Sisterhood, which has been a financial supporter of the Temple since its inception offers educational, social and social action programs to Jewish women, and remains vital to the congregation.

We have had many respected Rabbis lead our congregation; Rabbi Emmanuel Schriebner, Rabbi Jacob Singer, Rabbi Chapman, Rabbi Davis, Rabbi Alex Segel, Rabbi Rosenthal, Rabbi Montague Cohn, Rabbi Clark, Rabbi Benjamin Kelson, Rabbi Alan Tarshish, Rabbi Alexander D. Goode, Rabbi Leonard L. Rothstein, Rabbi Marcus D. Kramer, Rabbi Eli L. Cooper and Rabbi Irwin N. Goldenberg. In 1973, Rabbi Eli Louis Cooper retired after 18 years of service and our present Rabbi, Irwin Goldenberg, was installed. Rabbi Goldenberg has announced his intentions to retire in June, 2008 after 35 years of dedication and service to the Jewish community and the larger York community.

During these 125 years, the nature of Jewish spiritual life has changed as it has since the time of Abraham. In 1975 we adopted the Gates of Prayer: The New Union Prayer Book. In 1994 we added the gender-sensitive form of the Gates of Prayer. At this time a new prayer book, Mishkan T'filah, relevant to contemporary religious needs and aspirations, will be available fall 2007.

For many years, services were enhanced by a professional quartet. Another sign of the change in our religious sensibilities was the welcoming of our first Cantorial Soloist, Pamela Jordan in 1985. She helped to lead us in prayer and song for 13 years and was followed by Shari Freedman and currently, Lisa Salkov.

In 2007, we have a membership of two hundred and seventy-five families, some of whom are fourth, fifth, and sixth generation of the small, dedicated group that met in Solomon Kahn's home. We have entered the new century with a vibrant congregation and Religious School. Though these are changing times, our Temple institutions and the need for the spiritual direction of a Reform congregation in York are as strong as ever.