About B'nai Israel
B’nai Israel of Southbury is a warm, welcoming and diverse congregation that is among the most prominent, yet intimate Jewish houses of worship in the region. The congregation has a rich history of tradition dating back more than a century while enthusiastically embracing the future.
B’nai Israel takes pride in its inspiring music, educational excellence and sense of community. Setting B’nai Israel apart, too, is its spiritual leadership, commitment to advocacy, and inclusiveness with a welcoming of traditional, single parent, interfaith and other modern families among the greater B’nai Israel family that is a home for all generations.
B’nai Israel is located in northwestern New Haven County on a sprawling 17-acre campus — one of the region’s largest community, cultural, spiritual and educational centers of its kind — at 444 Main Street North in Southbury, CT.
B’nai Israel shares its gorgeous campus with its partner organization, The Federation: Jewish Communities of Northwestern CT, and is home to families and their loved ones from a wide radius of Connecticut towns, including Bethany, Bethlehem, Brookfield, Litchfield, Middlebury, New Hartford, Newtown, Oxford, Roxbury, Sandy Hook, Southbury, Washington, Waterbury, Watertown, Woodbury, and other surrounding communities. Affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism, B'nai Israel is also active in the area Jewish and interfaith communities.
Now, as always, B'nai Israel is your home.
Our Czech Torah Scroll
A Serene Setting
In front of B’nai Israel, a small herd of peaceful cows from the adjacent farm, grazes and lounges in our front landscape, adding an unexpected charm and sense of serenity to the synagogue’s campus. Their quiet presence just beyond the tree line, offers a gentle reminder of the rural beauty that surrounds the Southbury community. Whether visitors are arriving for Shabbat services, High Holidays, special events, or simply passing by during the week, the sight of these tranquil animals evokes a calming, pastoral feel that perfectly complements the spirit of reflection, connection, and peace that B’nai Israel embodies. It's a unique and heartwarming feature—one that makes our synagogue feel especially rooted in both nature and tradition.
A Brief Congregational Timeline
• 1872 Temple Israel is organized, renting various halls for services, Waterbury
• 1875 Melchizedek Burial Association Waterbury
• 1876 Hebrew Ladies’ Benevolent Society (Sisterhood) at Temple Israel
• 1880 Temple Israel Sunday School
• 1921 Temple Israel moves to Willow Street in Waterbury
• 1958 Temple Israel moves to Williamson Drive in Waterbury
• 1990 B’nai Chaim established in Southbury, worships at Baptist Church, will then move to St. James Lutheran Church in Southbury
• 1994 B’nai Chaim opens office on Main Street, Southbury
• 1996 Temple Israel sells building, moves to temporary space in Woodbury
• 1997 B’nai Israel of Southbury – the joining of Temple Israel and B’nai Chaim, Rabbi Eric Polokoff becomes the Founding Rabbi,
Religious School meets at public schools
• 2000 LLC Agreement to create a joint campus with the Jewish Federation
• 2002 Dedication of the Walzer Family Community Campus – a shared facility of B’nai Israel and the Jewish Federation of Western CT
• 2005 B’nai Israel Celebrates the anniversary of Nostra Aetate with Sacred Heart Chruch
• 2006 B’nai Israel holds special program, “Israel is Real”
• 2008 B’nai Israel sends first congregational trip to Israel
B’nai Israel’s Second Human Rights Festival honors Southbury History
• 2009 Yossi Klein Halevi is B’nai Israel’s Scholar-in-Residence
• 2012 “Home of the Brave” premier in Southbury
• 2013 B’nai Israel joins BBYO Chapter
• 2019 Three Amigos launch sessions on Interfaith Understanding
• 2020 Mitzvah Garden upgrades with new fence & sign
B’nai Israel’s first annual Pride Shabbat
• 2023 B’nai Israel holds area solidarity rally on October 8th
• 2024 B’nai Israel Honors Director of Sacred Music (now Emerita) Linda Goodman
Our campus is a gun-free zone
Office Hours
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - 8:30am-1:30pm
Wednesday - 8:30am-1:30pm
Thursday - 8:30am-1:30pm
Friday - 2:00pm-6:00pm
* Sunday - 8:30am-12:30pm
* (when religious school is in session)
We invite you to visit us during office hours to tour the campus, meet staff, and learn about membership opportunities.
Please call us at 203.267.3394 to make an appointment.
Shalom. A Day of Peace.
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