Our Story
Ramat Shalom Synagogue was founded in 1976 and remains a vibrant, growing, innovative Jewish community in the heart of Broward County.
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Ramat Shalom History
Ramat Shalom Synagogue was founded in 1976 and remains a vibrant, growing, innovative Jewish community in the heart of Broward County.
One of the oldest synagogues in Broward County, Ramat Shalom, was founded almost 50 years ago as a small, Jewish discussion group that met in members’ homes. The group quickly grew into a synagogue with many members, a rabbi, a building, a preschool and a religious school. The focus on education grew over the years and today the Early Childhood Center and Torah School Programs are among the most comprehensive and robust in the community.
Despite its increase in size, the congregation has never lost the small, intimate feeling that characterized Ramat Shalom from the outset.
Under the guidance of Rabbi Andrew Jacobs for the past 25 years, Ramat Shalom prides itself on being a warm, inclusive community made up of a diverse group of individuals and families who truly care for, celebrate merger with Beth Israel, we are well on our way to doing just that.
Temple Beth Israel History
Temple Beth Israel of Sunrise is Broward’s oldest Conservative Synagogue and served the Jewish community of South Florida for over 50 years.
Temple Beth Israel practiced Conservative Judaism strived to enhance the cultural, educational, religious, and spiritual needs of its multi-generational, multicultural members dedicated to Jewish traditions, customs, values, and culture and to making Judaism more meaningful in a family-friendly atmosphere.
The congregation was founded in 1966 as the “Fort Lauderdale Jewish Center”. Families gathered to celebrate significant life cycle events, Shabbat, and holiday services.
On October 31, 1971, groundbreaking commenced on a new location at 7100 Oakland Park Blvd. and the name was officially changed to Temple Beth Israel.
Through the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and the early part of the 2000’s the temple enjoyed a large and vibrant congregation that held one of the largest Jewish preschools in Broward County as well as
a robust youth program.
During this time TBI was the center for Conservative life in Broward county hosting all kinds of social and educational events including hosting a dinner for Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.
As the congregants moved further west the synagogue followed. After the sale of the original building there where many temporary locations often referred to as a time of “wandering the desert for 40 years”. Finally in 2010 the synagogue moved into a permanent location just off NW 136th Avenue in Sunrise.
Now the move is to the current Ramat Shalom facility with the focus now on the next 50 years of life for Ramat Shalom Beth Israel and invite you and your families along for the journey!
We invite you to make Ramat Shalom your Jewish home.
Everyone asks, is Ramat Shalom Conservative, Reform, Orthodox? Well. We’re not a fan of labels. They’re limiting and exclusive – everything we’re not. This being said, Ramat Shalom was founded almost 50 years ago as a Reconstructionist Synagogue. Reconstructionism is the younger sister of Conservative Judaism. While we remain committed to the values Reconstructionism, mainly the idea that Judaism ability to thrive is grounded in its ability to evolve in meaningful and relevant ways, Ramat Shalom disaffiliated from the Reconstructionist Movement several years ago.
Rabbi Andrew Jacobs was ordained at Reconstructionist Rabbinical College and earned a master’s degree at the Jewish Theological Seminary which is affiliated with the Conservative Movement. His wife, Rabbi Cheryl Jacobs is Conservative rabbi.
Cantor Jodi Rozental was mentored by Irving Shulkes, Cantor Emeritus at Temple Sinai, a Reform congregation in North Miami Beach. Cantor Jodi has worked extensively within the Reform Movement and is a member of the Guild of Temple Musicians (GTM), an affiliate of the Reform Movement’s American Conference of Cantors.
Today, instead of affiliating with a specific movement, Ramat Shalom embraces the tradition of the Conservative Movement, the emphasis the Reconstructionist Movement places on studying our past in order to create a meaningful future, and the creativity of the Reform Movement. Together, Rabbi Andrew and Cantor Debbie create a spiritual home that is uniquely Ramat Shalom and welcoming to all. Please come and experience us!
We invite you to make Ramat Shalom Beth Israel your Jewish home.
