Beth Shalom is currently celebrating its 83rd year of existence. Since our establishment in 1922, we have gone through many changes in programs and in ritual as well as in structure and in leadership. Below is some of the key “highlights” of our 83-year history.

1922

• The “original six” (Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Finger, Mr. & Mrs. Manual Cohen, Mr. & Mrs. Aaron Levitt, Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Laub, Mr. & Mrs. Jacob Faber, and Mr. & Mrs. Charles Schagrin) establish Wilmington’s first Conservative Synagogue, as a non-Orthodox alternative to the very liberal Temple of Truth, now known as Beth Emeth.
  
• The Eastburn property at the northeast corner of 18th and Washington Streets is purchased.
  
• The Congregation becomes an affiliate of the United Synagogue of America (now USCJ).
  
• Mrs. Aaron Finger establishes the Hebrew School for children, and the “Rambam” club for teenagers.
  

1923

• The Synagogue is dedicated.
  
• Aaron Finger is named President of the Congregation.
  
• Rabbi Moses Abels, of Altoona, Pennsylvania, becomes the first Rabbi of Beth Shalom.
  

1924

• Rabbi Abels leaves Beth Shalom.
  

1925

• Rabbi Ralph D. Hershon becomes our second Rabbi.
  

1926

• The Hebrew School grows to 72 students.
  
• The Board of Directors decides to issue Gold Bonds to keep Beth Shalom solvent.
  
• The first two Torahs are presented to the Congregation; one is from Bertha Rossman in memory of her father, Morris Levy, and the other is from Max Keil, in memory of his wife, Fannie Steiner Keil.
  

1927

• Rabbi Hershon is replaced by Rabbi Abraham E. Millgram (A senior Rabbinical student from JTS).
  

1930

• Rabbi Millgram resigns, and Rabbi Jacob Kraft joins the Congregation.
  

1938

• Rabbi Kraft marries Leah Zimmerman.
  

1939

• Members switch to wearing kippot, instead of hats, during services.
  

1942

• Membership reaches an all-time high.
  
• Discussion regarding a new building begins by establishing a congregational Building Fund.
  

1943

• Rabbi Kraft enlists as a Chaplain in the United States Army Air Corps.
  

1946

• Rabbi Kraft returns.
  
• The Shaw property at the corner of 18th and Baynard Blvd. is purchased.
  
• The new building is renovated to house the entire religious school.
  

1947

• Beth Shalom dedicates a memorial plaque to the members who lost their lives in WWII.
  

1948

• May 14th – Israel is recognized as a State.
  
• A community service is held at Beth Shalom in celebration.
  
• N. Norman (Sonny) Schutzman, a graduate of Beth Shalom’s religious school and WWII veteran, leaves for Israel to command an infantry unit during the war of Independence.
  

1950

• H. Albert Young, 5th President of Beth Shalom, is elected Attorney General of Delaware. He becomes the first Jew elected to statewide office.
  

1951

• Cantor Andrew Salzer becomes Beth Shalom’s first permanent Cantor.
  
• Beth Shalom joins with area congregations and the Montefiore Society in establishing the first Jewish Community Cemetery in Delaware. (Schoenberg’s Memorial Chapel opens that same year, becoming the first Jewish Memorial center in Delaware.)
  

1952

• Ground is broken for a new synagogue, August 24th, 1952.
  

1953

• Congregation Beth Shalom moves from its 18th & Washington location, to its new 18th and Baynard location.
  

1955

• Rabbi Kraft is honored for 25 years of service.
  
• Rube Kelrick establishes the daily minyan service.
  

1956

• The new building is finished, and dedicated that spring.
  
• Soon after moving into the new building, it is found that the building is too small to house the Hebrew School.
  

1960

• The Morris and Lillie Leibowitz Educational Wing is completed and dedicated.
  

1961

• On the 13th anniversary of the founding of the State of Israel, Congregation Beth Shalom charters its chapter of the United Synagogue Youth (USY).
  

1968

• A new bimah, Ark doors, a Neir Tamid, and Menorot, are installed in the sanctuary.
  
• The new bimah is dedicated in honor of Aaron Finger.
  

1970

• Rabbi Geffen is selected to be the new Rabbi, allowing Rabbi Kraft to take a more pastoral role as Rabbi Emeritus.
  

1971

• The first annual Cantor’s Concert is given in honor of Cantor Salzer’s 20 years at Beth Shalom.
  

1976

• Frances Stein is elected as the first female President of Congregation Beth Shalom.
  
• Rabbi Geffen and Rabbi Kraft contribute materials for a time capsule, which was buried on Market Street Mall, and will be opened July 4th, 2076.
  
• Arlene Davis is named Head Teacher of the religious school.
  

1977

• Rabbi Geffen leaves Beth Shalom for aliyah to Israel.
  
• Rabbi Kenneth Cohen assumes the duties of senior Rabbi.
  
• Arlene Davis is appointed the Educational Director.
  
• Membership grows to 700 families.
  
• The first Hannukah dinner is celebrated.
  
• Beth Shalom celebrates its 55th anniversary.
  

1980

• Jubilee Celebration held in honor of Rabbi Kraft.
  
• Sylvia (Sissy) Berlin is elected to serve on the national board of Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.
  

1981

• Congregation honors Cantor Salzer on his 30th year of service.
  
• The Kane Chapel is refurbished thanks to the generosity of the Kane family.
  
• Rabbi Cohen offers an invocation at a session of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C.
  

1982

• Modernization of the Synagogue kitchen is undertaken by the Sisterhood and its President, Celina Riebman.
  
• Beth Shalom begins a community service program of providing lunches for the Emmanuel Dining Room.
  
• “Rise and Shine Cleanup Day” is created to spruce up the synagogue for the upcoming year.
  

1983

• The 60th anniversary of the religious school is recognized.
  
• The anniversary is celebrated with a Shabbat dinner, a Saturday evening gala, and a Sunday presentation of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, produced by Arlene Davis and performed by our religious school children.
  
• The Sisterhood presents the first of two needlepoint tapestries to the Synagogue (the second is presented a year later).
  
• The main lobby is renovated and dedicated in memory of H. Albert and Ann Young, by the Young family.

1984

• Rabbi Kraft celebrates his 80th birthday.
  
• Cantor Emil Hager comes to Beth Shalom.
  
• David Levenson is elected Insurance Commissioner of Delaware.
  
• A new Torah is donated by Ray Gibstein.
  
• Men’s Club “Roasts and Toasts” Sandye and Jerry Turnauer for their dedication and contributions to the Synagogue.
  

1985

• Preschool “Lunch ‘n Learn” program begins with 25 participants.
  
• Main auditorium is renamed the Gibstein Auditorium in memory of Mrs. Ray Gibstein’s family.
  
• The Tree of Life is installed in the lobby.
  
• Men’s Club celebrates its 40th anniversary.
  
• The first adult B’nai Mitzvah class is recognized on Shabbat HaGadol.
  

1986

• Cantor Salzer celebrates his 70th birthday.
  
• Cantor Norman Swerling is named Cantor of Beth Shalom.
  
• Celina Riebman is inducted as a national board member of the Women’s League for Conservative Judaism.
  

1987

• Cantor Swerling presents his original one-man-Jewish-theater happening, “The World of the Shtetl”.
  
• Ruth and Sheldon Wienstein donate funds to refurbish the Beth Shalom office.
  
• We celebrate our 65th year.
  

1996

• Rabbi David Wortman is appointed acting Rabbi of Beth Shalom.
  
• Cantor Judy Naimark joins the Congregation.
  

1997

• Beth Shalom celebrates its Diamond Anniversary.
  
• Rabbi Daniel Satlow is installed as the 9th Rabbi of the Congregation.
  

1998

• Kol Shalom becomes computerized.
  

2000

• Gibstein Auditorium is refurbished.
  
• Rabbi Satlow begins adult lunch and learn program for Torah study.
  
• Board of Directors changes bylaws to allow for a staggered election system.
  
• Monthly Shabbat dinners are reinstated.

2001

• Tu B’Shevat Ball is held.
  
• Hesed Network is established.
  
• 9/11 Tragedy serves as a wakeup call to Beth Shalom and area congregations.
  
• CBS and AKSE Religious Schools merge to create the Community Religious School.
  
• Cantor Judy Naimark leaves, and Hazzan G Michael Horwitz is brought in as Hazzan.
  

2002

• Hazzan Horwitz is officially welcomed in January.
  
• Congregation Beth Shalom has a new Website – www.bethshalomwilmington.org
  
• Beth Shalom participates in the Interfaith Thanksgiving Service with area churches.
  
• 80th anniversary of Beth Shalom is recognized.
  
• Dr. Steven H. Klein is elected President of the Congregation.
  
• Steve Klein is the first congregant to attend the USCJ’s IMUN program for lay religious leadership development. Hazzan Horwitz joins him as the Cantor-in-Residence for that year’s program.
  
• The Cantor’s Concert is renamed in memory of Cantor Andrew Salzer.
• Rabbi Satlow and Hazzan Horwitz develop the Friday Evening Family Service and its accompanying prayer booklet.
  

2003

• Beth Shalom participates in the Habitat for Humanity Unity Build.
  
• The Kitchen Klub is established.
  
• Rabbi Satlow announces his intention to leave Beth Shalom.
  
• Mel Pell and Meredith Weiss attend the 2003 IMUN program.
  

2004

• VP of Administration, Alan Lipschultz in anticipation for his presidency, attends the SULAM Leadership Conference.
  
• Rabbi Satlow leaves Beth Shalom, and is Rabbi Michael S. Beals hired.
  
• Congregant Myrna Ryder attends the 2004 IMUN program.
  
• Both Beals and Horwitz families are happy to announce the arrivals of their respective children: Shira Jessica Beals and Elliott Jack Horwitz. (The Shadduck begins…)
  
• More than 300 Congregants attend a Selihot/September 11th Memorial Service featuring Rick Recht.
  
• Rabbi Beals is formally installed on October 17th as the 10th Rabbi of Congregation Beth Shalom.
  
• Meredith Weiss and Mitchell Glass are honored for their leadership during our Annual Simhat Torah Celebration.
  

2005

• Beth Shalom approves and affirms decision to renovate 1801 Baynard Boulevard location as the most viable option.
• Arlene Davis, Educational Director, retires after 35 years of dedicated service to the Beth Shalom community.
  
• Beth Shalom and Adas Kodesch decide to operate their own religious schools.
  
• Congregant Alan Bleier attends the 2005 IMUN program.
  
• Roland Roth is hired as new Educational and Programming Director.