Beth David Synagogue

Beth David Synagogue was founded in 1943 as the first Orthodox congregation in West Hartford. The congregation started in its first building, which was originally a house, known as the Bishop Estate, located at the corner of Farmington Avenue and Dover Road. The house was purchased in 1944, renovated in 1945 and quickly became too small for the growing congregation. In 1954, the congregation opened the doors to its new sleek and modern building and converted the original house into classrooms with a chapel for daily services. In 1965, the house was demolished to make space for a new sanctuary building which was inaugurated with High Holiday services in 1967. The sanctuary which was later dedicated in 1968, marked and celebrated Beth David’s twenty-fifth anniversary.

Today, Beth David is still the largest orthodox synagogue in the greater Hartford metropolitan area. During its more than sixty years in existence, the synagogue has been a center of Jewish cultural and spiritual activity for hundreds of families, thousands of people and untold numbers of visitors and friends. Uninterrupted since its inception, daily minyan is held at Beth David morning and night, classes convene on a regular basis and Beth David’s Rabbi is viewed and respected as a community leader. Our membership is an eclectic portrait of a diverse Jewish community, with families from many nations and different approaches to custom and tradition. Under one roof, Ashkenazi and Sephardic members worship side-by-side, traditional and liberal minded adults study the texts of rabbinic scholarship, children from different schools and neighborhoods make acquaintances that become life long friendships, and a congregation takes on the feel of family.

Beth David is an affiliated congregation with the Orthodox Union.

Beth David is an affiliate of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America (Orthodox Union or UOJCA). As such, it operates in concert with hundreds of other similar congregations across North America. More than once in its rich history has Beth David been honored by the Orthodox Union for its leadership and innovative efforts on behalf of Torah and Jewish tradition.

Beth David is a trans-generational congregation. Young couples and senior citizens share together in the operation of the synagogue. The young people bring energy, the senior members bring experience and together they weave the tapestry of continuity. Jointly they form a bridge with the past and a vision for the future. Beth David is proud that, in certain special ways, it is a model to be emulated. A Shabbat morning visit would warm any and every heart seeing young children ascend the sanctuary stage to open the Holy Ark near the end of the services as the congregation joyfully sings the “Anim Zemirot – Hymn of Glory”.

Beth David invites every Jew who is serious about Judaism to join. Become a part of a spiritual world that seeks to reinforce the foundations of happiness, contentment and meaning within the context of traditional Judaism. Become part of Beth David. Your family is waiting for you.