Temple Beth Torah (Ventura, California)
Reform Jewish synagogue
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Temple Beth Torah is a Reform Jewish synagogue in Ventura, California. It was founded in 1938 as the Ventura County Jewish Council.[1]
| Temple Beth Torah | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Synagogue | |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Ventura, California |
| Country | United States |
 Interactive map of Temple Beth Torah | |
| Coordinates | 34.2874°N 119.1946°W |
| Architecture | |
| Established | 1938 |
History
The Ventura County Jewish Council was formed in 1938 by Jewish merchants in Ventura. Early meetings were held in a room at a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Ventura.[2] In 1943, the group moved to a former dairy on Channel Drive, which became the first permanent Jewish community center in the county.[3]
In the early 1960s, the congregation purchased land on Foothill Road and began construction of a new facility in 1962.[3][4]
The congregation moved into the building in 1963, at which time it was formally designated as a synagogue and adopted the name Temple Beth Torah.[3]
By 1988, the congregation had grown to more than 400 families and was described as Ventura's only temple at the time.[1] It operated religious education programs and served the Jewish community of Ventura County.[1] The congregation celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2013.[3]
Ralph Moses, whose family helped found the Ventura County Jewish Council in 1938, later served as cantor and remained active in the congregation for decades.[2]
Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller joined the congregation in 1997.[5] In 2007, a profile marked her first decade of leadership and discussed the congregation's educational and community initiatives.[6] In 2015, the Jewish Daily Forward named Rabbi Lisa Hochberg-Miller among the 33 Most Inspiring Rabbis in America. [7]
Affiliation
Temple Beth Torah is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism.[8]
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