History of Ahavas Israel

Our rich history has evolved from Orthodox to an inclusive, egalitarian Conservative congregation.

In 1892, fifteen families joined together to form Temple Beth Israel, the first Orthodox Congregation in Grand Rapids. Over the next two decades it grew quickly, but in 1911 a dispute over the presence of girls on the bima singing in the choir caused a small group to form the second Orthodox synagogue in Grand Rapids, Ahavas Achim, located on the West side of Grand Rapids. Over the next twenty-seven years, both congregations continued to grow and were virtually the same size when they merged in 1937, forming Congregation Ahavas Israel.

Following WWII in 1947, Ahavas Israel, like many other congregations, formally joined the United Synagogue of America (today known as the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism). While up to that point the ritual of the congregation was orthodox, such things as mixed seating, women’s voices in the choir, and an emerging bat mitzvah ritual made for a natural transition to Conservative Judaism. Ahavas Israel moved to Lafayette Street in 1953, and into our current building in 1971, which features a large and small sanctuary, religious school classrooms, library, meeting room, two kosher kitchens and a social hall. It also houses the Jewish Federation of Grand Rapids.

In 1978, the congregation took a giant step towards becoming fully egalitarian as Rosalie Rotenberg became the first woman to receive an aliyah. We have continued on that path ever since, with women fully participating in leadership and Torah reading. Our professional staff consists of a full-time rabbi, part time cantor, office manager, and custodian.

Interested in learning more about us or our history? You can download an informational brochure here.

Rabbis of Temple Beth El, Ahavas Achim, and Congregation Ahavas Israel

Temple Beth Israel (founded 1892)

1894-1895 – Abraham Wohlknen
1895-1900 – Zachary Kramer
1901-1903 – Abraham Runiner
1904-1909 – Abraham Rosenthal
1909-1910 – Gedalie Dickstein
1910-1911 – Harry Black
1911-1914 – Albert London
1915 – Aaron Schneiderman
1916 – Samuel Bernstein
1917-? – Harry Cantor
1924 – Albert London
1925 – Louis Kurland
1926 – Israel Groban
1927- Aaron Bell

Ahavas Achim (founded 1911)

1914-1922 – Zachary Kramer
1924-1928 – Enoch Hochberg
1928-1935 – Benjamin Emdin

Congregation Ahavas Israel (founded 1937)

1938 – Goodman
1938-1939 – David Katz
1940-1942 – Lazarus Axelrod
1943-1945 – Carl Castle
1945-1946 – Alexander Friedman
1947-1950 – Herman Kieval
1950-1954 – Gershon Winer
1954-1958 – Oscar Fleishaker
1958-1959 – Benson Skoff
1959-1963 – Edward Neufeld
1963-1964 – No Rabbi
1964-1968 – Erwin Halprin
1968-1971 – Joel Chazin
1971-1975 – William Marder
1975-1980 – Melvin Glazer
1980-1985 – Philip Sigal
1985-1986 – No Rabbi
1986-1994 – Michael Rascoe
1994- present – David Krishef

Congregational Presidents

1937-1938 – Abraham Turetsky
1938-1939 – Harry Plous
1939-1940 – Abraham Geller
1940-1942 – Israel Smith
1942-1943 – Abraham Turetsky
1943-1949 – Max Subar
1949-1951 – Reuben Turner
1951-1953 – Seymour Rapaport
1953-1956 – Percy Berman
1956-1958 – Abe Drasin
1958-1959 – Harold Turner
1958-1959 – Jacob Weiner
1960-1962 – Benjamin Kleiman
1962-1965 – Morris Weinstein
1965-1967 – Lester Berman
1967-1968 – Morris Weinstein
1968-1970 – Morris Kleiman
1970-1973 – Philip Rotenberg
1973-1976 – Hyman Berkowitz
1976-1978 – Lewis Rader
1978-1980 – Rosalie Rotenberg
1980-1982 – Morris Kleiman
1982-1984 – Stuart Rapaport
1984-1986 – Lewis Rader
1986-1988 – Judith Joseph
1988-1990 – Mort Hoffman
1990-1992 – Michael Halprin
1992-1994 – Sidney Pachter
1994-1996 – Stuart Rapaport
1996-1998 – Robert Stein
1998-2002 – Edward A. Miller
2002-2004 – Sanford Freed
2004-2006 – Rhonda Reider
2006-2008 – Richard Stevens
2008-2010 – David Reifler
2010-2012 – Marni Vyn
2012-2014 – Bill Lewis
2014-2016 – Guy De Jager
2016-2017 – Paula Bojsen
2017-2018 – Ken Strauss
2018-2020 – Barb Wepman
2020-2022 – Sanford Freed
2022-2024 – Ann Berman