Temple Beth El Israel is located on Florida's Treasure Coast, in Port St. Lucie Florida,
a growing community of over 141,000 full-time and seasonal residents. Port St. Lucie is
about 100 miles southeast of Orlando and 50 miles directly north of the Palm Beaches.
St. Lucie West is the location of the New York Mets spring training camp and home
to the St. Lucie Mets. Other points of interest include the PGA golf course and
professional and non professional learning center. In addition, there is an 8,300
square foot PGA Historical Center in the heart of PGA Village. St. Lucie West is
seven miles from the expansive Indian River and ten miles from the beautiful Atlantic
Ocean beaches. Medical Facilities, Restaurants, Movie Theatres, Post Office, Colleges
and Universities (FAU, IRCC and Barry) and Shopping are all conveniently located
nearby.
The synagogue functions as an educational hub for residents of the Treasure Coast.
Established in the late 1940's, the original Temple Beth El consisted of a small
number of Jewish families with a commitment to establishing a regional reform congregation.
With the assistance of a retired rabbi, Temple Beth El was chartered in 1948.
Some of the original members, from Ft. Pierce and Stuart, along with their extended
families remain as active members. For several decades, Temple Beth El served as
the only synagogue located on the Treasure Coast. Membership included Jewish families
from Ft. Pierce, Vero Beach and Stuart. The original synagogue facility was located
in Ft. Pierce and was sold to St. Johns United Methodist Church in the late 1970's.
With a growing Jewish population, congregants from Indian River County (primarily
the Vero Beach area) established their own synagogue about 1980.
Currently, there are four synagogues on the Treasure Coast with the most recent located
in Stuart and serving the growing number of Jewish residents in Martin County.
During the 1980's, Temple Beth El functioned in a new facility located in an area
known as White City (an unincorporated area adjacent to Ft. Pierce). Also
during this decade, Congregation Beth Israel was established within the City of Port St.
Lucie with several Temple Beth El congregants joining the new synagogue.
In the early 1990's negotiations began to unite Temple Beth El with Congregation
Beth Israel, and Temple Beth El Israel was established. With the sale of two separate
facilities, a new synagogue was built in St. Lucie West (a planned community within
the City of Port St. Lucie).
On December 6, 1998, the adults and children, proudly carried the Torahs and marched
from the temporary facility on US 1 to our new building in St. Lucie West.
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St. Lucie West is a modern community designed with residential, commercial, recreational,
educational, and spiritual elements within a seven square mile area. The area boasts
several first-rate golf courses and serves as the spring training site for the New
York Mets. Strategically located between Interstate 95 and the Florida Turnpike,
the location of Temple Beth El Israel is convenient for congregants and serves the
growing Jewish community.
The new facility has a large sanctuary, a social hall, a commercial kitchen, and
is designed for expansion of the religious school. Temple Beth El Israel has a rich
heritage, and several original members continue to support and participate in activities.
With a very limited Jewish population in the early 1940's, a debt of gratitude is
owed to the pioneering families with the necessary vision to establish the original
synagogue. Today, Temple Beth El Israel is positioned to serve as a viable center
for the spiritual, cultural, educational, and social elements associated with Judaism.
With virtually unlimited potential, the new millennium offers exciting and challenging
opportunities to the synagogue leadership in terms of membership and program growth.
With the establishment of sister congregations directly to the north and south,
additional options arise for furthering the Judaic visibility along the Treasure
Coast.
Temple Facilities |
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- Sanctuary
- Social Hall
- Fully Equipped Commercial Kitchen
- Library/Conference Room
- Rabbi's Office
- Bridal Room
- Business Office
- Judaica Shop
- Cemetery
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Educational & Social
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- Adult Education Classes
- Torah Study
- Adult Hebrew Classes
- Jewish History
- Choir
- Sisterhood
- Men's Club
- Weekly Oneg Shabbat & Kiddush
- Shabbat Dinners
- Passover Seders
- Holiday Celebrations
- Dinner Dances
- Variety Shows
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Spiritual & Religious Activities
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- Spiritual Leader, Rabbi Arthur Rutberg
- Erev Shabbat Services - 8 P.M..
- Shabbat Morning Services - 10 A.M.
- Family Night Erev Shabbat Services monthly - 7:00 P.M.
(First Friday of the month)
- Holiday Services
- Conversions
- Adult B'nai Mitzvah
- Choir
- Weddings
- Baby Namings
- Funeral Services
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Religious School |
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- Sunday School
- Hebrew School
- Bar & Bat Mitzvah Preparation
- Pre Confirmation and Confirmation Classes
- Young Judaea Youth Programs
- Family Service Participation
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