Chabad of North Broward Takes Over Historic Florida Synagogue

PARKLAND, FL [CHI] — Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach is a historic South Florida Jewish institution that unfortunately had fallen on hard times. Temple Beth Israel was the very first synagogue in Deerfield, and was a once-thriving mecca for Jewish seniors, Beth Israel saw its Minyan getting progressively smaller and no longer had the required funds to pay the monthly expenses. Its days seemed numbered.


“It is always sad to see a Jewish institution on the brink of collapse” said Rabbi Yosef Biston, Director of Chabad of North Broward & South Palm Beach. “Temple Beth Israel couldn’t bear to see their 20,000 plus square foot building remain mostly unused so they approached Chabad and shortly after we entered into a partnership agreement.”

After Chabad Headquarters in Florida approved of the agreement, Chabad of North Broward and South Palm Beach acquired the building and assumed all of its ongoing expenses. Temple Beth Israel was assured that their prayer services will continue as long as there are members who attend. They were also promised that the decades-old plaques on the walls, emotional reminders of their deceased loved ones, would remain in place.

The building will now also proudly serve as the headquarters for Chabad of Deerfield Beach who will transfer their smorgasbord of programs to the new location. “We are very excited to open our doors to the community and to the dozens of families that have been waiting for this opportunity” said Rabbi Yossi Goldblatt, the director of Chabad of Deerfield who had already established a strong foothold in the area with a variety of services for all ages.

The building, located in the heart of Deerfield Beach, is handicapped-accessible and will be the perfect location to host many of Chabad’s popular Friendship Circle programs, which serve children with special needs, as well as Chabad’s popular Camp Mamosh Boys Sports Camp. The commercial, well-equipped kitchens will facilitate and allow for the expansion of the Kosher Meals on Wheels program that will benefits hundreds of senior citizens and shut-ins in the Deerfield Beach area; and the Social Hall will also be used to offer an affordable, kosher facility for communal affairs and personal simchas and celebrations.

Rabbi Shuey Biston, director of development, says that this is a “win-win situation for Chabad and for Temple Beth Israel. The sounds of Jewish learning, song and prayer will G-d willing continue to resound in this building for many years to come.”

Chabad of North Broward & South Palm Beach is one of the largest Chabad Networks in the country with outreach services and programs that extend from Key West to Tallahassee, serving 17 cities with a staff of 27 rabbis in 19 centers.

www.chabadbroward.com