Our Unique History

In 1985, a small group of men and women founded Congregation Bet Haverim on behalf of lesbian and gay Jews who wanted to live openly in the context of their Jewish heritage. For most of the early years, all the members of Congregation Bet Haverim were gay or lesbian. Bound by our love of Judaism and our commitment to each other, Bet Haverim soon became a thriving, inspired community driven by generosity of spirit and openness to change. Before long, many other Jews, who were not lesbian or gay, saw Bet Haverim's contemporary, socially-liberal atmosphere as a welcomed breath of fresh air. So, in a courageous move, with no inclusive liturgy to guide us, we created our own, within the Jewish tradition, and Bet Haverim opened its doors to all. Today, Bet Haverim is a renowned, respected and uniquely diverse, rapidly growing community, including our celebrated Hebrew school for adults and children,"Haverim Beyachad" or Friends Together.