Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff marks its 50th year
Temple Beth Rishon in Wyckoff is celebrating its 50th anniversary as an official house of worship in Wyckoff. The synagogue came together through the dedication, organization, and support of a few pioneering families who were committed to planting roots and establishing a synagogue and Jewish community in this area.
Founded in 1975, the Wyckoff-Franklin Lakes Synagogue, as it is formally chartered, had a modest beginning holding services in the Wyckoff Women’s Club and High Holiday services at the North Haledon Fire House. By 1977, the community decided it was time to build its own building and set out to buy land. There were already 12 churches in the area and the town thought that adding “another” one would create too much traffic and congestion. Through a grassroots movement and door-to-door petitioning, the synagogue’s founders were able to convince the town and win the vote to build on the site where the shul now stands at 585 Russell Avenue, previously Lefferman’s Farm.
April 22, 1979. (Photos courtesy
Temple Beth Rishon)
Ground was broken on the first building in 1979, and an addition and sanctuary renovation were completed in 2000. The founding members included space for a preschool and religious school in the building, now the Andrew Friedland Early Childhood Learning Center and the Addison M. & Elizabeth Opper Religious School.
TBR kicked off its celebratory year in February with a concert by the Maccabeats. On May 3, the congregation honored its founding and foundational families at its Spring Gala, a sit-down celebration with dinner, dancing, silent auction, and raffles. The filming of a video history of the synagogue’s evolution is underway and will include stories and testimonials from founding members, past presidents, volunteers of the year, and current members. The year of celebrations will close with a congregational trip to Israel scheduled for February.
For more information go to www.bethrishon.org.
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