Temple Beth El

What Temple Beth El does

Temple Beth El is a Conservative Jewish synagogue founded in 1913 as the first of its denomination in Western Massachusetts, operating from a Percival Goodman-designed landmark campus at 979 Dickinson Street in Springfield, MA. The congregation provides a full continuum of Jewish religious services — daily minyan, egalitarian Shabbat worship, holiday observances, lifecycle officiation (bris, baby naming, B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, conversion, funeral/burial), pastoral care, and cemetery services through its adjacent Temple Beth El Cemetery established in 1915. Educational offerings include the B'Yachad joint Hebrew School with Sinai Temple (launched 2022), Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, Tot Shabbat programming, and the award-winning Katz Family Library.

The congregation generates revenue through annual membership dues, voluntary donations, facility rentals (social hall, sanctuary, commercial kitchen), Kiddush catering partnerships with Yosi Kosher Catering, cemetery plot sales, and periodic capital campaigns — notably the $3M+ Centennial Capital Campaign (2012) and the $2M BE the Future Campaign (2015-2019). Operations are supported by standard synagogue software (ShulCloud for member management and donations, ShulStreaming for livestream, Zoom for virtual services). Staffing is lean, with roughly 10 employees including Rabbi Amy Wallk (the first female rabbi in greater Springfield, since 2008), Cantor Elise Barber, Reverend David Aminia, and an executive director.

Temple Beth El operates as an independent nonprofit affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Jewish Theological Seminary. The congregation merged with Congregation B'nai Jacob in 2008-2009 and serves the Greater Springfield Jewish community through in-person, livestream, and Zoom channels. Membership peaked at 900+ families in 1988, has since declined due to regional demographic shifts, and is currently showing modest growth, with the 35th new family joining in the most recent tracked year.

Name

Temple Beth El

Legal name

Temple Beth El

Website

https://tbespringfield.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1913

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Temple Beth El is a 110-year-old Conservative synagogue in Springfield, MA serving the Greater Springfield Jewish community with worship, lifecycle events, religious education, pastoral care, and cemetery services. It operates as an independent nonprofit affiliated with USCJ.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Congregational Services (Synagogue)

NAICS

Religious Organizations (81311)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Congregations & Worship Communities (Churches, Mosques, Temples, Synagogues) (BPAGAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Places of Worship & Religious Facilities Operations (Cemeteries, Retreat Centers, Pilgrimage Sites) (BPAGAJAL)

Keywords

• Jewish worship services
• Religious education programs
• Lifecycle event officiation
• Cemetery burial services
• Community pastoral care

Headquarters

HQ city

Springfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues paid by families. Financial assistance is available to ensure no one is excluded due to inability to pay.
2. Donations and Tzedakah: Voluntary donations supporting current operations and endowment income for future stability. The Centennial Capital Campaign raised over $3 million.
3. Facility Room Rental: Rental of social hall, stage, sanctuary for concerts, and commercial kitchen for weddings, B'nai Mitzvah, baby namings,bris, and meals of condolence. Pricing varies by event type and guest count.
4. Kiddush Catering: Kiddush lunch catering provided by Yosi Kosher Catering after Shabbat morning services. Cost to host a Kiddush lunch for up to 15 guests is $360.
5. Cemetery Services: Cemetery established in 1915, run by a volunteer committee. Plots can be purchased ahead of time; burial-related items are due at time of burial.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Temple Beth El is a Conservative synagogue that provides in-person and virtual worship services (Shabbat, daily minyan, holidays), lifecycle event officiation (Brit Milah, B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, conversions, funerals), religious education through B'Yachad (joint Hebrew school with Sinai Temple) and the Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, plus cemetery services, facility rentals, and community programming such as Tot Shabbat, youth groups, and a monthly homeless feeding initiative.

Product overview

Temple Beth El is a Conservative synagogue offering religious, educational, and community services. The core offering consists of traditional egalitarian worship services (Shabbat, daily minyan, High Holy Days) with livestream capability. Educational programs include B'yachad (joint religious school with Sinai Temple), Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning, and the Katz Family Library. Lifecycle services cover Brit Milah, B'nai Mitzvah, weddings, conversion, pastoral care, and cemetery services. Additional programs include Tot Shabbat for young families, youth groups, community service initiatives, and facility rentals for events. The synagogue also provides Kiddush lunch catering after Shabbat services and publishes the Tekiah newsletter.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Worship Services Traditional egalitarian Shabbat services including Friday Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:00 pm, Shabbat morning services at 10:00 am, and afternoon/evening services, offered in-person with livestream capability.
• Daily Minyan Services Daily morning (around 7–8 am) and evening (5:45 pm) minyanim offered year-round, conducted via Zoom on most weekdays; services require a quorum of 10.
• Livestream Services Live streaming of Shabbat and holiday services via the ShulStreaming platform, enabling remote participation in worship services alongside downloadable siddurim.
• B'Yachad Religious School A pluralistic Jewish education program serving families from both Sinai Temple and Temple Beth El, with classes alternating between the two synagogues; emphasizes learning, community, creativity, and connection.
• Melton School of Adult Jewish Learning Worldwide adult Jewish learning program covering Jewish ethics, Bible study, Jewish history, and Israeli culture, offered through Rabbi Wallk.
• Lifecycle Event Services Officiation for Brit Milah (bris), Simchat Bat (baby naming), B'nai Mitzvah preparation, weddings, conversion to Judaism, pastoral care, and death/mourning rituals including funeral coordination and shiva support.
• Cemetery Services Cemetery plots at 350 Kings Highway, West Springfield, MA, run by a volunteer committee; plots can be purchased ahead of time and burial-related items are due at time of burial.
• Kiddush Lunch Sponsorship Light dairy lunch served after Shabbat morning services and provided by Yosi Kosher Catering; sponsorships are available for birthdays, anniversaries, retirements, B'nai Mitzvah anniversaries, or yahrzeits, with pricing at $360 for up to 15 guests including service and cleanup.
• Room and Facility Rental Rental of social hall, stage, sanctuary (for concerts), and commercial kitchen for weddings, B'nai Mitzvah, baby naming/bris, and meals of condolence, with pricing varying by event type and guest count.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over $3 million raised through Centennial Capital Campaign to secure long-term financial future
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sinai Temple (Springfield, MA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2022In fall 2022, B'Yachad, a joint Hebrew School was established with Sinai Temple, with classes meeting at Sinai Temple for half the year and at Temple Beth El for the other half. The two congregations also collaborate with several joint Shabbat services each year. Both congregations previously discussed a potential merger with other area synagogues.
• Yosi Kosher CateringminorOthersYosi Kosher Catering provides all food served at Kiddush lunches after Shabbat morning services. Hosts select from Yosi's a la carte menu or Kiddush lunch package. The temple's commercial kitchen can be customized for culinary needs.
• Jewish Federation of Western MassachusettscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts co-sponsored the 'Try a Synagogue' program and Israel 75 Live celebration. The Federation supports TBE through community-wide programming and philanthropy.
• Harold Grinspoon FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-sponsor of the 'Try a Synagogue' program and various community programs. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation awards include recognition for TBE staff, such as the Teacher of Excellence Award for Caryn Resnick.
• South Congregational Church (Springfield, MA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBE members volunteer monthly to serve dinner to homeless and hungry individuals at South Congregational Church. This interfaith social action initiative has been ongoing for approximately 15 years, serving 55–65 people per event.
• Boy Scouts of America (Troop 31/Troop 295)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTBE has been the sponsor for Boy Scouts Troop 31 (and Troop 295) since 1924. Scouts participate in community service including cemetery maintenance and flag placement for Veterans Day.
• Jewish Theological SeminaryminorOthersTBE is affiliated with the Conservative Movement. Cantor Morton Shames was ordained in the first class of the Cantors Institute at JTS in 1955. The synagogue's spiritual and educational programming is grounded in Conservative Jewish tradition.
• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ)minorOthersTBE is affiliated with USCJ as a Conservative congregation. The logo appears on the temple's website footer.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• South Congregational Church (Springfield, MA): An interfaith community partner with which Temple Beth El has co-hosted the monthly homeless feeding program for approximately 15 years; a peer house of worship engaged in similar worship, lifecycle, and social-action programming in Springfield.
• Congregation B'nai Torah (West Springfield, MA): B'nai Torah is referenced alongside Temple Beth El and Sinai Temple as a feeder congregation for the regional Na'arut youth group, making it a direct peer serving the same demographic of Conservative/Reform Jewish families in Western Massachusetts.
• Sinai Temple (Springfield, MA): Sinai Temple is the closest peer: a fellow Conservative synagogue in Springfield, MA that partners with Temple Beth El to run the joint B'Yachad Hebrew School and participates in joint Shabbat services. Both serve the same regional Conservative Jewish population.

Others

• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ): The denominational movement body of which TBE is an affiliated member congregation, providing resources, rabbinic support, and movement-wide programming to Conservative synagogues like Temple Beth El.
• Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS): The Conservative movement's flagship rabbinical and cantorial seminary whose graduates (including Cantor Morton Shames, class of 1955) have historically served Temple Beth El. It supplies the rabbinic and educational talent pipeline for Conservative congregations like TBE.
• Harold Grinspoon Foundation: A core institutional partner that co-sponsors the Try a Synagogue and Create a Jewish Legacy programs with Temple Beth El and recognizes TBE staff through awards such as Teacher of Excellence. It operates as a Jewish-community capacity-building foundation for synagogues including TBE.
• Jewish Federation of Western Massachusetts: The regional Jewish community umbrella that co-sponsors Try a Synagogue with TBE, supports community-wide philanthropy, and previously employed TBE's Communications Coordinator. It is the principal convening and fundraising body for the same regional constituency TBE serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/tbespringfield
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/temple-beth-el_2

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Temple Beth El