Congregation B'nai Tikvah

What Congregation B'nai Tikvah does

Congregation B'nai Tikvah is a nonprofit Conservative synagogue founded in the summer of 1976 by twenty young Deerfield families and headquartered at 1558 Wilmot Road, Deerfield, Illinois. Originally known as 'Children of Hope,' the congregation operated out of local elementary schools before moving into its current purpose-built facility in 1993. It serves hundreds of Jewish families across Chicago's North Shore — Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, and surrounding communities — with an egalitarian, modern Conservative orientation. Governance rests with a Board of Trustees led by President Suzi Siegel; spiritual and operational leadership comprises Rabbi Jeremy Fine (Forward 'Most Inspiring Rabbis' 2014, JTS-ordained), Hazzan Hery Chulef (Yeshiva University Cantorial School), Executive Director Michele Friedland (MSW, Yeshiva University), and Controller Avraham Rotbart (CPA). The congregation is governed by its membership through the Board and has no parent organization, outside investors, or institutional capital structure.

Name

Congregation B'nai Tikvah

Legal name

Congregation Bnai Tikvah

Website

https://bnaitikvah.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1976

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Congregation B'nai Tikvah is an egalitarian Conservative synagogue in Deerfield, Illinois, founded in 1976, serving hundreds of Jewish families on Chicago's North Shore through worship, K-7 religious education, lifecycle events, and multi-generational community programming.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Religious Organizations (813110)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD), Faith-Based Social Services & Community Outreach (Food Pantries, Shelters, Counseling) (BPAGAJAG)

Keywords

• Religious education services
• Jewish community services
• Worship services
• Lifecycle event services
• Religious school programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Deerfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: Annual membership dues provide recurring revenue. The synagogue notes its dues are low because the mortgage is paid off, which has been achieved through decades of member contributions.
2. Religious School Tuition: Tuition-based revenue from Religious School programs with tiered pricing for different grade levels (K-2, 3-6, 7th grade) and membership status.
3. Donations and Dedication Gifts: Memorial plaques ($600 each), Tree of Life leaves ($180) and stones ($500), Siddur book plates ($50), donor recognition plaques ($3,600 minimum), Shoah Memorial Torah Project contributions (Book $5000, Parasha $360, Aliyah $72).
4. Facility Rental: Members can rent social halls for special occasions for a fee.
5. Donation Funds: Multiple designated funds accepting donations including General Fund, Building Fund, Youth Scholarship Fund, and others with minimum donation of $18.

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Congregation B'nai Tikvah is a Conservative Jewish synagogue in Deerfield, Illinois, offering religious worship services, religious education (K-7th grade), Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation, adult education, lifecycle events, youth programming, and social action initiatives. Membership provides access to clergy, programs, and facilities, supported by membership dues, religious school tuition, and donations to designated funds.

Product overview

Congregation B'nai Tikvah is a Conservative synagogue in Deerfield, Illinois, offering a comprehensive suite of Jewish religious, educational, and communal programs. The organization provides Religious School (K-7th grade with Hebrew instruction), Bar/Bat Mitzvah preparation, Youth Programs (including BBYO, Madrichim, College Kesher), Adult Education (speakers, film series, learning sessions), Worship Services (Shabbat and daily minyan), Lifecycle Events (weddings, baby namings, funerals), Social Action/Tikkun Olam initiatives, Sisterhood and Men's Club organizations, musical B-Tones ensemble, and seasonal Pickleball program. The synagogue also offers donation opportunities through dedicated funds, memorial walls, and gift programs. All programs are accessible through membership, with ShulCloud providing the digital platform for account management, donations, and registrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sisterhood: Intergenerational group of women providing social, educational, and social action programs for female congregants and families.
• Men's Club
• B-Tones
• Religious School

Products and services

• Membership Synagogue membership providing access to clergy services, worship services, Religious School enrollment, adult education, synagogue events, and facility use for special occasions. Membership is egalitarian and inclusive with low dues due to paid-off mortgage.
• Religious School Religious school program for children from junior kindergarten through 7th grade, focusing on Jewish culture, teachings, traditions, Hebrew language, holiday practices, and Torah studies. Operates Sunday mornings and Wednesday afternoons with options for virtual Hebrew tutoring.
• Bar/Bat Mitzvah Preparation Comprehensive preparation program for young Jews approaching their coming-of-age milestone, including family workshops during 6th grade, individual study with professional ritual staff, Haftarah and Torah training, and lifecycle celebration services.
• Worship Services Shabbat and weekday prayer services including Friday evening Kabbalat Shabbat at 6:30pm, Shabbat morning services at 9:00am, daily minyan (Sundays 9am, Mondays/Thursdays 7am, weekday evenings 6:30pm), lifecycle events, and service livestreaming.
• Lifecycle Events Celebration and support services for Jewish lifecycle events including weddings, Auf Rufs, Brit Milah, Simchat Bat, funerals, anniversaries, and birthdays. Facilities are available to all members of the Jewish community.
• Youth Programs Comprehensive youth programming including BBYO for teens, Madrichim teacher assistant program, College Kesher, Family Shabbat monthly experiences, ECC programs with PJ Library partnership, and holiday celebrations.
• Adult Education Lifelong Jewish learning opportunities including Legends of Media speaker series hosted by Robert Feder, Florence & Laurence Spungen Memorial Film Series, various speaker events, Rosh Chodesh learning experiences, and educational programming covering Judaic and secular topics.
• Sisterhood Intergenerational women's group offering social and educational programs, social action projects, leadership opportunities, Sisterhood Shabbat services, family Shabbat dinners, a gift shop with Judaic items, book club, and Torah Fund greeting cards. Voluntary dues are $36 per year.
• Men's Club Men's fellowship organization with social events including whiskey tastings, social action projects, educational programs, religious activity participation, and Pickleball at CBT. Voluntary dues are $36 per year.
• Social Action Community service and Tikkun Olam programs including Mitzvah Day, meal preparation for those in need, collection drives, rapid action assistance, and Bikur Cholim (visiting the ill).
• Pickleball at CBT Seasonal pickleball program held in the synagogue parking lot, open to players of all ages and skill levels. Sessions run 10:00am-12:00pm on select days, cost is $18 per person per season.
• Dedication & Gift Opportunities Tzedakah and commemorative giving options including Bond of Life Memorial Wall plaques ($600), Shoah Memorial Torah Project (Book $5000, Parasha $360, Aliyah $72), Tree of Life leaves ($180) and stones ($500), Siddur Sim Shalom book plates ($50), and Donor Recognition Plaques ($3600 minimum).

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ShulCloudcoreTechnology or IntegrationCloud-based synagogue management software used for account management, bill payment, record updating, membership directory, event registration, donations, and school enrollment. Provides the online member portal and donation platform.
• Women's League of Conservative JudaismcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSisterhood funds support the Women's League of Conservative Judaism. The synagogue's Sisterhood is part of this national organization supporting women in Conservative Judaism.
• BBYOminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTeens connect with BBYO for programming and travel with the Rabbi to International Convention. The synagogue shifted from USY to BBYO for teen programming.
• PJ LibraryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with PJ Library for early childhood Jewish literacy programs. Multiple programs per year to encourage Jewish learning at a young age.
• Sisterhood Gift Shop VendorsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSisterhood Gift Shop offers Judaic items and can special order items from vendors. Provides competitive pricing on jewelry, hostess gifts, children's items, and holiday products.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism (USCJ): National umbrella organization for Conservative synagogues in North America. Relevant as the denominational parent and convening body that B'nai Tikvah affiliates with; provides movement-wide resources, standards, and programming that shape congregational operations.
• ShulCloud: Cloud-based synagogue management platform used by Congregation B'nai Tikvah for membership, billing, donations, and school registration. Comparable as an enabling technology vendor serving the operational infrastructure of Conservative and other congregations.

Direct peers

• Congregation Solel: Reform synagogue in Highland Park, IL, serving the same North Shore Jewish community with comparable programming and demographic. Operates as a peer in the same immediate geographic catchment.
• North Shore Congregation Israel: Reform congregation in Glencoe, IL, serving the same North Shore Chicago Jewish community with comparable programming breadth (religious school, lifecycle events, adult education). Closely comparable in geography, scale, and service mix though denominationally different.
• Temple Jeremiah: Reform congregation in Northfield, IL on Chicago's North Shore. Directly comparable in terms of suburban Chicago geography, programming scope (religious school, adult education, social action), and member demographic.
• Congregation Beth Judea: Conservative synagogue in Long Grove, IL serving Chicago's northern suburbs. Comparable as a peer Conservative congregation in the same regional market offering religious school, adult education, youth programming, and lifecycle services.
• North Suburban Synagogue Beth El: Conservative synagogue in Highland Park, IL, directly comparable as another North Shore egalitarian Conservative congregation serving a similar demographic. Notably, multiple B'nai Tikvah staff (Avraham Rotbart, Michele Friedland, Carolyn Kraus) previously worked at Beth El, evidencing close operational and personnel overlap between the two congregations.
• Anshe Sholom B'nai Israel Congregation: Conservative congregation in Chicago's Lakeview neighborhood, comparable as a metropolitan-area Conservative synagogue offering religious school, lifecycle events, and adult education to a similar constituency.

Market position

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cbtdeerfield

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Congregation B'nai Tikvah