The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David

What The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David does

The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David is a nonprofit Jewish community organization headquartered at 2625 SW 3rd Avenue, Miami, Florida. Founded in 1912 as B'nai Zion and renamed Beth David Congregation in 1920, it is Miami's oldest Jewish congregation and rebranded to its current form to signal a more inclusive, "Jewish+" approach to community life. The organization operates a unified campus integrating the Gordon School (Jewish day school for children ages 3 months through 13 years, including Florida's first Jewish day-school autism program, the Tikvah Center), Religious School, Camp Shemesh, year-round lifecycle services (weddings, b'mitzvot, funerals, baby namings), adult-learning programs (Yesodot: Foundations of Judaism, Conversion Cohort, Parsha Unplugged), social-action initiatives (Tikkun Olam), and venue rentals (Falk Sanctuary, Scher Chapel, Beck Museum of Judaica).

Revenue is generated through five streams: recurring Gordon School tuition, membership dues, donations across 14+ designated funds, registration fees for adult and youth programs, and one-time facility rentals for lifecycle events. Pricing is transparent and modest — e.g., Yesodot at $225–$550 and the Conversion Cohort at $650–$750 — with scholarships and payment plans available. The underlying technology stack is intentionally light: a Wix-based website integrated with the Daxko platform for membership management, registration, donations, and email communications, plus a Virtual Yahrzeit memorial microsite. There is no proprietary technology, no AI/ML capability, and no mobile app.

The go-to-market motion is community-led: in-person engagement at the single Miami campus, Rabbi-authored content, lifecycle events, and the Gordon School enrollment funnel (every school family automatically becomes a Center member). The organization is governed by a volunteer Board (President Iris Destephen, Executive Vice President Rodrigo Wolf Yadlin) with clergy and operational leadership including Senior Rabbi Julie Jacobs (~20 years tenure), Associate Rabbi Nachshon Carmi, and a small staff of approximately 8. The Center is currently executing the Here We Grow! capital campaign (target $15M+; $5M+ already committed) to fund a Phase I renovation (beginning June 2026) and a Phase II 93,000-square-foot, 40-classroom new Gordon School campus.

Name

The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David

Legal name

Center for Jewish Life at Beth David

Website

https://centerbd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1912

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David is a 113-year-old Miami-based nonprofit Jewish congregation operating the Gordon School day school, the Tikvah Center autism program, lifecycle services, adult-learning cohorts, and venue rentals for the Greater Miami Jewish community across a single integrated campus.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Community Services

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131), Child Care Services (6244), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Child Day Care Services (8351), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDACABAF

Faith-Based Preschools

Education/Early Childhood Education/Preschools & Pre-K Programs

SECONDARYEDAAAFAB

Community Center Education Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Community & Public Education Programs (Libraries, Community Centers)

Keywords

• Jewish community services
• Jewish day school
• Religious education
• Lifecycle event services
• Community center

Headquarters

HQ city

Miami

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Gordon School Tuition: Tuition fees for the Gordon School (Early Childhood Center, Tikvah Center, and Day School), which serves children ages 3 months to 13 years. Enrollment drives membership since every Gordon School family is part of Center membership.
2. Facility Rental: The Falk Sanctuary, Scher Chapel, and Beck Museum of Judaica are available to rent for life-cycle events (weddings, b'mitzvot, bris/naming ceremonies, memorial services) as well as concerts, meetings, conferences, Shabbat dinners, and parties.
3. Donations and Fundraising: The Center raises funds through a general fund and multiple designated funds (Yahrzeit Fund, G'Milut Hasadim Fund, Gussie Margulies Children's Fund, Merlin Educational Fund, Waas Preservation Fund, Social Justice Committee Fund, Brotherhood Fund, Chesed Fund, Rabbi's Discretionary Fund, Religious School Fund, Gordon School Annual Fund, Tikvah Center Fund, ECC Fund, Women's League). The Here We Grow! capital campaign is actively raising $5M+ for campus modernization.
4. Membership Dues: Center membership fees, with membership required or strongly recommended for enrollment in programs and access to services. Member pricing is offered for courses and programs.
5. Program Fees: Registration fees for programs including Yesodot: Foundations of Judaism ($225–$550 depending on membership status and individual/couple rate), the Conversion Cohort ($650–$750), Camp Shemesh, Mini Camp, Religious School, and various enrichment programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David operates as a unified Jewish community center offering worship services, Jewish day school education (Gordon School for ages 3 months to 13 years including the Tikvah Center autism program), lifecycle event officiation, adult education courses, summer/day camps, social action programs, and venue rentals. All Gordon School families automatically become Center members, integrating education and community engagement under one roof.

Product overview

The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David is a Jewish community organization operating as a unified community center with multiple interconnected programs. The core offerings include the Gordon School (Jewish day school for children 3 months to 13 years including the Tikvah Center autism program), Religious School, Camp Shemesh, Shabbat and weekday prayer services, life cycle event services (b'mitzvot, weddings, funerals), and adult education programs (Yesodot, Parsha Unplugged, Conversion Cohort). Additional programs include Speaker Series, community groups (Women's League, Brotherhood, Book Club, Soccer League, Mahjong), Tikkun Olam social action initiatives, Virtual Yahrzeit memorial services, and venue rentals (Falk Sanctuary, Scher Chapel, Beck Museum). The organization also publishes The Center View community magazine. The Gordon School serves as the primary membership driver, with all Gordon School families automatically becoming Center members.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Gordon School: Jewish day school for children ages 3 months to 13 years, including Early Childhood Center, Tikvah Center, and Day School programs.
• Tikvah Center
• The Center View
• Here We Grow!
• Camp Shemesh
• MazelTots

Products and services

• Gordon School
• Tikvah Center
• Religious School
• Camp Shemesh
• Shabbat Services
• Weekday Minyan Services
• Yesodot: Foundations of Judaism
• Conversion (Giyyur) to Judaism Cohort
• Parsha Unplugged
• Life Cycle Services
• Venue Rentals
• Tikkun Olam Programs
• Virtual Yahrzeit

Quantifiable outcome

• 22% surge in Gordon School admissions in one year
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• ArquitectonicacoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLeading architecture firm engaged as part of the Here We Grow! capital campaign building team. Providing pro bono design expertise for the new Gordon School campus and renovated Center spaces.
• Greenberg TraurigcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerMajor law firm providing pro bono legal counsel as part of the Here We Grow! building team for the campus modernization project.
• Skyline ManagementcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerManagement consulting firm on the Here We Grow! building team, contributing expertise to the capital campaign and project execution.
• Kimley-HorncoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerEngineering and design consultancy engaged on the Here We Grow! building team for campus infrastructure upgrades and new construction.
• Farmworker Association of FloridaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTikkun Olam partnership with Temple Israel and Beth Or to collect groceries for 145 migrant farmworker families in Homestead facing food insecurity and immigration policy uncertainty.
• Temple Israel and Beth OrminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating synagogues in Tikkun Olam initiatives including the Farmworker Association food drive and ongoing community service programs.
• Lotus HouseminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter volunteers help in the Lotus House kitchen every 1st and 3rd Thursday, 11:00 AM–2:00 PM, in partnership with Temple Israel.
• Chapman PartnershipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCenter serves dinner every 4th Monday at Chapman Partnership, empowering the homeless. Joint volunteer effort with Temple Israel and Unity on the Bay.
• JCS Kosher Food BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDuring Purim, Gordon and Center families collect for the JCS Kosher Food Bank — the only food bank in Miami-Dade serving kosher-requiring families. Serves 400+ families, 70 Holocaust survivors, and 225 children annually.
• P.A.C.T. (People Acting for Community Together)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPACT uses organized community power to hold public officials accountable and create systemic change in Miami-Dade County through large community assemblies.
• Mosaic MiamiminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe oldest interfaith clergy organization in South Florida dedicated to confronting bigotry and building alliances. Rabbi Carmi is a member, committed to building bridges across lines of difference.
• Israel BondsminorOthersInvestment program promoted by the Center allowing community members to invest in Israel's economy and infrastructure while supporting causes they care about.
• Diller Teen FellowsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLeadership fellowship connecting Miami teens with Israeli peers over a shared year of learning, building a personal relationship with Israel.
• Passport to IsraelminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSubsidy program helping make a teen's first trip to Israel possible, administered in partnership with the broader Miami Jewish community.
• Give Miami Day (Miami Foundation)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMiami Foundation's largest annual community-wide giving event. The Center participates as one of 1,000+ nonprofits, with Give Miami Day providing financial fuel for the local nonprofit ecosystem.
• Sweet Honey for ORT AmericaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigh Holy Days honey fundraiser — a joint program of the Gordon School Parents Association and Beth David Women's League. Purchasing honey through ORT America benefits the Center.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• David Posnack Jewish Day School: Jewish day school in Plantation, FL serving K-12 with the largest student body in Southeast Florida. Directly comparable Jewish day school offering but operating at significantly larger enrollment scale.
• Scheck Hillel Community School: Large K-12 Jewish day school in North Miami Beach offering integrated Jewish and general education from early childhood through high school. Directly comparable to Gordon School in mission (faith-based day school in Greater Miami) but at much larger scale across all ages.
• Temple Israel of Greater Miami: Reform synagogue in Miami with similar program depth. Already an explicit partner of the Center on Tikkun Olam initiatives (Farmworker Association, Chapman Partnership, Lotus House), making it both a peer and a collaborator.
• Donna Klein Jewish Academy: K-12 Jewish day school in Boca Raton serving the Southeast Florida Jewish community. Comparable Jewish day school model and is even referenced in the Center's own Associate Rabbi Carmi's prior teaching experience.
• Katz Hillel Day School: Jewish day school in Boca Raton offering early childhood through 8th grade. Direct peer in faith-based day school delivery for the Southeast Florida Jewish community.
• Hebrew Academy (RASG Miami Beach): Orthodox Jewish day school in Miami Beach serving infants through 12th grade. Closest geographic competitor in the Jewish early childhood / day school space and competes for the same Miami Jewish family demographic.

Regional players

• Beth Or Synagogue: Reform congregation in the Miami area, co-partner on Tikkun Olam programs including the migrant farmworker grocery drive. Comparable community synagogue model but slightly different scale and geographic focus.
• The Shul of Bal Harbour: Modern Orthodox synagogue in Bal Harbour offering community programming similar in spirit but serving a different Miami-area Jewish demographic. Useful peer for understanding segments the Center does not primarily serve.
• Jewish Federation of Greater Miami: The umbrella nonprofit that funds many Jewish institutions across Greater Miami, including Give Miami Day partnerships. Comparable regional community-building mission and serves the same 11,000+ Jewish household target market.

Emerging players

• Gan Israeli Preschool / Lehrman Community Day School: Jewish community preschool and day school programs operating in South Florida (Hollywood). Comparable faith-based early childhood product offering for Jewish families in Southeast Florida.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/center-for-jewish-life-miami

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 The Center for Jewish Life at Beth David