Our Story
B'nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim (BJBE) is an inclusive and welcoming community welcoming all who seek a connection to Jewish life.
|
Our history spans more than 130 years as a vibrant center of Jewish life, community, and learning. Rooted in Jewish tradition and guided by a spirit of openness, our community embraces individuals of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and life experiences. At the heart of BJBE are five core pillars that guide our learning, worship, acts of kindness, community and connection to Israel.
Our story began in 1893, when a group of Bohemian and Czechoslovakian Jewish immigrants established B’nai Jehoshua on Chicago’s Near Southwest Side. The congregation became a spiritual home for generations of Jewish families, creating a foundation built on worship, education, community, and mutual support. In 1963, a small group of families in the northern suburbs founded Beth Elohim, a Reform congregation serving the growing Jewish population in Des Plaines, Morton Grove, and Glenview. Just two years later, in 1965, Beth Elohim joined with the historic B’nai Jehoshua congregation, creating what is now B’nai Jehoshua Beth Elohim. The merger united deep historical roots with new energy and vision, establishing a congregation poised for growth and innovation. The newly formed BJBE dedicated its first shared home in Glenview in 1970. Over the following decades, the congregation flourished under the leadership of Rabbi Mark Shapiro z”l, who served from 1962 through 2000, helping guide the community through a period of significant growth and suburban expansion. BJBE continued to evolve alongside its members, expanding educational opportunities, worship experiences, and programs that foster meaningful Jewish engagement. Recognizing the changing demographics of the North Shore Jewish community, BJBE relocated to Deerfield in 2008. The move positioned the congregation to serve a growing population of young families while continuing to support longtime members. The Deerfield campus was further enhanced in 2017 with the opening of the Jewish Learning Center, creating dynamic spaces for education, gathering, and lifelong learning. Today, congregants come from communities throughout the northern suburbs, drawn by BJBE’s commitment to meaningful worship, learning, social justice, Israel, and connection.
Throughout its history, BJBE has been guided by visionary clergy and dedicated lay leaders who have shaped the congregation's character and values. Following Rabbi Shapiro’s tenure, Rabbi Karyn Kedar served as Senior Rabbi from 2003 until her retirement in 2022, helping lead the congregation into a new era of growth and engagement. As of July 1, 2026, BJBE proudly welcomes Rabbi Adam Wright as Senior Rabbi. While much has changed since 1893, the heart of BJBE remains the same: a warm and inclusive Jewish community where people of all ages can find inspiration, purpose, friendship, and a place to belong. |
B’nai Jehoshua on Chicago’s Near Southwest Side.
BJBE in Glenview
Our home in Deerfield.
|