Temple Beth Hillel

We needed a place to worship, and the Reverend Roy Hutcheon, minister of the Wapping Community Church, offered his church to our new congregants. Rabbi Schindler came from Boston to lead some of the Friday evening services. When a rabbi was not available, the congregation led their own service. A congregational choir led by Bernie Karlin provided m... usic. Religious School started immediately, and was held in the public schools on Sunday morning. On August 25, 1961, we held a service to celebrate our first anniversary and to welcome our first part-time rabbi, Paul L. Shiman, a professor of philosophy and religion at Wesleyan University. Our Congregation started to search for land to build a building. Moses Maskel donated land from his parents' farm for our building which was dedicated at Friday night services on June 5, 1964. The congregation worked together to complete and furnish the Temple. Roman Luftglas hand carved the Hebrew and English words above the Ark and Memorial Board. The Sisterhood was the social center of the congregation. In 1965, Margo Lazzerini was hired to provide music at services. In 1966, the Brett family provided money to purchase a Torah, which is still used today. Our larger Torah was donated by Temple Beth Israel of West Hartford. The valance for the Ark, which was saved from a synagogue in Germany during World War II, was donated by members Kay and Ed Nabel. In 1973, after five part-time rabbis, our congregation hired our first full-time rabbi, Neil Kominsky. Our congregation continued to grow.Read More