OUR COMMUNITY

S

ince its establishment in 1916, 
Beth Israel Congregation has had 
a key influence on Jewish life in 
Washtenaw County. 
The congregation began informally by 
celebrating the High Holidays in the home 
of Osias Zwerdling. For the next 40 years, 
Zwerdling served as president of the con-
gregation. Over the course of that time, 
Beth Israel functioned as the sole Jewish 
congregation in Ann Arbor.
The congregation went without a rabbi 
for many years, hiring various people who 
wore several hats at the same time. Even 
after they hired their first rabbi, Joshua 
Sperka, the congregation made do without 
one off and on, sustained by a spirit of vol-
unteerism.
Beth Israel was one of the first Conser-
vative congregations in Southeast Michi-
gan to become an egalitarian congregation. 
Prior to moving to its current location 
in 1978, the congregation met in different 

homes and, at one time, shared a building 
with the University of Michigan Hillel 
Foundation. 
Among the longest-serving rabbis were 
Rabbi Julius Weinberg (1952-1961), Rabbi 

Allan Kensky (1971-1988) and Rabbi 
Robert Dobrusin (1988-2018). Dobrusin 
now serves as Beth Israel’s Rabbi Emeritus. 
Rabbi Nadav Caine has served as Beth 
Israel’s head rabbi since 2018.

Ann Arbor’s Beth Israel emphasizes education, 
egalitarianism and participation. 

Longtime Congregation

DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER

20 | AUGUST 11 • 2022 

Rabbi Nadav Caine

A view of Beth Israel 
Congregation

SYNAGOGUE SPOTLIGHT

