About Us

	History of Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue In 1919, a group of 50 Hungarian immigrants founded B’nai Israel led by Rabbi Julius Rappaport. The synagogue was located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at 10^th and Vine. This congregation disbanded, but was soon restarted. Oer Chodosh (New Light) was founded in December, 1921. Rabbi Eugene Kohn was the religious leader until 1926. The first President of the synagogue was Henry D. Eder. His term ran from 1922 until 1925. In 1923 the congregation changed its name to Temple Beth El and was located on W. Garfield at 49^th Street. In 1926 Rabbi Phillip Kleinman was hired. During this time the first school building was erected and the congregation grew to approximately 100 families. Rabbi Kleinman was at Beth El for 10 years. In 1936 Rabbi Louis J. Swichkow came to Milwaukee from Chicago, Illinois to lead the synagogue. He was only 25 years old. By 1945, the membership had grown to 300 families. In 1949 "Ner Tamid" (Eternal Light) was added to the name of the congregation. By the early 1950’s, the congregation had outgrown the building on W. Garfield. In September, 1951 Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue dedicated their new building on Sherman Blvd. Soon the membership grew and the religious school flourished. The synagogue was known for their award winning choir. In the early 1980’s the congregation decided to leave Milwaukee for a site in Mequon, Wisconsin. The new building was dedicated in July 1984. Rabbi Gideon Goldenholz became the spiritual leader of Beth El Ner Tamid Synagogue in June, 1985. In 2005 the entire congregation began the mitzvah of writing a Torah under the leadership of Rabbi Goldenholz. This year-long project culminated in the dedication of the new Torah on October 29th, 2006. Rabbi Goldenholz was at Beth El Ner Tamid until his departure to Florida in 2006. Rabbi Berman joined our synagogue in 2006. In July 2009, he left Beth El in order to pursue a degree in law at the University of Minnesota. Rabbi Tamar Crystal joined our congregation in March 2010 as our interim Rabbi and continues in that capacity. The stained glass windows to the left and right were originally installed at our Sherman Blvd. location. They were removed and re-installed at our current address and have become a focal point of our main sanctuary. The Jewish Museum Milwaukee currently holds a large portion of our archives that is available for public viewing.