CBSRZ History

In the Beginning

Congregation Rodfe Zedek

Beginning about 1880, a few Jewish families settled in East Haddam, and in 1895, a religious census conducted by the Connecticut Bible Society recorded 550 families in East Haddam, of whom 11 preferred the Jewish faith.  During the next 10 years, other Jewish families moved into East Haddam and in 1905 Frank and Bernard Shenkman, cousins, founded Congregation Rodfe Zedek in Moodus.

A study of the land records in the Town Clerk's office of this period reveals names of Gruber, Greenberg, Ritt, Morganthau, Lyman, Schulman, Grollman, Reichman, Samuels, Tischler, Ronor Ludmer, Silver and Zavodnick, many descendents of whom still reside in this area.

When the congregation was first established, the handful of members held services in each others homes.  Following immemorial custom, one or two of the older men, those most proficient in Hebrew, read the service.  Several years later, when new members joined the original group of worshippers, the congregation purchased (for $200.00) a very small house in Moodus which had been built in pre-revolutionary times.  At the time, the congregation comprised 34 Jewish families.

The congregation continued to grow, and in 1915 the little house was no longer able to accommodate the worshippers.  Before the end of the year, the congregation purchsed a plot of land on which to build a synagogue adjacent to the original house of worship.  This deed recorded as a purchase by Congregation Rodfe Zedek, is the first official recognition that such a religious body existed.

Building the Rodfe Zedek Sanctuary

Unlike King Solomon, we could not import cedars of Lebanon or the gold of Ophir or builders from Tyre.  Instead, shingles and rough lumber were purchased from nearby saw mills, hauled by members of the congregation, and the building was constructed for a total cost of less than $4,000.00.

During the period from 1915 to 1955, Hebrew teachers came to Moodus remaining for periods between two to 14 years.  As the congregation continued to grow, however, the need was felt to find a worthy spiritual leader, and in 1955 engaged Rabbi Henry Bernstein as their first full-time Rabbi. 

Hebrew School

In 1938, knowing there was a need for a Hebrew School, some women formed a separate organization which they named the Moodus Ladies Talmud Torah Association, incorporated for the purpose of "fostering Judaisim."  This Association held regular meetings until 1942, during which time it organized a Hebrew School for the children, and raised money to pay teachers who were residents of Moodus.  The Talmud Torah Association dissolved in 1942, at which time the Hebrew School and Sunday school were absorbed by the synagogue.

Congregation Beth Shalom

Congregation Beth Shalom developed slowly, starting in the 1930s.  A chicken farmer, Isadore Romanof, initially held services in his home, with a torah kept in a compartment under his desk top.  When the congregation outgrew this small place, services were moved to a meeting room in the Deep River Public Library.  At this time, the congregation went under the name of  "The Jewish Community Center of Lower Middlesex County."  In 1942, the name was changed to Congregation Beth Shalom, and a small church in Deep River was purchased, which was to remain it's home for over 50 years. During the 1980's. the congregation expanded rapidly as more and more "summer people" began moving to the Shoreline communities.  A rabbinical student, Marcia Plumb, was engaged to serve as part-time Rabbi, a position she held until 1990.  Upon her departure, Rabbi Doug Sagal became the congregation's first, full time Rabbi.  As the congregation grew and more space was required, offices were rented at a strip mall in the adjoining town of Chester to provide room for the offices and growing Religious School.  With an enrollment now exceeding 200 families, the little shul on Union street was proving to be woefully inadequate, and High Holiday services were held at the larger facility belonging to Congregation Rodfe Zedek.     Congregation Beth Shalom Rodfe Zedek During the late 1980s and 1990s, membership in Rodfe Zedek had begun to fall, and the two congregations began negotiations to combine.  This "mating dance" as it was described at the time was to continue for nearly 10 years, and by the time the merger actually occurred, Rodfe Zedek membership had dropped to only 12 families. Although the synagogue in Moodus was much larger, it was determined that the location was too remote to be practical for the majority of congregants of the now much larger Beth Shalom community.  In 1998, an option was taken on land which became available in Chester, and a capital campaign was begun to raise funds for the construction of a new synagogue.  Internationally renowned artist and designer Sol LeWitt, a member of Beth Shalom, worked with local architects and was instrumental in the design of the new building.