Temple Beth Israel was a Reform synagogue located at 840 Highland Road in Sharon, Pennsylvania. Originally called House of Israel Congregation, it was founded in 1888 as an Orthodox congregation by Jews from Eastern Europe. It merged with Rodef Sholom Temple in July, 2013.The congregation constructed its first synagogue building in 1903, and expanded it in 1924. It hired its first full-time rabbi, Maurice Moskowitz, in 1929; he served until 1934.By the 1940s the congregation had moved to Conservative Judaism, and with the installation of M. Robert Syme (1945–1948) as rabbi, transitioned to Reform Judaism. It joined the Union for Reform Judaism in 1949, and completed its current building in 1950.Rabbis since Syme have included Meyer M. Abramowitz (1948–1956), Robert Bergman (1957–1961), Joseph Hewzog (1961–1974), Samuel Weingart (1974–1985), Stephen L. Sniderman (1985–1996), and Jacques Cukierkorn (1996–1998approx) He was the last full-time Rabbi the congregation had before its merger with the Youngstown congregation.Early historyJews from Eastern Europe first settled in Sharon in the 1880s. In August, 1888 they founded the Orthodox Temple Beth Israel (originally called House of Israel Congregation) so that they would have place to worship for Rosh Hashanah the following month. J.M. Rabinowitz (or Rabinovitz) served as cantor, ritual circumciser, Hebrew teacher, and ritual slaughterer.
