by Ann Tettlebaum

Temple Beth El of Jefferson City, Missouri, was founded in 1883. Twenty-two years later, in 1905, the once thriving congregation had only four members. By 1920, there were only three members. Yet this small Jewish congregation witnessed a growth in membership with the influx of eastern European immigrants. It was with this history of changing membership numbers in mind that Temple Beth El decided in 2017 that it was not ready to close its doors, but it was ready to ensure that the assets it had accumulated over the years – its real estate and financial assets – would always be used for purposes consistent with the Jewish faith. Thus, the congregation signed a contract with Jewish Community Legacy Project that it would develop a legacy plan for the “unlikely” event the Temple closed.

When Temple Beth El finalized that plan in 2017, there were 31 member households. Today, there are 36. This increase is due in no small part to the ideas discussed by the Temple’s legacy planning committee and implemented by the congregation to increase commitment to and interest in the small Jewish community. 

Here are some of the steps that the congregation took as the result of Temple Beth El’s legacy planning process with JCLP:

1. Increase awareness of and preserve the congregation’s history: Volunteers digitally preserved all minute books and other historical records and donated copies to the Missouri State Historical Society and the American Jewish Archives. In doing so, we discovered the congregation had adopted a refugee family during World War II. Although the family eventually left Jefferson City, we were able to locate and speak with the family’s son, who fled Austria with his parents and who had become a well-known chemist. Our congregation has worked to replicate the generosity of those past congregants by deciding on donations as a congregation to selected Jewish and community causes in the spirit of Tikkun Olam.
2. Completing an Oral History Project: With the help of Noah Levine and experts at the Missouri Historical Society and American Jewish Archives, we undertook an oral history project of members. Volunteers conducted the interviews and a volunteer also transcribed and summarized each interview. The mission of the oral history project was to preserve the recollections of people who had participated in the Temple’s activities, witnessed its events, and contributed to its continuation as a Jewish lay led congregation. One of the unexpected results of the project was a renewed commitment by those participating to make Temple Beth El an inviting and welcoming place of worship, just as those who had initially welcomed them had done.
3. Sending Yahrzeit Notices: A committee of volunteers is sending Yahrzeit reminders to family members of loved ones on our Yahrzeit boards. The purpose is not to raise funds but to provide a service to current and former members and to provide notice of the availability of Friday night zoom services on the date the name of the loved one will be read. The Yahrzeit committee sends approximately 65 notices annually.
4. Incorporating: During its deliberations, the legacy planning committee determined that Temple Beth El had never incorporated but rather had existed under Missouri law as an unincorporated association for over 135 years. Every congregant now had an opportunity to participate in writing the Temple’s Articles of Incorporation and new bylaws. The legacy committee also discovered that the Temple’s real estate was owned by the original Hebrew Cemetery Association and not the Temple. Thanks to a local real estate lawyer, who worked on a pro-bono basis, the congregation successfully transferred the property to the newly incorporated Temple Beth El. 

The joy Temple Beth El members’ experience as they attend weekly Shabbat services is infectious. That is what we have been told by new households who have joined the congregation since 2017.  We are thankful that JCLP provided us with the tools to energize our small but thriving Jewish community.