Our Story
For generations, there was no place for Jews to worship and celebrate Jewish life in North Georgia.
Chabad of Georgia recognized this need, and in the year 2016, filled the void by establishing Chabad of Forsyth, Dawson, & Lumpkin Counties under the leadership of Rabbi Levi and Chaish Mentz.
In August 2016, Rabbi Levi and Chaish Mentz founded Congregation Beth Israel, North Georgia's first and only full-service synagogue.
Congregation Beth Israel would be motivated by a profound love for every Jew and spurred by boundless optimism, Beth Israel would be dedicated to building community everyday through a dazzling array of programs and services to serve the spiritual and physical needs of all Jews, from all walks of life, with unconditional love and acceptance. This was the passionate vision that gave birth to Congregation Beth Israel.
Starting in a humble storefront at 600 Peachtree Pkwy the seeds were planted.
10 months later, Chabad Forsyth, Dawson, Lumpkin Counties acquired 795 Brannon Road, a 5-acre lot of land with a house on it. Not long thereafter, 785 Brannon Road, the adjacent 5-acre property also with a house on it, became available and was purchased.
The future Jewish Community Center of North Georgia and Congregation Beth Israel campus and will be developed on this magnificent site.
Today, Congregation Beth Israel now services over 400 families and continues to grow every day.
CBI hosts amazing community and holiday events that are very well attended and attract hundreds of attendees.
Our programming for the youth and young families are very active through Young CBI, JUDA, and Camp Gan Israel.
Adult education is passionately enjoyed through the many classes, courses, and lectures that run throughout the year.
Current activities include Shabbat and Holiday services and programming.
This is in addition to the numerous offerings from the Sisterhood, Men’s Club, and Sunshiners 55+ Social Club.
Jewish identity and pride are now alive and flourishing in Forsyth County, GA
As exciting as all of this is, we envision and plan for an even brighter future after the construction of the Community Center and Synagogue Campus is complete.
The next phase on our campus will be the Jewish community center with sports fields, aquatic center, Jewish day camp facility, & Mikvah.
Our community outreach programs in helping others throughout our county will expand and deepen. We envision the establishment of Noah’s Ark, which will invite the whole region to serve and make the community better and brighter through the values that Noah brought to the world.
Our future is bright and limited only by a lack of imagination. Let us all grow together!
CLICK HERE Join the family and become a member of Congregation Beth Israel today!
Wed, October 9 2024
7 Tishrei 5785