The history of the synagogue dates to over 2500 years ago. Following the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem in the year 70 C.E., the synagogue emerged as the central institution in Jewish life.

In the synagogue Jews come together to nurture their personal lives and to enrich the collective life of their community through Torah (sacred study), Avoda (worship) and G’milut Hasadim (good deeds). The terms for synagogue in Hebrew reflect its purposes: Beit Tefilah (House of Prayer); Beit Midrash (House of Study); and Beit Keneset (House of Fellowship).

The rich history of our congregation began in 1915 when a small group of Indianapolis residents joined in High Holy Day services. This small group called itself Beth-El and eventually settled in a building at 34^th and Ruckle Streets in 1926. In 1928, Beth-El was joined by Ohev Zedeck and Congregation Beth-El Zedeck was born. Thirty years later the congregation followed the Jewish population’s move northward and dedicated the present synagogue facility in 1958. Beth-El Zedeck has flourished under the guidance of such distinguished spiritual leaders as Rabbi Milton Steinberg (1927-1933), Rabbi Elias Charry (1933-1942), Rabbi William Chodos (1944-1946), Rabbi William Greenfeld (1946-1960), Rabbi Sidney Steiman (1961-1976) and Rabbi Dennis C. Sasso and Rabbi Sandy Eisenberg Sasso (1977-).

Beth-El Zedeck (The House of the God of Righteousness) has kept pace with the changes of modern Jewish thought and practice while embracing the warmth and richness of our religious civilization. Affiliated with both the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism and the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, the synagogue supports equal participation by men and women in every aspect of the congregation. Beth-El Zedeck is a traditional, yet innovative synagogue where we experience Judaism as "the evolving religious civilization of the Jewish people." We are a large congregation, yet we are dedicated to creating an environment of personal warmth, caring and spiritual growth for all members. Our biblical motto, Tzedek Tzedek Tirdof—"Justice, justice you shall pursue" (Deuteronomy 16:20), commits us to be agents of Tikkun Olam, the perfection of society and the world.

For additional information about our congregation, please contact our Executive Director, Gale Halperin, (317) 253-3441 ghalperin@bez613.org.