Temple Beth-El, San Antonio, Texas

Brief Description of Temple Beth-El, San Antonio, Texas

Temple Beth-El, the oldest Jewish congregation in San Antonio, was founded in 1874 and immediately became a charter member of the Union for Reform Judaism.  

After outgrowing our initial building in 1919 on a prominent corner in downtown San Antonio, the Congregation embarked on a plan to build a magnificent domed structure near downtown, which has been our home since 1927.  In 2001, Temple Beth-El succeeded in leading an ambitious capital campaign that resulted in the modernization and expansion of the entire Temple.

Temple Beth-El has approximately 980 members, a robust budget, endowment support and shares the same challenges that many congregations see, changing demographics.

Under our Rabbis’ leadership, Temple Beth-El has a longstanding track record of social action.  Historically, Temple members and professional staff have had roles in advancing San Antonio’s fight for equal rights, pressing for women’s equality, and working on behalf of the underprivileged. We enjoy time-tested relations with the wider and Jewish communities. 

Temple Beth-El was founded on, and remains committed to the Jewish education and engagement of our youth.  We have an active Religious and Hebrew school, a strong B’nai Mitzvah program and a significant Confirmation program.  Life-long Jewish learning is a cornerstone of our congregation as evidenced in the strength of our adult education programs.

Temple Beth-El is the host location for Great Hearts Monte Vista School, serving grades 6 through 12.  While we operate independently, we enjoy a wonderful long-term relationship with the public charter school and have incorporated their current and future physical needs into our facility.

While we may not have the Jewish population of New York or Los Angeles or even that of Dallas or Houston, we have something that the Jews of San Antonio find compelling:  a unified community mishpochah.  The highlights of the San Antonio Jewish Community is Temple Beth-El’s historic presence and a Jewish Campus that host several Jewish Agencies.