Welcome

Congregation Beth Yeshurun is a proud affiliate of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, serving nearly 2,000 families in Houston, bringing them to experience the joy of Jewish living, providing for their spiritual, educational, and social needs.

About Us

CONGREGATION BETH YESHURUN has as its mission to be a synagogue that embraces the philosophy and values of Conservative Judaism by providing:

• A spiritual community celebrating the richness and traditions of Torah, prayer and life cycle events
• A learning community enriching Jewish knowledge and experience for all ages
• A caring community encouraging social interaction and Tikkun Olam in order to strengthen ourselves, our families, the Jewish people, and Eretz Yisrael​​​​​​

Our Vision

To have Congregation Beth Yeshurun be a Synagogue that provides Spiritual, Educational and Community involvement with activities that promotes the ideals of Conservative Judaism, be the leading Jewish Institution in the Houston Community.

Our History

Beth Yeshurun's roots go back more than a century to the founding of Adath Yeshurun in 1891. In 1946 Adath Yeshurun merged with Beth El, forming the current Beth Yeshurun. In 2002 Beth Yeshurun absorbed the membership of Shearith Israel in nearby Wharton, Texas. Throughout its 120+ year history, the congregants of Beth Yeshurun have been leaders in the Houston Jewish community, attending to not only synagogue needs but also local Jewish social service agencies.

The Beth Yeshurun Day School – the first Jewish Day School in Houston – was born in 1949 when Rabbi William Malev convinced the Congregation of the necessity to have a Day School. Since then more than 2000 students have graduated from our Day School, becoming doctors, attorneys, businessmen and women, mothers and fathers, civic leaders, and leaders in the Jewish community, here in Houston and in other cities throughout the United States. 

Beth Yeshurun moved to its present location in 1962, the first Houston synagogue to relocate outside of the "old Jewish quarter." Congregants' residences, other synagogues, and Jewish businesses followed. Now centrally located among 80% of the Jewish community, Beth Yeshurun continues to be a progressive leader among Jewish institutions while maintaining stability of tradition and leadership. Rabbi William Malev led the Congregation for 27 years, followed by Rabbi Jack Segal for 23 years, then Rabbi David Rosen from 1996-2018, and now Rabbi Brian Strauss who came as an Assistant Rabbi in 2001. Cantor George Wagner served the Congregation for over 35 years, Hazzan David Propis for 18 years, and Hazzan Meir Finkelstein arrived in 2013.  Rabbi Steve Morgen and Rabbi Sarah Fort joined our clergy staff in 1998 and 2017, respectively.

In 1998 Beth Yeshurun began a needed renovation and expansion project which was completed in 2004. The entire synagogue was renovated and more than 30,000 square feet of building were added. The synagogue now incorporates three beautiful sanctuaries – the J. B. Greenfield Chapel, the Freedman/Levit Sanctuary, and the Barg Family Sanctuary; three conference rooms, and four multipurpose rooms/auditoriums ranging in size from 1,600 to 10,000 square feet. Our kosher kitchens – meat, dairy, and pareve – can prepare delicious banquets for as many as 800 diners.