History of Congregation B’nai Torah (CBT)

CBT was started in 1998 by a group of nine former congregants of Temple Israel including Doug Golden, Sonny, Marilyn, Ira and Robin Freedman, George, Eileen and Scott Selis, Dr. Richard and Lisa Rhodes and Dr. Charles Stein, to form a progressive conservative synagogue that would be inclusive of all family members.

Shortly thereafter,  Charlie and Lea Moskowitz  joined with their Chaverot group and brought us our first Torah.

We were blessed to hire Rabbi Kane to be our Rabbi and spiritual leader.

We initially held services at various locations such as the Senior Center in Ormond Beach, The Trail’s club house and then had our first “permanent” home in the Rivergate Shopping Plaza.

CBT continued to grow and thanks to the discovery of a former church and parsonage we were able to purchase our present home on the corner of N. Nova Road and Wilmette Avenue.

Evelyn Blankenship bequeathed a generous donation allowing us to pay off our mortgage and make improvements to our beautiful congregational home and office/school building.

CBT has benefited over the years from the influence and guidance of Rabbi Kane, Cantor Walters, Rabbi Shapiro, multiple lay leaders and also help from a diverse group of individuals willing to take up positions of leadership.

We were the first Jewish congregation in our area to embrace the slogan, “no pay to pray”, permitting any Jewish person to attend any service, even the High Holidays, without requiring membership or payment.

We continue to depend on collection of dues from our members but also count on the goodness and generosity of our non-member participants.

CBT continues to provide a friendly, progressive conservative Jewish home for our amazing members and visitors alike.