Welcome to Beth David — a Reform synagogue on Philadelphia's Main Line, where 500 families come together to pray and to learn, to celebrate our Judaism and act on its principles, and to create a vibrant and caring Jewish community.
Beth David is a house of prayer. Our new spiritual leader, Rabbi Jim Egolf, has just joined us this summer, and we welcome his warmth, dedication, and commitment. Our Cantor, Lilia Kazansky, has been with us almost 20 years; her voice and her melodies make music an important component of our prayers and our spirituality. Our Rabbi Emeritus, Henry Cohen, continues to contribute his learning and commitment.
Beth David is a house of learning. Our Religious School, under the direction of Susan Levey for more than a dozen years, offers programming for students in grades kindergarten through twelve. More than 350 students gather here weekly to pursue their Jewish education. But Jewish education is not just for children. Beth David truly believes that Jewish education is a life long experience. It does not stop at Bar or Bat Mitzvah, Confirmation, or graduation from high school. Our Torah study, Koffee Kallah, adult Bar and Bat Mitzvah, Scholar-in-Residence program, Food for Thought lunch discussions in Gladwyne and in Center City, book groups, and Chavurot guarantee that there are a variety of learning opportunities that will appeal to all of our congregants.
Beth David is a vibrant Jewish community. Our congregants come from a variety of backgrounds, educational experiences, and careers and are eager to share their thoughts and opinions and expertise. Through Women of Reform Judaism, Men's Club, BethDY, and other groups, we provide stimulating programs and social opportunities that reflect our varied interests.
Beth David is a caring Jewish community. We assist each other in times of stress or need and also recognize our responsibilities to the larger Jewish community. The synagogue, its professional and lay leaders, and many congregants take an active role in local and national Jewish organizations. We also have a special relationship with Or Hadash, a Reform synagogue in Haifa, Israel; this connection has been beneficial for both congregations and helps give us at Beth David a broader Jewish world-view. Commitment to social action has long been an important part of our identity and an ongoing commitment. We are particularly proud of our involvement with the Interfaith Hospitality Network, a group of churches and one synagogue (Beth David), that provide shelter and other services for homeless people in our area.
We hope this brief introduction gives you an idea of who we are and what we stand for.
We encourage inquiries from all prospective members. Many of our members are interfaith couples who are committed to establishing a Jewish home, and the non-Jewish spouse is welcome at all synagogue events as a part of our community. We also welcome gay and lesbian members interested in joining us.
We are committed to ensuring that no member is excluded because of limited financial means. Special financial arrangements can be made through a discreet inquiry with one of our Finance Committee chairs.
Because of our commitment to small class size and limits on our facilities and resources, we have limited openings in our Religious School. If you have school-age children, we encourage you to contact us for more information as soon as possible, and if you are interested in joining, we hope to be able to accommodate you.
For more information about membership, please fill out our form or call the Beth David office at 610-896-7485.
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Originally devised by Rabbi Samuel Markowitz some 50 years ago, the 10-Point Program has stood as our guiding principles over the course of Beth David's history:
- The congregation is an educational institution whose primary purpose is to counsel and instruct its members in leading a Jewish existence.
- The congregation must be maintained at a size which provides an opportunity for each member to be recognized as an important individual.
- The role of the Rabbi is primarily to teach Judaism and to serve the spiritual needs of the members.
- The Jewish education and participation of the family as a whole is a central focus of our synagogue program. Children cannot seriously appreciate a religion that is ignored by their parents.
- Religious services enable us to have a deeper understanding of ourselves, our faith and our world. During worship we renew the creative powers within ourselves and strengthen our capacity to live a Jewish life in the modern world.
- A congregation can provide maximum benefits for its members only if they give of themselves as well as render financial support.
- We learn by doing. Participation in some facet of the congregational program is indispensable to a satisfactory relationship between the individual member and the synagogue.
- The goals of our educational program are reverence for life, respect for our Jewish heritage and recognition of the ideals and insights of Judaism in our world.
- We are a democratic organization and all members have equal rights.
- Beth David is a Reform Jewish congregation. The principle of change as inherent in historic Judaism is the basis for congregational procedures, policies and programs.
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Beth David Reform Congregation
1130 Vaughans Lane
Gladwyne, PA 19035
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Directions from Wynnewood
Take Montgomery Avenue to Cherry Lane. Take Cherry Lane to the end and turn right onto Mill Creek Road. At the traffic light, turn left onto Old Gulph Road (which becomes Youngsford Road). At the next light (Shell station on corner), turn right onto Conshohocken State Road. Proceed for about 2/10 of a mile until you see small Beth David sign on the left. Turn into Vaughans Lane and proceed to the end.
Directions from Bala Cynwyd
Take Conshohocken State Road (Route 23) West. Continue past Hollow Road to the next traffic light, and turn right (still Route 23). Proceed up the hill. Vaughans Lane will be on the right. Take Vaughans Lane to the end.
Directions from Bryn Mawr, Villanova, and Wayne
Take Conshohocken State Road (Route 23) East into Gladwyne. Go straight through traffic light (Shell on right) about 2/10 of a mile until you see a small blue Beth David sign on left. Turn into Vaughans Lane and proceed to the end.
Directions from South Jersey, Philadelphia, and East
Follow I-76 West (Schuylkill Expressway) past City Avenue Exit. Take Exit 337 Gladwyne. Turn left at the stop sign onto Hollow Road. Go straight through first light. Make a right onto Conshohocken State Rd (Route 23 West). At light make a right (still Route 23) and proceed up the hill. Vaughans Lane will be on the right. (Look for the small blue Beth David sign.) Take Vaughans Lane to the end.
Directions from Northeast Philadelphia
Follow Route 1 South to I-76 West. Then follow directions from South Jersey, Philadelphia and East.
Directions from New York and New Jersey
Take New Jersey Turnpike to Exit 6 connecting to Pennsylvania Turnpike. Take Pennsylvania Turnpike to Mid-County, Exit 333. Take I-476 South (Blue Route) to Exit 16, and follow the signs for Route 23 East (Conshohocken). Follow Route 23, turning left at the Wawa Market. Pass the Marriott Hotel (on left) and continue east on Route 23 for 3 miles into Gladwyne. Go straight through traffic light (Shell on right) about 2/10 of a mile until you see a small blue Beth David sign on left. Turn into Vaughans Lane and proceed to the end.
Directions from Western Pennsylvania
Take Pennsylvania Turnpike to Exit 326 (Valley Forge). After toll, take Schuylkill Expressway (I-76) East about 5 miles to Exit 331B (Plymouth Meeting/Conshohocken). Once on the exit ramp, take the right fork for Route 23. Turn right at first intersection onto Matson Ford Road. Go 3/10 of a mile, and follow the sign for Route 23 East. Turn left at the Wawa Market. Pass the Marriott Hotel (on left) and continue east on Route 23 for 3 miles into Gladwyne. Go straight through traffic light (Shell on right) about 2/10 of a mile until you see a small blue Beth David sign on left. Turn into Vaughans Lane and proceed to the end.
Directions from Delaware and South
Take I-95 North to exit 7 (I-476 North/Plymouth Meeting). At Exit 7, take I-476 North about 15 miles to Exit 16A (Philadelphia/Conshohocken). Once on the exit ramp, take the right fork for Route 23. Turn right at first intersection onto Matson Ford Road. Go 3/10 of a mile, and follow the sign for Route 23 East. Turn left at the Wawa Market. Pass the Marriott Hotel (on left) and continue east on Route 23 for 3 miles into Gladwyne. Go straight through traffic light (Shell on right) about 2/10 of a mile until you see a small blue Beth David sign on left. Turn into Vaughans Lane and proceed to the end.
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(tikkun olam - repairing the world), 
(tzedakah - charity), the Jewish people and the State of Israel. Our mission is to inspire a life- long commitment to Judaism and provide a place to celebrate our Jewish lives together, 
(l-dor v'dor - from generation to generation). 
