In the summer of 1976 twenty young Deerfield families, seeking to form a close-knit Jewish community, to find spiritual expression for themselves and a Jewish education for their children, founded Congregation B’nai Tikvah, Children of Hope. This tri-part aspiration reflected our people’s ancient understanding of such an institution: namely, a Beit Tefillah, a house of prayer; a Beit Midrash, a house of study; and a Beit Knesset, a house of assembly.
After meeting first in South Park Elementary School and later in the gymnasium of Wilmot Elementary School, we moved into our current, beautiful building in 1993. From those humble beginnings, B’nai Tikvah has grown into a force for Conservative Judaism on the North Shore. Members hail from Deerfield, Northbrook, Highland Park, Buffalo Grove, and beyond.
The joyful spirit of B’nai Tikvah is palpable from the moment one enters our beautiful and inviting Synagogue. We take great pride in our welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, providing a spiritual home to all that want to be a part of our family. Virtually any day of the week, something exciting is happening. If you haven’t already, we invite you to visit a service, talk to our clergy, and join us as we grow.
Our range of programming reflects the diverse interests and needs of our congregants. This starts with education, which is a lifelong endeavor at B’nai Tikvah.
With a full slate of adult education offerings, every member has the opportunity to learn and grow as a Jew. Crash course in Hebrew? Brush up on your Torah reading skills? Converse in Yiddish? Learn from eminent biblical scholars? Whatever your current level of knowledge, we’ll have a class that appeals to you.
Warm, spirited services led by our dynamic clergy are inspiring and engaging. Our traditional Shabbat morning service is followed by lunch for the entire congregation, a great opportunity to socialize with old friends and make new ones. Age-appropriate Junior Congregation services take place for our youth, while at the same time, families with younger children partake in experiencing Shabbat together. Additionally, we complement our traditional Kabbalat Shabbat service with a rousing, musical Friday evening service once a month.