Rabbi Simon A Dolgin

Rabbi Simon A Dolgin, a native of Chicago, was sent west in the 1930’s by his rabbi to establish an Orthodox foothold in what was perceived as a spiritual desert.  Rabbi Dolgin a’h joined the congregation in 1938 and led it through its transition to Orthodoxy. 

Through his leadership, the congregation moved to Beverly Hills and adopted an increasingly traditional approach, resulting in attendance increasing and adult education flourishing. In 1955, Beth Jacob's day school changed its name to Hillel Hebrew Academy, and it moved into a new building one block away from the congregation where it still stands today. 

In 1964, Beth Jacob merged with local congregation B'nai Israel.  In 1971, Rabbi Dolgin a"h made aliyah and opened a branch of Beth Jacob in Ramat Eshkol section of Jerusalem where it thrives today.