The first services were held in Dyckman Hall, Scarsdale.
Later services are held in several area churches.
1954:
Under President Clifford H. Rich the Sisterhood and Men’s Club are founded.
One hundred children are in Sunday School.
Maurice H. Schatz is chosen as first full-time rabbi.
The land is purchased where the Temple now stands.
1955:
David Greenberg is selected as second full-time rabbi.
1956:
Irving Isaac serves as Temple president.
1957:
Under President Edwin J. Steefel construction begins on Temple building.
1958:
Under President Ulrich Schweitzer construction of Temple is completed.
The Sanctuary is designed as a Magen David.
1959:
Under President Dr. Milton Zaret the Temple is dedicated at a special service.
1961:
Erwin Herman serves as interim rabbi.
1962:
Jack Stern, Jr. is installed as third full-time rabbi.
1963:
Tenth Anniversary Service.
Tenth Anniversary Ball at Hampshire Country Club.
1965:
Expansion of the Temple is authorized.
Dedication of Czechoslovakian Sefer Torah, which is on permanent loan from Westminster Synagogue, London
1967:
Peter Rubinstein becomes first rabbinic intern.
1968:
Joseph Boardman becomes first full-time cantor and music director.
Ground-breaking services for Temple expansion during Irving Berkelhammer’s presidency.
1969:
First Leo Baeck Lecture with Morris Abrams as speaker.
Soil from Israel is deposited in base of new Sanctuary Ark by Rabbi Stern.
1970:
Under President Norman L. Blumstein, the new sanctuary is dedicated at special service.
The classroom wing is dedicated in memory of Irving Berkelhammer.
1971:
Official change from Ashkenazic to Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew.
Stained glass windows designed by Ephraim Weitzman and Czechoslovakian Torah Mantle are dedicated.
Stuart A. Gertman appointed the first assistant rabbi and director of religious education.
Seymour Sims receives the first Men’s Club Brotherhood Award for service to community and Temple.
1972:
First Stephen Sulds Memorial Film Festival.
Dedication of organ. Dedication of Library endowed and furnished by Temple Sisterhood.
Dedication of new Sanctuary doors designed by Betty Goldstein.
1973:
20th Anniversary Dance at Temple, Roberta Peters soloist.
WRT Endowment Trust Fund has begun.
1974:
First Kenneth B. Corlin Memorial Program for Human Relations in cooperation with Scarsdale Board of Education.
First Scholar-in-Residence Series with Dr. Martin A. Cohen as lecturer.
Dedication of outdoor memorial sculpture.
Dedication of Youth Lounge as a gift of Temple Men’s Club.
1975:
Social Action Committee receives Abraham J. Heschel Award of Federation of Jewish Philanthropies for outstanding contribution to aged and impoverished Jews.
Worship from Gates of Prayer is initiated at Men’s Club Sabbath.
1976:
Rabbi Peter Weintraub selected a second assistant rabbi and director of Religious Education.
1977:
Under President Ralph Wienshienk, Rabbi Stern is honored with life contract.
1978:
Year-long celebration of Silver Jubilee – under President Alfred Ronald.
First Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah at the Temple.
1980:
First WRT sponsored Youth Group trip to Israel.
1981:
WRT adopts two Vietnamese families.
Richard Jacobs begins a year as rabbinic intern at WRT.
1982:
Celebration service in honor of Jack and Priscilla Stern’s twenty years at WRT.
Dedication of the Outdoor Sanctuary under President Joseph Bernstein.
Rabbi Deborah Zecher, our third Assistant Rabbi and Director of Education, comes to WRT.
1983:
Temple celebrates its 30th anniversary with a Shabbat service and gala dinner dance.
1984:
First Jules Bloch Memorial Lecture.
Temple inaugurates Shabbat morning Torah study service.
Sculpted chuppah dedicated in Outdoor Sanctuary.
1985:
WRT Parenting Center opens. Susan Cheskin appointed director.
1986:
Under President Rosemary Berdon, the Congregation approves the addition of nursery school classrooms to Religious School wing and the renovation and extension of Temple facilities.
Congregation begins its ongoing support of Mazon, the Jewish response to world hunger.
WRT joins an interfaith coalition to feed and house the homeless of Westchester.
1987:
Temple celebrates its 35th anniversary, the completion of its renovation and Jack and Priscilla Stern’s 25th anniversary at WRT.
1988:
Cantor Boardman is named Cantor Emeritus.
Stephen Merkel is appointed cantor & music director at WRT.
1989:
Beth Mauser was appointed first full-time executive director at WRT.
First Russian family is adopted.
Congregation welcomed Beth Singer as fourth assistant rabbi.
1991:
Under President William S. Miller, the Fund for the Generations is established in honor of Rabbi Jack and Priscilla Stern.
Rabbi Jack Stern, Jr. retires and is named Rabbi Emeritus
The congregation welcomes Rabbi Richard Jacobs as its fourth senior rabbi.
Rabbi Beth Singer is appointed associate rabbi.
1992:
WRT welcomes Sharon Halper as full-time director of education.
The congregation begins to use the new Gates of Prayer for Shabbat.
Outreach Committee is formed.
1993:
Under President William S. Miller, Temple purchases 257 Mamaroneck Road for expansion purposes.
William A. Blumstein becomes Temple President.
The Caring Community is created to care for members during difficult times such as illness and bereavement.
1994:
ARZA membership presented to every B’nei Mitzvah.
WRT selected as participant in Experiment in Congregational Education.
Sorel Goldberg Loeb was selected as the second Early Childhood Center director.
WRT selected as participant in Gift of Israel Program.
Critical Issues Forum established.
1995:
Bat Mitzvah of Dasha Schevtchenko from WRT’s Russian family.
Ann Z. Finkelstein appointed second executive director.
Congregation approves plans for creation of Center for Jewish Life.
Congregation welcomes Rabbi Judith Schindler as fifth assistant rabbi.
First Mitzvah Day
First Emeritus Weekend
1996:
Purchased 253 Mamaroneck Road.
Groundbreaking for Center for Jewish Life.
Rabbi Jacobs leads congregational trip to Israel.
The Second day Rosh Hashanah Service held for the first time.
1997:
WRT Board approves establishment of relationship with Kehillat Mevasseret Zion in Israel
Experiment in Congregational Education Task Force evolves into Education Council.
Marjorie L. Miller elected President.
Cantor Merkel leads congregants on Eastern European Trip.
Dedication of Center for Jewish Life.
WRT adopts Kehillat Mevasseret Zion in Israel as sister congregation.
Rabbi Schindler leads congregational trip to Israel and visits Kehillat Mevasseret Zion.
1998:
Gala celebration of Cantor Stephen Merkel’s 10th anniversary at WRT.
Israeli Fair in honor of the 50th Anniversary of Israel.
Congregation engages Rabbi Kenneth Chasen as sixth assistant
Congregation engages Rabbi Laurie Katz Braun as first assistant rabbi for youth.
Family High Holy Day Worship Services initiated.
1999:
ECC receives day care license, allowing afternoon sessions for first time.
Ruth Frankfurt, beloved teacher of 45 years, is honored on her retirement.
Angela Warnick Buchdahl invested as Cantor.
JrWRAFTY is created for children in grades 6, 7 and 8.
Dual Sabbath Eve Services begun.
2000:
Sorel Goldberg Loeb becomes Director of Education.
Marilyn Master named Administrative Director of Education.
Phyllis Shankman joins WRT as Director of the ECC.
Rabbi Jacobs receives ARZA/WORLD UNION North America International Humanitarian Award.
2001:
First WRT Women’s Seder is held for 120 women.
Amy Lemle is elected President of WRT.
Angela Warnick Buchdahl is ordained, named Assistant Rabbi/Cantor.
Afternoon Havdalah B’nei Mitzvah ceremonies are begun.
2002:
Greeters Initiative begins for Friday night Shabbat and festival services.
WRT sends 100 to National Rally to Support Israel in Washington, D.C.
Cantor Merkel teaches song leading to progressive congregations in Russia.
Religious School Initiative develops proposals to re-invent Religious School with pilot classes beginning in the Fall.
Congregation participates in county-wide Synagogue 2000 program to foster sacred community.
2003:
The congregation buys the house at 11 Saxon Woods Road for campus expansion.
Rabbi Jonathan E. Blake joins WRT as seventh associate rabbi.
WRT forms a partnership with Edward Williams School in Mount Vernon.
2004:
Rogers Marvel Architects selected for sanctuary & school design.
WRT celebrates 50th Year with theatrical performance The Five Pillars.
Sue Tolchin is hired as Early Childhood Director.
Yoel Magid begins as third Executive Director.
2005:
WRT first welcomes Rabbi Dario Feiguin of Buenos Aires.
Ellen Sunness is elected President of WRT.
WRT sends a tractor trailer full of food and clothing to Hurricane Katrina victims.
Rabbi Jacobs travels to Chad to meet with Darfur genocide survivors.
2006:
Sharing Shabbat celebrates 10th-year anniversary.
Cantor Mia Fram Davidson joins WRT’s clergy team.
Singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman begins year as Artist- in-Residence.
Lech Lecha Renewal Campaign is publicly launched.
2007:
WRT mourns the passing of Cantor Stephen Merkel z”l.
With Men’s Club assistance, area homeless men shelter overnight at WRT.
Cantor Jill Abramson begins as Senior Cantor, joined by newly ordained Assistant Cantor Dan Sklar.
Green Task Force is created.
2008:
WRT mourns the death of Cantor Emeritus Joseph Boardman.
WRT bids farewell to long-time accompanist Justin Bischof.
Rabbi David Hartman delivers first memorial lecture in remembrance of Rabbi Jacob & Deborah Rubenstein of Young Israel of Scarsdale.
2009:
Lisa Messinger is elected President.
Rabbi Jacobs brings memorial stones from Israel for new memorial garden.
Dedication held for new sanctuary and social hall.
Jazz pianist & conductor Pete Malinverni hired as music accompanist.
2010:
Torah written by congregants is dedicated to Sorel Goldberg Loeb.
WRT joins area congregations to help unemployed members find new jobs.
Taking actions to Stand with Israel is focus of Town Hall meeting.
2011:
Rabbi Jacobs announces acceptance of Presidency of the URJ.
WRT mourns the death of Rabbi Emeritus Jack Stern z”l.
Community Visioning Conversations held to assist senior rabbi selection.
WRT begins community organizing work with Westchester United.
2012:
WRT mourns death of singer-songwriter Debbie Friedman z”l.
Rabbi Jonathan E. Blake is installed as Senior Rabbi after national search.
Rabbi David Levy becomes Assistant Rabbi.
Rabbi Marcus Burstein is named Acting Associate Rabbi.
2013:
WRT’s Got Talent features an evening of congregational entertainment.
Congregants lobby in Albany with Reform Jewish Voice of New York.
Helene Gray is elected President.
Rabbi Sara Abrams becomes Assistant Rabbi.
Alan Halpern begins as fourth Executive Director.
2014:
WRT joins other faith institutions in Gun Violence Prevention Shabbat.
Project Grad Bag is organized to facilitate reuse of college dorm supplies.
Rosh Hashanah Gift of Life Bone Marrow Drive nets 144 new donors.
The inaugural Sukkah Slam features food trucks and outdoor live music.
2015:
WRT establishes BBYO chapter for Jewish teens.
Former cantorial intern Amanda Kleinman is named Assistant Cantor.
Eli Kornreich begins as fifth Executive Director.
WRT launches Zero Waste Program.
iSing Shabbat program debuts for grades 1-4 and their families.
WRT is recognized as Exemplar Congregation for its inclusion work.
2016:
Family Shabbat weekend retreat held at Eisner Camp.
