Welcome
Temple Beth Hillel, located just off Hilltop Drive at I-80 in Richmond, California is an intimate, warm and wonderful congregation of Jewish families from West Contra Costa County and beyond. Being small (approx.80 families) fosters familiarity among members and a special sense of belonging – a sense often missing at larger congregations.
Founded in 1946, Temple Beth Hillel offers a place to celebrate Shabbat (twice a month or more), the Holidays and Festivals (including a Hanukkah Latke Party, Tu B’Shevat Seder, Purim Carnival, Congregational Passover Seder) and other celebrations.
The Temple has a thriving Religious School (grades pre-K through Bar/Bat Mitzvah year, through high school).
For adults, Rabbi Dean Kertesz leads a Kollel for adults to study a wide range of Jewish topics. Cantor Marney Margules unites the congregation in song.
Join us for a Shabbat Service – come to a Family Potluck (1st Shabbat evening of the month) – celebrate the High Holidays – experience Temple Beth Hillel and join us in building our community, the community of Jewish families of West Contra Costa and beyond.
Whether you’re new to the San Francisco Bay area or a long time resident, and you’re looking for a reform synagogue to join in the East Bay, Temple Beth Hillel welcomes you!
Join us for Shabbat
Join us in person or online – multiaccess Shabbat services first and third Friday of the month. Online candle lighting available on alternating weeks. Check the calendar for times.
What's New
From the Presidents –November 18, 2022
Shalom Everyone! Soon we will all be gathering with our friends and families for the official celebration of Thanksgiving. It is a wonderful secular tradition but it does not have to be confined to a single day. Indeed, the original idea of a Thanksgiving in early colonial times was to celebrate good fortune whenever it […]
Chayei Sara, Genesis 23:1-25:18, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, November 19, 2022
The history of the Jewish people can be seen as one long relay race beginning with Abraham and Sarah, where each generation takes the torch from the previous generation and carries it forward. In this week’s Torah portion Sarah, Isaac’s mother, dies and Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. Our Torah […]
Vayera, Genesis 18:1-22:24, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, November 12, 2022
Abraham is a paragon of Jewish virtue. While Noah is said to have “walked ahead of God,” Abraham “walked with God.” In this week’s Torah portion we have two examples of his character. The first is at the beginning of the Torah portion, when Abraham welcomes three mysterious strangers to his camp and treats them […]
From the Presidents – November 11, 2022
Shalom Y’all! Hopefully we have all recovered from the sugar high of Halloween and from performing our civic duty. Considering recent events in places like Brazil, Israel, and now the United States, one fact remains abundantly clear: Our Voices Matter. Our systems, flawed as they are, still provide us a way to make our opinions […]
Lech-Lecha, Genesis 12:1-17:27, Parshat Hashavua for Shabbat, November 4, 2022
Joseph Campbell (z”l), the professor of literature at Sarah Lawrence College, popularized the idea of the hero’s journey in his book “The Hero With A Thousand Faces.” In it he posited a universal human story of growth and transformation from human being to hero through overcoming a series of seemingly impossible challenges. He argued that […]
