For nearly 80 years, Temple Beth Hillel has been a vibrant, joyful home for Jewish life in West Contra Costa County. Guided by the enduring wisdom of the Torah, we honor our deep roots while enthusiastically embracing the future. We are an inclusive, multi-generational congregation where every voice matters—whether you are single, married, part of an interfaith family, LGBTQ+, or a Jew by birth or choice.
Together, we foster a strong sense of belonging through dynamic Shabbat and holiday celebrations, lifelong learning, and thriving youth education at our Sunday school, Beit Midrash Hillel. Driven by the values of Tikkun Olam (repairing the world) and social justice, our members actively support vital local initiatives, including the GRIP Souper Center, Food For Thought, Rubicon Programs, and the local Food Bank.
We hope our community spirit resonates with you, and we invite you to join us!
Our History
Our roots trace back to World War II, when Richmond’s Jewish community formed the “RAIM club”—short for chaverim, meaning “friends.” By 1945, the Richmond Jewish Community Center was officially incorporated, hosting its first High Holy Days services a year later and welcoming its first rabbi in 1952.
In 1959, we officially became Temple Beth Hillel and affiliated with the Reform movement. The following year, our founders purchased our current 5.1-acre property, dedicating the new building in 1964. A few years later, in 1968, we partnered with Temple Beth El of Berkeley to establish the Tel Shalom cemetery.
Over the decades, our community has been shaped by diverse leadership. While we are a Reform congregation affiliated with the URJ, we proudly embrace our inclusive spirit, having been served by Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist rabbis, each bringing their own unique energy to our temple.
