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Based on a narrative by Jo Anne Kessler Burka, daughter of a founder
"Edited by Arthur Grae and updated by Hennie Goldensohn"
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In the late 1940s continuing into the early 1950s, twelve Jewish Leesburg merchants and their families met at each other’s home for Friday night Sabbath Services.
Later, services including holiday festivals and High Holiday services were held in various locations in downtown Leesburg.
In early 1953, $5,000 was raised from public solicitations. A great number of members of the Christian community, including many African-Americans, sent in $5 and $10 bills, because of their deep affection for the Jewish merchants on Main Street, who had always treated them with great kindness and fairness. A piece of land was then purchased at 13th and Center Streets in Leesburg, Florida. On August 11, 1954, ground was broken to signify the beginning of construction of Congregation Beth Sholom of Lake County, the first Jewish synagogue in the City and Lake County.
The Sisterhood raised monies from Rummage Sales to furnish the building. A $4,000.00 shortfall necessary for the roof was supplied by a personal loan from a local bank, for which five Jewish merchants signed a note. The Sisterhood held further sales to pay off the note.
In the fall of 1954, after five weeks of construction, Congregation Beth Sholom opened for Rosh Hashanah Services. Members of the local community had voluntarily assisted in some of the construction work. The religious services were conducted by “Rabbi” Getzel Mularsky, one of the founders, a Dachau Concentration Camp survivor and owner of a local dry goods store known as Getzel’s. He, as the acting Rabbi, had studied for the rabbinate in Europe, but was never formally ordained. He was to continue to conduct religious services for fifty (50) years until his death in December of 2004.
Congregation Beth Sholom of Lake County, Inc. was formed in 1957. As the years passed, the Jewish community grew with the inclusion of a great number of retirees from the North and Southern Florida. The present Social Hall was later donated and added by Manfred Kohn, another Holocaust survivor, in honor of his wife.
In 2005, Rabbi Jackie Wexler, a Conservative Rabbi, served as an interim Rabbi for the synagogue.
In June of 2006 through June 2008, Rabbi Steven Cardonick, the Singing Rabbi, served as Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom and the synagogue, under his spiritual leadership, adopted a program of liberal Judaism for all of its members, including interfaith couples.
Beginning July of 2008, Rabbi Karen S. Allen, Rabbi and Cantor, became the new Rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom. Sabbath Services are conducted twice a month together with holiday festival services and the High Holiday Services of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.
The Congregation now numbers approximately 140 members and is managed by an active group of its Officers together with its board of directors.