Our Temple
Keep Current
Education For All
Get Involved
Support Our Temple
Jewish Resources
Homepage
 

History  •  Staff  •  Leadership  •  Membership  •  Life Cycle Events  •  Worship  •  Facilities  •  Directions  •  Gallery

History

Pine Brook Jewish Center (PBJC) was founded in 1896 and originally held religious services in local farmhouses. From 1906-1912, services were held in the Sunrise Hotel on Hook Mountain Road in Pine Brook. In 1912, the first building was erected. This building was expanded in 1950 and again in 1970 when the congregation reached 75 families. 

In 1982, PBJC, then consisting of about 150 families, constructed the current building. In 1995, Lake Hiawatha Jewish Center, a neighboring congregation established in 1945, merged with the PBJC, and as a result the congregation gained approximately 100 new families. 

Currently, the congregation has increased in size to 550 families, reflecting among other things the rapid growth of the community. In 2000, PBJC completed construction of a new addition and nursery school to accommodate this growth and to continue to serve the Jewish community of Montville and its surrounding areas.