History of Space City's First Reform Temple: Temple Beth Tikvah

The story has been told many times, how two families sat around a kitchen table in February 1994 to start a Clear Lake area Reform Jewish congregation. Michele and Clay Moliver and Lisa and Gary Hurwitz began taking baby steps to drum up support for this new spiritual quest. The first meeting was held at the Moliver's home. The Moliver's response to this first gathering was "we were bowled over by the number of people who showed up for the first meeting. It takes an effort to be Jewish in a non-Jewish area. You have to have a sense of consciousness to building Jewish awareness."

Families began to call and still others were "recruited" as interest mounted. A core group of seven families began holding services in the cafeteria of Brookwood Elementary School. The first Reform Temple to serve the area between Galveston and Houston was created and families would no longer need to make the long drive to worship. Under the warm guidance of Rabbi Benno Wallach, the congregation enjoyed steady growth. Rabbi Martin Levy was with the congregation from 1997-2002 and helped to broaden every aspect of the Temple Beth Tikvah Jewish experience. Rabbi Daniel Plotkin came to us in the summer of 2002, right out of seminary. His diligent service within the temple and the community was appreciated by all. In Summer 2004, Rabbi Plotkin moved on to B'nai El Congregation in St. Louis.

In August, 2004, Rabbi Seth Stander began his enthusiastic journey with us. In July, 2007, Rabbi Stander moved on to Congregation Beth El in nearby Missouri City, TX, and Rabbi Marcy Greene became our spiritual leader. In July, 2009, Rabbi Deborah Schloss became our new spiritual leader.