History

The roots of our congregation extend back to the 1870s, when Jews from France and Germany came to this area, established family-run businesses, and created a flourishing Jewish life. The Jewish population waxed and waned until the 1940s when thousands of Jewish servicemen came to the Central Coast to train for World War II. Post-war, a more organized network of Jewish people began to form, and in November 1959 Congregation Beth David was officially founded.

Services were first held in members’ homes, then in banks, churches, and other rented spaces. We received our first Torah in March 1962 and built our first temple and permanent home for the Torah in time for the High Holidays that year. This was the first Jewish religious structure in San Luis Obispo County. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Explore more about our history here.