Rabbi Ira Stone

As it becomes more challenging to sustain Jewish identity and religious practices in an increasingly homogeneous culture, it becomes more important to find relevant connections between Jewish faith and modern life. By emphasizing the ethical underpinnings of the Mitzvot and the practical applications of our traditional beliefs, Beth Zion-Beth Israel (BZBI) helps our congregants not just to have faith, but to live it every day.

Established in 1946, just after the Holocaust and prior to the founding of the State of Israel, BZBI has served the community around Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square for more than 60 years. Formed by the union of three congregations, BZBI has been at home in our striking Neo-Gothic synagogue on 18th Street since 1954. Today, under the leadership of Rabbi Ira F. Stone and Cantor Sharon Grainer, BZBI practices conservative Judaism with an egalitarian worship service, bringing Torah, T'Fillah (prayer), and Gimilut Hasadim (Acts of Loving Kindness) to life in our vibrant urban community.