Our History

In 1985, Rabbi Fred Eisenberg, then with Congregation Brith Emeth in Pepper Pike, started Temple Israel of Greater Cleveland, with a core membership of 50 families. The newly formed congregation placed a special emphasis on family worship, with Friday night services held early enough to include children. But it did lack was its own religious school; youngsters attended the Cleveland Hebrew Schools program.

Over in Euclid, Temple Ner Tamid was a thriving congregation with a well-established religious school and lay leadership…but, in 1996, no permanent rabbi.

Talks began, and in 1997, a successful merger brought the two Reform Jewish groups together as Temple Israel Ner Tamid in its present Mayfield Heights location. The congregation is now under the leadership of Fred’s son, Rabbi Matthew Eisenberg, who succeeded his father in 1996 after serving in Houston, Texas.

Our Mission

Temple Israel Ner Tamid is predicated on the belief that the creation and establishment of a congregation dedicated to the needs of Jewish people provides the environment necessary for the accomplishment of our purposes: the study, understanding and practice of Liberal Judaism warm to tradition amid an atmosphere of friendship and fellowship so that each individual member can develop the desire and have the ability to lead a meaningful Jewish life. We are dedicated to promoting and maintaining family involvement in a Jewish life through total commitment to family participation.