- July 21, 2026
- Michael Hirsch
Beth Judah Rabbi Ron Isaacs
Beth Judah Synagogue in Wildwood, N.J., held a centennial celebration recognizing the congregation’s addition to the National Register of Historic Places and highlighting its role in American Jewish history. Descendants of the synagogue’s founders, including Heather Hornstein Goodman, Louis Sagal and Ruth Edelman, were recognized during the event. Speakers emphasized Beth Judah’s resilience and lasting impact on the community, noting its significance in both Jewish and American history. Among those offering remarks were New Jersey State Senator Michael Testa Jr. and Wildwood Mayor Ernie Troiano Jr., who praised the congregation’s efforts to preserve an important piece of local cultural heritage.
In September 2025, Beth Judah was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The nomination cites the synagogue as a rare surviving example of an early 20th-century synagogue complex featuring a Mid-Century Modern school and social hall. It is also one of the few remaining Jewish houses of worship along the New Jersey shore. Of the approximately 70 synagogues that once existed “from the Pine Barrens to the Boardwalk,” fewer than 20 remain active today. The site’s significance extends beyond its architecture to the people whose contributions helped shape the economic and cultural development of Wildwood and Cape May County.
The congregation plans to preserve and share that history through oral histories, exhibits and educational programs at the Beth Judah Museum, Library and Cultural Center, which is currently being developed in an unused classroom in the annex building. The celebration concluded with the unveiling of a National Register plaque, music by the Cape Shore Jazz Sextet and songs led by Rabbi Ron Isaacs. Reflecting on the designation, Isaacs said, “When I walk by and see my name here, I’m surprised. I didn’t know there was Jewish life in Wildwood, and now I know not only that there is, but that there always will be. This place will remain a center of Jewish life in South Jersey. We celebrate not only the brick and mortar, but the people who make it holy.”
John Donio, President, Wildwood Business District, and Doo Wop Preservation League.
