Background
Congregation Beth Israel, with roots in San Diego dating back to 1861, was officially incorporated in 1886. Since its inception,
it has built and occupied three synagogues in San Diego, all of which are still standing. The Congregation’s first temple
was completed in 1889 at 2nd Avenue and Beech Street (1502 2nd Avenue), largely due to the efforts of Samuel I. Fox and Adolph
Levi. In this same time period, the Congregation established a Jewish burial ground called Home of Peace Cemetery as part
of Mount Hope Cemetery.