The South County Jewish Community was established some 35 years ago when Ellen Fuchs first placed an announcement in the Gilroy Dispatch asking area Jews to attend a meeting to discuss our mutual interests. Within a couple of years, in 1977, Congregation Emeth was established as a Reform congregation by a group of approximately 12 families in the South Santa Clara County area, and we began activities to nurture the spiritual and cultural needs of area Jews. Services were held in members’ homes and led by the members. High Holy Days were led by student rabbis and held in local churches.

The membership grew to approximately 30 families, but despite the small number of members, the congregation developed a full program of Shabbat and holiday services and adult education. In 1982, an educational program for our children was added.

In 1984, Congregation Emeth hired our first rabbi, who remained for 17 years. Another milestone was the purchase of our own Torah in 1996. During that same year, the congregation established a Jewish cemetery in Gilroy.

Rabbi Yitzhak Miller became our spiritual leader in 2000 and in 2002 moved to Morgan Hill, becoming Emeth’s first community Rabbi, and serving us through the end of 2005. Congregation Emeth blossomed even further. In August 2006, we welcomed our rabbi, Debbie Israel.

In 2008, the congregation established its new permanent home at 17835 Monterey Street in Morgan Hill. Today we are a vibrant congregation of approximately 80 families, offering a host of programs to meet members’ needs. These include a variety of adult and children’s education programs, a Sisterhood, and numerous committees covering a wide variety of interests.

We’re proud of our past and look forward to a promising future of building a stronger Jewish community in the South County Area.