In 1887, a small group of Jewish families founded a Hebrew Benevolent Society in Santa Cruz. In that year, Moses Meder (a non-Jew) gifted land to the society for a Jewish cemetery on the condition that his family plot be located within. The first Jewish families in Santa Cruz were merchants. The first known synagogue was acquired in the early 1930s and was located in an old house on Chestnut Street where families congregated for religious services as well as to socialize.

In 1954, the still small Jewish community built a modest synagogue on Bay Street which was named Temple Beth El, incorporating as the Jewish Community Center of Santa Cruz, California, Inc. The membership was then under 50 families and there were very few younger families. With the opening of University of California, Santa Cruz and the growth of the area, Temple membership gradually increased and Rabbi Richard Litvak became the first full time rabbi of Temple Beth El in 1977, after first serving as a student rabbi in 1975.

As a result, membership grew each year along with increased religious programs, Jewish adult education courses, expanded religious school curriculums, a preschool and community center activities. By 1981, the physical facilities at Bay Street were woefully inadequate and the Temple membership realized that survival depended on finding ways to acquire a larger home. For many years, High Holy Day services were held outside of the Temple in rented facilities.

In 1983, negotiations began for purchase of a 3.5 acre parcel at Soquel Drive and Porter Gulch Road. Escrow closed in March 1984. It was determined that we needed to also acquire a 1.5 acre parcel owned by the County of Santa Cruz (access right of way) which fronted on Soquel Drive. After four years of effort, this parcel was purchased in April, 1988. During these years, the Temple membership conducted two separate fund raising drives, with the second effort raising substantial sums sufficient to enable construction to take place.

Construction started in 1988 and was completed in 1989, highlighted by the traditional walking of the Torahs from Bay Street to Aptos. The first High Holy Day services were held at our Aptos home in 1990. Many members gave countless hours of their time as well as their money to turn a "dream into reality," which was the slogan of the major building campaign. One member worthy of being singled out is Don Van Den Berg, who supervised the entire construction project.