Beth Jacob Synagogue is a historic Dayton congregation with roots tracing to the city’s earliest Jewish settlement. Established after community members gathered in 1887 to purchase a building for a synagogue, the congregation was shaped from the outset by strong lay initiative and communal responsibility. Across generations, Beth Jacob has combined continuity with change, from the construction of a new synagogue under President Blum and the leadership of Rabbi Benjamin Lapidus, to sustaining religious life through lay leadership and guest rabbis following the passing of Rabbi Hillel Fox in 2012 until Rabbi Leibel Agar was hired in 2019. Its history reflects deep community ties, resilience, and long-standing spiritual leadership in Dayton.