Beth Israel Synagogue is a Community That Came Together in the 1990s.

U.S.|The synagogue is simply a choky knit assemblage that came unneurotic successful the 1990s.

• Jan. 15, 2022Updated 7:37 p.m. ET

In the precocious 1990s, a tiny radical of Jewish radical who had relocated to the Dallas-Fort Worth country from crossed the state came unneurotic to make a caller assemblage for themselves. It began astatine a Yom Kippur breakfast, extended into Shabbat services and potluck dinners, and, earlier long, became a synagogue. Its founders called it Congregation Beth Israel.

Over the years, the congregation became an extended Jewish household successful Colleyville, a tiny municipality of astir 25,000 people. Today, it has astir 200 close-knit members.

Before Saturday, erstwhile a livestream of a Shabbat work captured a hostage concern unfolding, the congregation was known for assemblage gathering activities astatine a adjacent assemblage center, a Hanukkah Hoe Down and a assemblage Seder.

The pb rabbi, Charlie Cytron-Walker, was known for gathering alliances with different faith-based organizations, said Giovanni Capriglione, a authorities typical who has been successful bureau for 9 years. A national instrumentality enforcement official, speaking connected information of anonymity, said Rabbi Cytron-Walker was believed to beryllium among 4 radical taken hostage.

“The information that it happened present is shocking,” Mr. Capriglione said connected Saturday. “He has brought Christian groups and assorted Muslims groups together. He is not idiosyncratic who is railing against 1 religion oregon another. He’s the nonstop opposite.”

The congregation began small, with astir 25 members successful the summertime of 1999. The archetypal spiritual services were held astatine a rented religion facility. A schoolhouse with 75 students opened soon after, according to the synagogue’s website.

The synagogue rapidly established itself arsenic a refuge for the section Jewish assemblage by buying a Torah dating backmost to the Holocaust from Eastern Europe and receiving donations of supplication books. By 2001, its congregation had grown to astir 60 families, according to the synagogue’s website.

After years of readying its plan and last look, a 160-seat sanctuary opened successful precocious January 2004. Two years later, the synagogue welcomed Rabbi Cytron-Walker, who “continues to service our assemblage today,” the website reads.

“They’re a kind, loving congregation who are precise supportive of 1 different and of the community,” said Beverly Powell, a authorities legislator who knows the portion well. “We person formed a precise caring narration with them. And truthful we’re keeping them successful our prayers today.”

Sheelagh McNeill contributed research.