In February 1989, a small chavurah (group) decided to hold a Shabbat service for the south King County Jewish community. The members decided to hold a meeting to discover if there was sufficient interest to form a synagogue in this area. Surprisingly,more than 100 people overflowed the tiny downtown East Kent Library. On April 15, 1989, the dream became a reality, under Roy Golub's leadership. The Community Synagogue of South King County was born.

Although this name fit us in location,it didn't give us a Jewish identity. So, after a couple of years, our religious school children held a contest to re-name our synagogue.
The winning name was Bet Chaverim (House of Friends) and it fit us perfectly!

From the start, it was clear that this would be a family-oriented synagogue, with quality education for children and adults,observing Jewish traditions and rituals, and providing a friendly and diversified community which would nuture and enrich the Jewish soul.

Through the years, we have moved to different locations. We were fortunate to find a "temporary" home in the Saltwater Unitarian Church, in Des Moines, Washington, and have been renting there for over 15 years.

Through the years, members of our congregation have performed lay-led services, holiday services, and taught in our Sunday school, as well as volunteer for special events, fundraisers, and various other functions of our community. Our congregation has been very blessed to have an active choir through the first decades. We continue to be supported by various musical talents during festivals and services, with joyous music during Shabbat services, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, Passover, and High Holidays.

We have had three wonderful rabbis in our employ, over the years, leading our services and community life-cycle events. Our first rabbi, Ted Stainman, served as our rabbi for ten years, retiring in 2005. Rabbi Zari Weiss and then Student Rabbi Amy Rossel served our community for two years each. Since 2009, Rabbi Rick Harkavy leads, inspires, teaches, and enriches our community.

Bet Chaverim continues to be the nucleus for Reform Judaism in the South King County area. We are a small, but thriving community of committed members who have seen our organization grow from a fledgling chavurah into a progressive, dynamic synagogue.

We welcome and invite new members to be a part of our ongoing growth and goals for our continued future!