There has been a Jewish community in Oyster Bay since the latter part of the 19th century, consisting largely of Eastern European immigrants. Most of the Jewish families in the community were involved in businesses, including men and women.s haberdashery, hardware, wine and liquor, dry cleaning and various other retail specialties. Initially, there were not enough Jewish families to establish a synagogue in the Oyster Bay community. These early families attended synagogues in Glen Cove, Syosset, Huntington and other nearby communities. In the early 1950.s, real estate development spread to the Oyster Bay-East Norwich area. Many first and second generation American Jews from Brooklyn, Queens and the Bronx, settled in the new developments. In 1963 a handful of these modern immigrants, living in Oyster Bay and East Norwich, together with some of Oyster Bay.s original Jewish families, decided to form a conservative synagogue to provide a religious, educational and social context for the Jewish families in the area. Thus was born the Oyster Bay Jewish Center.

The new Jewish Center had its first official meeting in the Oyster Bay Community Center on Church Street, which was attended by 38 families, who became the original Charter Members of the Oyster Bay Jewish Center. Shabbat and Holiday services were originally conducted in the Community Center, although High Holiday services were held in the American Legion Hall, and also at the Knights of Columbus. Permission to use these buildings was obtained by charter member David Bernstein, a long time resident of Oyster Bay, a prominent businessperson and active civic leader in the community.

In August, 1964, Rabbi Samuel Press, serving in his first pulpit since obtaining his smicha, assumed the role as our first spiritual leader, a position he held for 13 years. Our Hebrew School was established and prospered, social activities were initiated, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs and other simchas were celebrated.

The congregation membership steadily increased, the original 38 families blossomed into 125, and it became apparent that they had outgrown their borrowed facilities. At this time, David Bernstein contacted John Schiff, a local resident, philanthropist and prominent Wall Street financier. As a result of this meeting, and the ensuing dialogue, the land upon which the synagogue now stands, was gifted by Mr. Schiff to the Oyster Bay Jewish Center. An architect was retained, a fundraising drive commenced and a contractor hired. On September 20th 1968, the first Shabbat service was conducted in the new synagogue. Two weeks later, on the 1st day of Tishrei, 5728, we celebrated the first Rosh Hashanah in our new home.

Since its inception, the Oyster Bay Jewish Center has served as the spiritual, cultural, intellectual and social nexus for the Jewish community in Oyster Bay and, in a reversal of precedent, it has also provided a Jewish connection for residents of Glen Cove, Syosset, Huntington, and other Long Island communities, all drawn to the OBJC by the friendly and hamesh quality of our Rabbi and Congregants.