The B’nei Ruth Community is a Jewish Science congregation. Jewish Science is the application of Jewish faith and wisdom to everyday life, which is why it is also called Applied Judaism.

At B’nei Ruth, we follow the teachings of Rabbi Morris Lichtenstein and his wife Tehilla, who became the first female spiritual leader of a Jewish congregation after Morris’s death. The primary texts we use, aside from the Tanakh, are Jewish Science and Health and Applied Judaism (by Morris and Tehilla respectively).

B’nei Ruth’s mission is teaching the principles of Jewish Science, fostering spiritual growth, and outreach to spiritual seekers of all backgrounds. To learn more about Jewish Science, please explore our website or contact us with any questions you have.

All people are welcome at B’nei Ruth: Jewish and gentile, interfaith families, LGBTQ people, spiritual seekers, and people of all ethnicities and races. If you feel that Jewish Science is your spiritual path, you are welcome with us. Conversion to Judaism is not required or pushed on anyone.

B’nei Ruth was founded by Rabbi William Thompson in 2026 (5786) and is based in Knoxville, TN. Many of our classes and services are available online from anywhere in the world. We are an independent congregation affiliated with Makor Center for Spiritual Judaism (a.k.a. the Society for Jewish Science) in New York City.