[2][3] B'nai Israel was established by a group of German Jewish immigrants as an Orthodox synagogue in 1859.

[4]: 74 By 1911, when the Park Avenue Temple was completed, B'nai Israel had moved from Orthodox to Reform Judaism.

[4]: 74 After World War II, B'nai Israel outgrew its building and a second structure, called the Second Park Avenue Temple, was erected, designed by the prolific synagogue architect Percival Goodman,[3][5][4]: 75  located at 2710 Park Avenue.

This album was described as combining "original rock music with liturgically accurate chants," and was reportedly in contention for a Grammy nomination.

[2][13] As of 2009, 700 families belonged to Congregation B'nai Israel and approximately 400 students were enrolled in its religious school.