In 1930, Ada Phillips founded the synagogue, the first Progressive community in Australia. Phillips had been inspired by services she attended in 1928 at the
Liberal Jewish Synagogue in London. Phillips was impressed by its values, liturgy and felt compelled to found a progressive congregation in Australia. The
World Union for Progressive Judaism subsidised the congregation in its early years. Rabbi Jerome Mark, a Reform Rabbi from the United States, served as the congregation's first rabbi, serving a term of three years. Services were held on Saturday and Sunday mornings at Wickliffe House on St Kilda promenade. By the time of the end of the war in 1945, 1600 people were attending the congregation's High Holiday services. He served as senior rabbi from 1974 to 1997, and has since been Rabbi Emeritus of the congregation. During the
COVID-19 pandemic TBI moved their prayers online for the High Holy Days, when Melbourne was in the middle of a strict stage 4 lockdown. ==Notable members==