Nevertheless, the trustees of Temple B'nai Zion chose to affirm its commitment to the downtown community of Bloomfield by refurbishing the Franklin Street building instead. By the end of the 1960s it became clear that with major shifts in the Jewish population the religious school could not be maintained on its own. In September of 1970 the combined religious school of Temples B'nai Zion and Shomrei Emunah began. The earliest beginnings of Temple Menorah are rooted in Temple B'nai Zion. Popular legend has it that a number of families at B'nai Zion were uncomfortable over an emphasis upon tradition.
Some accounts place the issue of mixed marriage as a central factor.
A small group, led by Morris Wein, broke off to form a synagogue that was more responsive to liberal values. Irving Shakin was its first elected president. The property for the new synagogue was a sheep farm and nursery located at Temple Ner Tamid's present site on Broad Street. The farm house, which served as the congregation's building for five years, was restructured for a sanctuary in the living and dining rooms and classrooms were made from the upstairs bedrooms. During this period, Temple Menorah would hold High Holy Day services at the Watchung Presbyterian Church.