Temple Israel of the City of New York
Temple Israel | |
---|---|
William Tachau (West 91st Street) | |
Type | Synagogue |
Style | Brutalist (East 75th) |
Date established | 1873 (as a congregation) |
Completed |
|
Website | |
tinyc | |
Temple Israel of the City of New York (Young Israel of the West Side) | |
William Tachau | |
Architectural style | Neoclassical |
NRHP reference No. | 100009191 |
Added to NRHP | August 4, 2023 |
[1][2][3][4] |
Temple Israel of the City of New York is a
It purchased its first synagogue building at
Since its founding, Temple Israel has been served by only five senior rabbis: Maurice H. Harris (1882–1930), William Rosenblum (1930–1963), Martin Zion (1963–1991), Judith Lewis (1991–2006), and David Gelfand since 2006.[6]
Early history
Temple Israel was incorporated in 1873
Temple Israel was initially lay-led, but in 1882 appointed Maurice H. Harris as the congregation's rabbi; at the time, he was still a student at Columbia College, Columbia University and Emanu-El Theological Seminary.[6][7] That year, the congregation changed its name to Temple Israel of Harlem[10] (though the name change wasn't formally legalized until 1894[8]). In 1884, Harris' installation was made official.[7]
First buildings
In 1887, the congregation purchased a building at Fifth Avenue and 125th Street, and the following year re-dedicated it as their synagogue.[7] Designed by John W. Welch, the building had been formerly owned by the Holy Trinity Church, and was constructed in 1869–1870.[2] In 1888 the congregation also re-organized, changing its name to Temple Israel of Harlem.[2][7] In 1898, the congregation celebrated its 25-year anniversary and 10 years in its current home.
The congregation constructed its own synagogue building at 201
During World War I, the loyalties of the still mostly German-Jewish members were, at first, divided between the Central Powers and the Allied Powers, though Harris supported the Allies.[1]
Moves to West 91st Street and East 75th Street
In 1920, the members moved to a new Neoclassical building at 210 West 91st Street, designed by
William Franklin Rosenblum succeeded Harris as Temple Israel's second rabbi in 1930, and Harris died just a few months later that year.[7][6] The congregation was active during the Great Depression, and supported Jewish education programs for poor children of the neighborhood.[7] Temple Israel actively supported the war effort during World War II,[7] and afterward Rosenblum opposed the creation of Israel,[6] though he would later become a supporter of the country.[1]
Rosenblum retired in 1963, and Martin Zion succeeded him that year as Temple Israel's third rabbi.[13] At the time, the congregation's trustees had decided to relocate the synagogue from the Upper West Side to the Upper East Side of Manhattan,[6] and in 1964 began construction of a new building at Temple Israel's current location, 112 East 75th Street.[2] Designed by architect Peter Claman of Schuman & Lichtenstein, the Brutalist structure was completed in 1967. The previous building on West 91st Street was sold to the Young Israel of the West Side congregation, who still occupy it.[2] The 1920 building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.[14][4]
Events since 1980
Robert Abelson became leader of the congregation's music program in 1980.[6] In 1985, Judith Lewis became Temple Israel's Director of Education, and in 1991 she succeeded Zion as the synagogue's fourth senior rabbi. By 1995, membership was over four hundred families.[13]
In 2006 David Gelfand succeeded Lewis, becoming Temple Israel's fifth Senior Rabbi in 2006,
Irena Altshul joined Temple Israel in 2003,[17] left in 2006, and rejoined as cantor in 2013.[1] Melissa Buyer-Wittman joined the synagogue as Director of Lifelong Learning in 2011, and David Reinhart became Assistant Rabbi in 2019.[17]
In 2022 the congregation launched a $40 million capital campaign to undertake major renovations to the main sanctuary, expansion of the chapel and courtyard enclosure, enhancements to the building's upper levels, and updates to the ballroom. $28 million had been pledged by major benefactors at the time of the launch.[18]
See also
Notes
- ^ a b c d "Our History", Temple of Israel website.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Dunlap (2004), p. 270.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ a b Maxwell Foster, Anne (2022). "Draft Nomination Form: Temple Israel of the City of New York (Young Israel of the West Side)" (PDF). National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
- ^ a b Dunlap (2004), p. 270. "About the Temple", Temple Israel website and "Our History", Temple of Israel website give the founding year as 1870.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "About the Temple", Temple Israel website.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 248.
- ^ a b Laws of the State of New York, Volume 1 (1894), Chapter 427, p. 871.
- ^ Israelowitz (2004), pp.111 113.
- ^ a b Montesano (2010).
- ^ a b c Dunlap (2004), p. 152.
- ^ Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 248 states the merger occurred in 1914. Dunlap (2004), p. 270 gives the year as 1909.
- ^ a b Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 249.
- ^ "WEEKLY LIST OF ACTIONS TAKEN ON PROPERTIES: 7/28/2023 THROUGH 8/4/2023". National Park Service. Retrieved August 6, 2023.
- ^ Dickter (2006).
- ^ Ellin (2006).
- ^ a b c "Meet Us", Temple of Israel website.
- ^ "Building our future now", Temple of Israel website.
References
- Dickter, Adam. "Embattled Hamptons Rabbi Moving On", The Jewish Week, May 19, 2006.
- Dunlap, David W. From Abyssinian to Zion: A Guide to Manhattan's Houses of Worship, ISBN 978-0-231-12542-0
- Ellin, Abby. "It’s Back to Shul For Gelfand", New York, June 23, 2006.
- ISBN 9781479801169
- Israelowitz, Oscar. Oscar Israelowitz's Guide to Jewish New York City, Israelowitz Publishing, 2004. ISBN 9781878741622
- New York State Legislative Bill Drafting Commission. Laws of the State of New York, Passed at the One Hundred and Seventeenth Session of the Legislature, Volume 1, January 22–April 27, 1894.
- Montesano, Jessica. "Temple Israel", in ISBN 9780300182576
- ISBN 978-0-313-28856-2
- Temple Israel website:
- "About the Temple", Temple Israel website. Accessed October 20, 2010.
- "Meet Us", Temple Israel website. Accessed August 14, 2019.
- "Our History", Temple Israel website. Accessed August 14, 2019.
- "Building our future now: Capital Campaign Brochure", Temple Israel website, August 2023. Accessed December 31, 2023.
External links
- Official website
- "Temple Israel". New York City Chapter of the American Guild of Organists.
- Beyer Blinder Belle (February 2022). "TEMPLE ISRAEL OF THE CITY OF NEW YORK, SUBMISSION FOR LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION" (PDF). New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission.
- NYC LPC Public Hearing/Meeting 3/1/2022; Part 2; on YouTube.
- NYC LPC Public Hearing/Meeting 3/1/2022; Part 2; on
- "William F. Rosenblum Papers". Boston, MA and New York, NY: American Jewish Historical Society. p. 327., for additional information on Temple Israel during Willam Rosenblum's tenure as rabbi (1930–1963).