Temple Israel (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
Temple Israel located in Charlotte, North Carolina
is a large, urban synagogue
affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
and located in the Shalom Park
district of South Charlotte. As one of two major synagogues in the inner-city of Charlotte, it serves more than 1,000 member families. As of 2011, the senior rabbi
is Murray Ezring and the cantor
is Elias Roochvarg.
from Eastern Europe
occurring in the late 19th century, new settlers came to Charlotte. This group also was deeply religious and brought with them their own customs and attitudes. In September 1895, these new citizens organized the first formal Jewish congregation of the city of Charlotte. This congregation was the forerunner of what is now Temple Israel. They called themselves Agudath Achim, Hebrew United Brotherhood. The group was headed by Harris Miller, Benjamin Silverstein, and Mr. C. Lubin.
By 1915, now "Temple Israel" had constructed its first building and the number of families grew to more than 100. Two minyan
s existed at the Temple, one Orthodox
and one Conservative
. Eventually, the younger members persuaded the congregation to adopt a stance of worship leading more toward "conservatism." This gave way to mixed seating and more use of English
in the service.
By 1949, Temple Israel had outgrown its building on Seventh Street and relocated to the Dilworth neighborhood of South Charlotte. and by 1955, Temple Israel boasted the largest membership of any Jewish congregation in the Carolinas with more than 350 member families. In 1985, the synagogue adopted an egalitarian policy for worship, granting women full rights at services to read from the Torah
, lead song, and lead prayer.
In 1991, Temple Israel broke ground in Shalom Park
of South Charlotte and began construction on its current building. 1992 marked the completion of the congregation's third new building, and in 1994 current rabbi Murray Ezring became Temple Israel's 19th senior rabbi.
and Beth Shalom of Lake Norman are affiliated with Temple Israel. As these congregations are without full-time clergy, Temple Israel provides rabbinic leadership, monetary support, and resources to help support these communities.
served the congregation from 1977 until his retirement in 1990. Known for his famous song-writing and vocal ability, the Annual Cantor's Concert is named in his honor.
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
is a large, urban synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism is the primary organization of synagogues practicing Conservative Judaism in North America...
and located in the Shalom Park
Shalom Park
Shalom Park is a Jewish community located in Aurora, Colorado. Established in 1992, the center features social, residential and health services to seniors and their families. The site features independent and assisted seniors' homes and the Beth Israel nursing home. The organization relies on the...
district of South Charlotte. As one of two major synagogues in the inner-city of Charlotte, it serves more than 1,000 member families. As of 2011, the senior rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
is Murray Ezring and the cantor
Cantor
Cantor is surname of:* Andrés Cantor , Spanish-language soccer announcer* Anthony Cantor , British diplomat* Arthur Cantor , American theatrical producer* Aviva Cantor , American journalist, lecturer and author...
is Elias Roochvarg.
History
With the great wave of immigration of JewsJews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
from Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
occurring in the late 19th century, new settlers came to Charlotte. This group also was deeply religious and brought with them their own customs and attitudes. In September 1895, these new citizens organized the first formal Jewish congregation of the city of Charlotte. This congregation was the forerunner of what is now Temple Israel. They called themselves Agudath Achim, Hebrew United Brotherhood. The group was headed by Harris Miller, Benjamin Silverstein, and Mr. C. Lubin.
By 1915, now "Temple Israel" had constructed its first building and the number of families grew to more than 100. Two minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
s existed at the Temple, one Orthodox
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
and one Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
. Eventually, the younger members persuaded the congregation to adopt a stance of worship leading more toward "conservatism." This gave way to mixed seating and more use of English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
in the service.
By 1949, Temple Israel had outgrown its building on Seventh Street and relocated to the Dilworth neighborhood of South Charlotte. and by 1955, Temple Israel boasted the largest membership of any Jewish congregation in the Carolinas with more than 350 member families. In 1985, the synagogue adopted an egalitarian policy for worship, granting women full rights at services to read from the Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
, lead song, and lead prayer.
In 1991, Temple Israel broke ground in Shalom Park
Shalom Park
Shalom Park is a Jewish community located in Aurora, Colorado. Established in 1992, the center features social, residential and health services to seniors and their families. The site features independent and assisted seniors' homes and the Beth Israel nursing home. The organization relies on the...
of South Charlotte and began construction on its current building. 1992 marked the completion of the congregation's third new building, and in 1994 current rabbi Murray Ezring became Temple Israel's 19th senior rabbi.
Affiliates
In serving the greater Charlotte metropolitan area, Congregation Emanuel (Statesville, North Carolina)Congregation Emanuel (Statesville, North Carolina)
Congregation Emanuel is a Conservative synagogue in Statesville, North Carolina. Built in 1891, it is the oldest house of worship in Statesville and the third oldest synagogue building in the state....
and Beth Shalom of Lake Norman are affiliated with Temple Israel. As these congregations are without full-time clergy, Temple Israel provides rabbinic leadership, monetary support, and resources to help support these communities.
Notable Clergy
Cantor Frank BirnbaumFrank Birnbaum
William Franklin "Frank" Birnbaum was a well-known 20th century chazzan within Conservative Judaism in the United States. Serving congregations and performing concerts across America, his music was well-known for its eclectic and melodious nature...
served the congregation from 1977 until his retirement in 1990. Known for his famous song-writing and vocal ability, the Annual Cantor's Concert is named in his honor.