Temple Israel of the City of New York
Encyclopedia
Temple Israel is a Reform
congregation in Manhattan
. It was incorporated in 1873 by German Jews.
It purchased its first synagogue
building Fifth Avenue and 125th Street
in 1887, constructed its own at 201 Lenox Avenue and 120th Street
in 1907, and constructed another at 210 West 91st Street in 1920. Its current Brutalist
style building, at 112 East 75th Street on the Upper East Side
, was completed in 1967.
Since its founding, Temple Israel has been served by only five senior rabbi
s: Maurice Harris (1882–1930),
William Rosenblum (1930–1963), Martin Zion (1963–1991), Judith Lewis (1991–2006), and David Gelfand (2006–). , its senior rabbi is Gelfand, and its cantor
is Robert P. Abelson.
publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger
. The members were typically shopkeepers, traditionally observant, and first worshiped above a printing shop on East 125th Street
in Harlem
. They soon established a Hebrew school called "Gates of Learning" for the 45 children of the congregation. The congregation rented a larger space on 124th Street in 1874, and in 1876 leased a former church on 116th Street, between First Avenue
and Second Avenue
. In 1880, the congregation purchased the building on 116th Street.
Temple Israel was initially lay-led, but in 1882 appointed Maurice Harris as the congregation's rabbi; at the time, he was still a student at Columbia College, Columbia University, and at Emanu-El Theological Seminary. In 1884, his installation was made official.
, and the following year re-dedicated it as their synagogue.
Designed by John W. Welch, the building had been formerly owned by the Holy Trinity Church, and was constructed in 1869–1870. In 1888 the congregation also re-organized, changing its name to Temple Israel of Harlem.
The congregation constructed its own synagogue building at 201 Lenox Avenue, at 120th Street
, in 1907. The limestone building was not designed in the typical Moorish Revival style of other synagogues of the time; the designer, Arnold Brunner
, argued that "synagogues have no traditional lines of architectural expression". According to David W. Dunlap, the building "looks like a Roman temple
until you notice the Stars of David
in the column capitals
, fanlight
s, and spandrel
panels", and "may rank as the single best Neoclassical
synagogue in Manhattan". Temple Israel joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union for Reform Judaism
) in 1909, and a few years later merged with Shaarey Borocho (or Shaaray Beracha), a synagogue of Alsatian
Jews.
William Franklin Rosenblum succeeded Harris as Temple Israel's second rabbi in 1930, and Harris died just a few months later that year. The congregation was active during the Great Depression
, and supported Jewish education programs for poor children of the neighborhood. Temple Israel actively supported the war effort during World War II
, and afterward Rosenblum opposed the creation of Israel
.
Rosenblum retired in 1963, and Martin Zion succeeded him that year as Temple Israel's third rabbi. 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, and in 1964 began construction of a new building at Temple Israel's current location, 112 East 75th Street. 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.
David Gelfand succeeded Lewis, becoming Temple Israel's fifth senior rabbi in 2006. That same year Allan Londy joined the synagogue as rabbi educator. Sheila Nesis, a native of Argentina
, joined as assistant cantor
in 2007, and Sarah Sapadin became a part-time Assistant Rabbi in 2008. , the senior rabbi is Gelfand, the rabbi educator is Londy, the assistant rabbi is Sapadin, the cantor is Abelson, and the assistant cantor is Nesis.
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
congregation in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. It was incorporated in 1873 by German Jews.
It purchased its first 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...
building Fifth Avenue and 125th Street
125th Street (Manhattan)
125th Street is a two-way street that runs east-west in the New York City borough of Manhattan, considered the "Main Street" of Harlem; It is also called Martin Luther King, Jr...
in 1887, constructed its own at 201 Lenox Avenue and 120th Street
120th Street (Manhattan)
120th Street runs from Riverside Drive, overlooking the Hudson River, to the East River, through the New York City borough of Manhattan. It traverses the neighborhoods of Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Spanish Harlem; the street is interrupted by Morningside Park...
in 1907, and constructed another at 210 West 91st Street in 1920. Its current Brutalist
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
style building, at 112 East 75th Street on the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
, was completed in 1967.
Since its founding, Temple Israel has been served by only five 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...
s: Maurice Harris (1882–1930),
William Rosenblum (1930–1963), Martin Zion (1963–1991), Judith Lewis (1991–2006), and David Gelfand (2006–). , its senior rabbi is Gelfand, and its cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
is Robert P. Abelson.
Early history
Temple Israel was incorporated in 1873 as Yod b'Yod ("Hand in Hand") congregation by German Jews. An early trustee was Cyrus L. Sulzberger, father of New York TimesThe New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
publisher Arthur Hays Sulzberger
Arthur Hays Sulzberger
Arthur Hays Sulzberger was the publisher of The New York Times from 1935 to 1961. During that time, daily circulation rose from 465,000 to 713,000 and Sunday circulation from 745,000 to 1.4 million; the staff more than doubled, reaching 5,200; advertising linage grew from 19 million to 62 million...
. The members were typically shopkeepers, traditionally observant, and first worshiped above a printing shop on East 125th Street
125th Street (Manhattan)
125th Street is a two-way street that runs east-west in the New York City borough of Manhattan, considered the "Main Street" of Harlem; It is also called Martin Luther King, Jr...
in Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
. They soon established a Hebrew school called "Gates of Learning" for the 45 children of the congregation. The congregation rented a larger space on 124th Street in 1874, and in 1876 leased a former church on 116th Street, between First Avenue
First Avenue (Manhattan)
First Avenue is a north-south thoroughfare on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan, running from Houston Street northbound for over 125 blocks before terminating at the Willis Avenue Bridge into The Bronx at the Harlem River near East 127th Street. South of Houston Street, the...
and Second Avenue
Second Avenue (Manhattan)
Second Avenue is an avenue on the East Side of the New York City borough of Manhattan extending from Houston Street at its south end to the Harlem River Drive at 128th Street at its north end. A one-way street, vehicular traffic runs only downtown. A bicycle lane in the left hand portion from 55th...
. In 1880, the congregation purchased the building on 116th Street.
Temple Israel was initially lay-led, but in 1882 appointed Maurice Harris as the congregation's rabbi; at the time, he was still a student at Columbia College, Columbia University, and at Emanu-El Theological Seminary. In 1884, his installation was made official.
First buildings
In 1887, the congregation purchased a building at Fifth Avenue and 125th Street125th Street (Manhattan)
125th Street is a two-way street that runs east-west in the New York City borough of Manhattan, considered the "Main Street" of Harlem; It is also called Martin Luther King, Jr...
, and the following year re-dedicated it as their synagogue.
Designed by John W. Welch, the building had been formerly owned by the Holy Trinity Church, and was constructed in 1869–1870. In 1888 the congregation also re-organized, changing its name to Temple Israel of Harlem.
The congregation constructed its own synagogue building at 201 Lenox Avenue, at 120th Street
120th Street (Manhattan)
120th Street runs from Riverside Drive, overlooking the Hudson River, to the East River, through the New York City borough of Manhattan. It traverses the neighborhoods of Morningside Heights, Harlem, and Spanish Harlem; the street is interrupted by Morningside Park...
, in 1907. The limestone building was not designed in the typical Moorish Revival style of other synagogues of the time; the designer, Arnold Brunner
Arnold Brunner
Arnold William Brunner was an American architect who was born and died in New York City. Brunner was educated in New York and in Manchester, England. He attended Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied under William R. Ware. Early in his career, he worked in the architectural...
, argued that "synagogues have no traditional lines of architectural expression". According to David W. Dunlap, the building "looks like a Roman temple
Roman temple
Ancient Roman temples are among the most visible archaeological remains of Roman culture, and are a significant source for Roman architecture. Their construction and maintenance was a major part of ancient Roman religion. The main room housed the cult image of the deity to whom the temple was...
until you notice the Stars of David
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
in the column capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
, fanlight
Fanlight
A fanlight is a window, semicircular or semi-elliptical in shape, with glazing bars or tracery sets radiating out like an open fan, It is placed over another window or a doorway. and is sometimes hinged to a transom. The bars in the fixed glazed window spread out in the manner a sunburst...
s, and spandrel
Spandrel
A spandrel, less often spandril or splaundrel, is the space between two arches or between an arch and a rectangular enclosure....
panels", and "may rank as the single best Neoclassical
Neoclassical architecture
Neoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
synagogue in Manhattan". Temple Israel joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union for Reform Judaism
Union for Reform Judaism
The Union for Reform Judaism , formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations , is an organization which supports Reform Jewish congregations in North America. The current President is Rabbi Eric H...
) in 1909, and a few years later merged with Shaarey Borocho (or Shaaray Beracha), a synagogue of Alsatian
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
Jews.
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 Tachau; the old building on Lenox Avenue was sold to the Seventh-Day Adventist Temple, which in turn sold it in 1925 to the Mount Olivet Baptist Church. Temple Israel elected its first woman trustee in 1921, dedicated its new building in 1922, and in 1924 officially changed its name to Temple Israel of the City of New York. By 1929, membership exceeded 950.William Franklin Rosenblum succeeded Harris as Temple Israel's second rabbi in 1930, and Harris died just a few months later that year. The congregation was active during the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, and supported Jewish education programs for poor children of the neighborhood. Temple Israel actively supported the war effort during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and afterward Rosenblum opposed the creation of Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
.
Rosenblum retired in 1963, and Martin Zion succeeded him that year as Temple Israel's third rabbi. At the time, the congregation's trustees had decided to relocate the synagogue from the Upper West Side
Upper West Side
The Upper West Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan, New York City, that lies between Central Park and the Hudson River and between West 59th Street and West 125th Street...
to the Upper East Side
Upper East Side
The Upper East Side is a neighborhood in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, between Central Park and the East River. The Upper East Side lies within an area bounded by 59th Street to 96th Street, and the East River to Fifth Avenue-Central Park...
of Manhattan, and in 1964 began construction of a new building at Temple Israel's current location, 112 East 75th Street. Designed by architect Peter Claman of Schuman & Lichtenstein, the Brutalist
Brutalist architecture
Brutalist architecture is a style of architecture which flourished from the 1950s to the mid 1970s, spawned from the modernist architectural movement.-The term "brutalism":...
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.
Events since 1980
Robert Abelson became leader of the congregation's music program in 1980. 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.David Gelfand succeeded Lewis, becoming Temple Israel's fifth senior rabbi in 2006. That same year Allan Londy joined the synagogue as rabbi educator. Sheila Nesis, a native of Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
, joined as assistant cantor
Hazzan
A hazzan or chazzan is a Jewish cantor, a musician trained in the vocal arts who helps lead the congregation in songful prayer.There are many rules relating to how a cantor should lead services, but the idea of a cantor as a paid professional does not exist in classical rabbinic sources...
in 2007, and Sarah Sapadin became a part-time Assistant Rabbi in 2008. , the senior rabbi is Gelfand, the rabbi educator is Londy, the assistant rabbi is Sapadin, the cantor is Abelson, and the assistant cantor is Nesis.