United Hebrew Congregation
Encyclopedia
The United Hebrew Congregation (or Congregation Achdut Yisroel) at 13788 Conway Road in St. Louis, Missouri
is a Reform Jewish
synagogue
. It is the first Jewish Congregation
established west of the Mississippi River
.
Abraham Weigel, who was to become UHC’s first president, and Nathan Abeles, the first secretary, rented a room over a grocery and held the first minyan
in St. Louis. Louis Bomeisler, a German from Philadelphia, probably conducted the first service in St. Louis for Rosh HaShanah on September 29. He proceeded to order a Torah, prayer books, and Taleisim for the new group.
Twelve men met four years later at the Oracle Coffee House at 2nd and Locust to write the constitution for Achdut Yisrael, the United Hebrew Congregation. In 1841, a constitution was adopted and United Hebrew was formally founded, the first Jewish congregation west of the Mississippi.
United Hebrew established its first home in 1848 in the former North Baptist Church on Fifth Street near Green Street (now Broadway) between Washington and Lucas.
In 1854, United Hebrew Congregation hired the first documented rabbi to serve in St. Louis, Rabbi Bernard Illowy
. His term of service lasted about one year, and in 1856, he left for Syracuse.
In 1857, the congregation moved to a new building next to the Benton Public School on Sixth Street between Locust and St. Charles. The building was consecrated on June 17, 1859, with Rabbi M. J. Raphall of New York officiating.
United Hebrew moved steadily westward, next to Twenty-first and Olive Streets in 1879, and then in 1903 into a remodeled Mount Cabanne Church at the southwest corner of Kingshighway and Von Versen (after 1917, Enright).
In 1927, the United Hebrew Congregation dedicated a new home at 225 S. Skinker. Designed by the architectural firm of Maritz and Young with consulting architect Gabriel Ferrand, the notable, Byzantine revival structure was said to be one of the three largest synagogues in the nation. The United Hebrew Congregation worshiped there for sixty-two years until 1989. An educational building, also designed by Maritz and Young, was added in the early 1950s. The Missouri Historical Society
purchased the historic Skinker building in early 1989. It is now the Society's library and research center.
As its membership continued to move to the suburbs, United Hebrew Congregation purchased land at Conway and Woods Mill Roads in the west St. Louis County suburb of Chesterfield. The Religious and Hebrew schools began operating there in 1977. The administration and sanctuary moved to the Conway site after the construction (1986–1989) of a notable Pietro Belluschi
building.
. It is the furthest west large reform congregation in the greater St. Louis, Missouri
area. The congregation contains a Religious School, Hebrew School, Early Childhood Center, and Summer Camp. Programs include Youth (including a NFTY group called UHTYG, Adult Education, and Bible Study. The congregation is a member of the Synaplex initiative, an innovative way to enrich Jewish life and strengthen community through prayer, study, social and cultural programs all taking place in the synagogue throughout Shabbat
.
The Senior Rabbi is Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg. Cantor Ronald Eichaker and Rabbi - Educator Roxanne Shapiro make up the rest of the clergy team. Rick Recht
is the artist in residence. The Rabbi Emeritus is Howard Kaplansky. The Cantor Emeritus is Murray Hochberg.
to be written by a woman soferet. On September 9, 2007, the Torah was dedicated and Jen Taylor Friedman
became the first woman known to have written a complete Torah scroll.
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
is a Reform Jewish
Reform Judaism (North America)
Reform Judaism is the largest denomination of American Jews today. With an estimated 1.5 million members, it also accounts for the largest number of Jews affiliated with Progressive Judaism worldwide.- Reform Jewish theology :Rabbi W...
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...
. It is the first Jewish Congregation
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
established west of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
.
History
The United Hebrew Congregation formed on Rosh Hashannah, 1837 in St. Louis, MO when ten members rented a room for services. There is a debate among historians regarding the exact year this minyan was organized.Abraham Weigel, who was to become UHC’s first president, and Nathan Abeles, the first secretary, rented a room over a grocery and held the first 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....
in St. Louis. Louis Bomeisler, a German from Philadelphia, probably conducted the first service in St. Louis for Rosh HaShanah on September 29. He proceeded to order a Torah, prayer books, and Taleisim for the new group.
Twelve men met four years later at the Oracle Coffee House at 2nd and Locust to write the constitution for Achdut Yisrael, the United Hebrew Congregation. In 1841, a constitution was adopted and United Hebrew was formally founded, the first Jewish congregation west of the Mississippi.
United Hebrew established its first home in 1848 in the former North Baptist Church on Fifth Street near Green Street (now Broadway) between Washington and Lucas.
In 1854, United Hebrew Congregation hired the first documented rabbi to serve in St. Louis, Rabbi Bernard Illowy
Bernard Illowy
Rabbi Dr. Bernard Illowy was a rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism in the United States.-Biography:...
. His term of service lasted about one year, and in 1856, he left for Syracuse.
In 1857, the congregation moved to a new building next to the Benton Public School on Sixth Street between Locust and St. Charles. The building was consecrated on June 17, 1859, with Rabbi M. J. Raphall of New York officiating.
United Hebrew moved steadily westward, next to Twenty-first and Olive Streets in 1879, and then in 1903 into a remodeled Mount Cabanne Church at the southwest corner of Kingshighway and Von Versen (after 1917, Enright).
In 1927, the United Hebrew Congregation dedicated a new home at 225 S. Skinker. Designed by the architectural firm of Maritz and Young with consulting architect Gabriel Ferrand, the notable, Byzantine revival structure was said to be one of the three largest synagogues in the nation. The United Hebrew Congregation worshiped there for sixty-two years until 1989. An educational building, also designed by Maritz and Young, was added in the early 1950s. The Missouri Historical Society
Missouri Historical Society
The Missouri Historical Society was founded in St. Louis in 1866. Founding members created the historical society "for the purpose of saving from oblivion the early history of the city and state."- Organization :...
purchased the historic Skinker building in early 1989. It is now the Society's library and research center.
As its membership continued to move to the suburbs, United Hebrew Congregation purchased land at Conway and Woods Mill Roads in the west St. Louis County suburb of Chesterfield. The Religious and Hebrew schools began operating there in 1977. The administration and sanctuary moved to the Conway site after the construction (1986–1989) of a notable Pietro Belluschi
Pietro Belluschi
Pietro Belluschi was an American architect, a leader of the Modern Movement in architecture, and was responsible for the design of over one thousand buildings....
building.
Present
The United Hebrew Congregation is currently a member of the Union for Reform JudaismUnion 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...
. It is the furthest west large reform congregation in the greater St. Louis, Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
area. The congregation contains a Religious School, Hebrew School, Early Childhood Center, and Summer Camp. Programs include Youth (including a NFTY group called UHTYG, Adult Education, and Bible Study. The congregation is a member of the Synaplex initiative, an innovative way to enrich Jewish life and strengthen community through prayer, study, social and cultural programs all taking place in the synagogue throughout Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
.
The Senior Rabbi is Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg. Cantor Ronald Eichaker and Rabbi - Educator Roxanne Shapiro make up the rest of the clergy team. Rick Recht
Rick Recht
Richard Samuel "Rick" Recht , is a Jewish rock musician who is especially known for his live performances at Camp Poyntelle and for groups of youth all over the United States as well as performances at synagogues and Jewish rock festivals...
is the artist in residence. The Rabbi Emeritus is Howard Kaplansky. The Cantor Emeritus is Murray Hochberg.
Torah Scroll
In 2006, United Hebrew Congregation commissioned a TorahTorah
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...
to be written by a woman soferet. On September 9, 2007, the Torah was dedicated and Jen Taylor Friedman
Jen Taylor Friedman
Jen Taylor Friedman is a soferet . On September 9, 2007, she became the first woman known to have completed a Torah scroll. Taylor Friedman's sefer Torah was commissioned by , a Reform temple in St. Louis, Missouri....
became the first woman known to have written a complete Torah scroll.
Rabbinic Leaders
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Rabbi Bernard Illowy Bernard Illowy Rabbi Dr. Bernard Illowy was a rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism in the United States.-Biography:... |
1854–1856 |
| Rabbi Isaac Ritterman | 1860; 1864–1865; 1869–1870 |
| Rabbi Henry Kuttner Henry Kuttner Henry Kuttner was an American author of science fiction, fantasy and horror.-Early life:Henry Kuttner was born in Los Angeles, California in 1915... |
1857; 1870–1875 |
| Rabbi Henry J. Messing | 1878–1911 |
| Dr. Goodman Lipkind Goodman Lipkind Rabbi Goodman Lipkind was a London rabbi who later emigrated to New York. He wrote several articles for the Jewish Encyclopedia in 1906. He is today mainly remembered for having been the factual base for the picture of Joseph Strelitski, the Rabbi who emigrated to America in Israel Zangwill's... |
1912–1914 |
| Rabbi Samuel Thurman | 1914–1958 |
| Rabbi Jerome W. Grollman | 1958–1990 |
| Rabbi Howard G. Kaplansky | 1990–2011 |
| Rabbi Brigitte S Rosenberg | 2011- |
Sources
- The United Hebrew Congregation, St. Louis, MO, 1837–1963, By Jane Priwer, Published by United Hebrew Congregation, 1963
- Origin and Early History of the United Hebrew Congregation of St. Louis, 1841–1859, By Donald I Makovsky, Published by First Jewish Congregation in St. Louis, 1958