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'''Temple Beth-El''' is a synagogue located at 2179 [[Highland Avenue]] in [[Birmingham]]. The congregation was founded in [[1907]] as Birmingham's second Orthodox congregation. | [[Image:Temple Beth-El.jpg|center|frame|Temple Beth-El in 2010]] | ||
'''Temple Beth-El''' is a synagogue located at 2179 [[Highland Avenue]] in [[Birmingham]], at the intersection of [[21st Way South]] (formerly [[Beech Street]]). The congregation was founded in [[1907]] as Birmingham's second Orthodox congregation. The synagogue was the 3rd to be constructed in Birmingham after [[Temple Emanu-El]] and the [[Knesseth Israel Synagogue]]. It was formed by members splitting from Knesseth Israel. | |||
In [[1944]] Beth-El became affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and is now the only Conservative-affiliated synagogue in Birmingham, and one of only four in [[Alabama]]. | In [[1944]] Beth-El became affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and is now the only Conservative-affiliated synagogue in Birmingham, and one of only four in [[Alabama]]. | ||
Currently, Temple Beth-El serves approximately 700-800 Jewish families in the Birmingham area. The Temple's "Sisterhood" chapter is affiliated with the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, while the Men's Club is part of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. The Temple's youth groups are organized under the United Synagogue Youth. | Currently, Temple Beth-El serves approximately 700-800 Jewish families in the Birmingham area. The Temple's "Sisterhood" chapter is affiliated with the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, while the Men's Club is part of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. The Temple's youth groups are organized under the United Synagogue Youth. | ||
Temple Beth-El's rabbi is [[ | Temple Beth-El's rabbi is [[Stephen Henkin]]. The music and youth director is [[Sarah Metzger]]. | ||
==Building== | ==Building== | ||
The current sanctuary, | The current sanctuary, completed in December [[1926]], was designed by [[Charles McCauley]] in a Romanesque style. Beth-El is one of only a few Conservative synagogues in the United States to have its own mikveh or ritual bath. | ||
The back part of the original building was added in [[1950]]. [[William Chambers]] designed the renovated interiors at the time. A cultural center and classroom building was added in the 1990s, followed by renovations to the sanctuary, chapel and social hall in the 2000s. | |||
The interior is graced by numerous sculptures by Phillip Ratner. | |||
Temple Beth-El leases space to non-profit organizations, including the [[Reiki Association of the Southeast]]. | |||
==Bomb attempts== | |||
On April 28, [[1958]], 54 sticks of dynamite were placed outside Temple Beth-El in a [[List of racially-motivated bombings|bombing attempt]]. According to police reports, the burning fuses were doused by heavy rainfall, preventing the dynamite from exploding. Although the crime was never solved, police considered [[Bobby Frank Cherry]], later convicted of [[1963 church bombing|bombing]] the [[16th Street Baptist Church]], to be a suspect. | |||
In November [[2022]] officials responding to a fire reported at Temple Beth-El found a propane tank and clothing which had been set on fire in the basement. Gregory Earl Fuller was taken into custody by the [[Birmingham FBI]] and charged with second-degree arson by [[Jefferson County]] prosecutors. According to Rabbi Henkin, Fuller "admitted to lighting it" but added that "it had nothing to do with us being a synagogue." | |||
==Leaders== | ==Leaders== | ||
===Rabbis=== | ===Rabbis=== | ||
* [[A. Rapport]] | * [[A. Rapport]], 1907–1909 | ||
* [[F. Mogitz]] | * [[F. Mogitz]], 1914–1916 | ||
* [[Solomon Katz]] | * [[Solomon Katz]], 1923–1929 | ||
* [[Abraham Bengis]] | * [[Abraham Bengis]], 1930–1933 | ||
* [[E. | * [[E. A. Levi]], 1933–1935 | ||
* [[Abraham Mesch]] | * [[Abraham Mesch]], 1935–1962 | ||
* [[Morton Wallack]] | * [[Morton Wallack]], 1963–1967 | ||
* [[ | * [[Philip Silverstein]] , 1968–1970 | ||
* [[ | * [[Mark Elovitz]], 1970– | ||
* [[Brian Glusman]], 2001–2009 | |||
* [[Michelle Goldsmith]], 2009–2018 | |||
* [[Stephen Slater]], June 2018–2021 | |||
** [[Hillel Norry]] (interim) 2021 - 2022 | |||
* [[Stephen Henkin]] 2022- | |||
===Presidents=== | ===Presidents=== | ||
* [[Max Roseman]] ([[1922]] | * [[Max Roseman]] ([[1922]]–[[1925]]) | ||
* [[Louis Pizitz]] ([[1925]] | * [[Louis Pizitz]] ([[1925]]–[[1927]]) | ||
* [[Max Roseman]] ([[1927]] | * [[Max Roseman]] ([[1927]]–[[1929]]) | ||
* [[Harry Berlin]] ([[1929]] | * [[Harry Berlin]] ([[1929]]–[[1931]]) | ||
* [[Louis Pizitz]] ([[1931]] | * [[Louis Pizitz]] ([[1931]]–[[1933]]) | ||
* [[Jacob Allen]] ([[1933]] | * [[Jacob Allen]] ([[1933]]–[[1937]]) | ||
* [[Joseph Solomon]] ([[1937]] | * [[Joseph Solomon]] ([[1937]]–[[1940]]) | ||
* [[Louis Levy]] ([[1940]] | * [[Louis Levy]] ([[1940]]–[[1943]]) | ||
* [[Felix Shevinsky]] ([[1943]] | * [[Felix Shevinsky]] ([[1943]]–[[1945]]) | ||
* [[Max Greenwald]] ([[1945]] | * [[Max Greenwald]] ([[1945]]–[[1946]]) | ||
* [[Max Hurvich]] ([[1946]] | * [[Max Hurvich]] ([[1946]]–[[1948]]) | ||
* [[Eugene Zeidman]] ([[1948]] | * [[Eugene Zeidman]] ([[1948]]–[[1951]]) | ||
* [[Fred Nichols]] ([[1951]] | * [[Fred Nichols]] ([[1951]]–[[1953]]) | ||
* [[James Permutt]] ([[1953]] | * [[James Permutt]] ([[1953]]–[[1955]]) | ||
* [[Fred Nichols]] ([[1955]] | * [[Fred Nichols]] ([[1955]]–[[1956]]) | ||
* [[J. Harold Shevin]] ([[1956]] | * [[J. Harold Shevin]] ([[1956]]–[[1957]]) | ||
* [[Max Kimerling]] ([[1957]] | * [[Max Kimerling]] ([[1957]]–[[1959]]) | ||
* [[Sidney Ziff]] ([[1959]] | * [[Sidney Ziff]] ([[1959]]–[[1961]]) | ||
* [[Karl Friedman]] ([[1961]] | * [[Karl Friedman]] ([[1961]]–[[1963]]) | ||
* [[Arnold Royal]] ([[1963]] | * [[Arnold Royal]] ([[1963]]–[[1965]]) | ||
* [[Marshall Gordon]] ([[1965]] | * [[Marshall Gordon]] ([[1965]]–[[1967]]) | ||
* [[Joe Reznik]] ([[1967]] | * [[Joe Reznik]] ([[1967]]–[[1969]]) | ||
* [[Norman Niren]] ([[1969]] | * [[Norman Niren]] ([[1969]]–[[1971]]) | ||
* [[Stanley Lapidus]] ([[1971]] | * [[Stanley Lapidus]] ([[1971]]–[[1973]]) | ||
* [[Ronald Levitt]] | |||
* [[Naomi Ivker]], {[[2024]]) | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Temple, C. and Hansen, J. (July 16, 2000) [http://www.al.com/specialreport/?bombing/97-min.html "Ministers' homes, churches among bomb targets"] | * Temple, C. and Hansen, J. (July 16, 2000) [http://www.al.com/specialreport/?bombing/97-min.html "Ministers' homes, churches among bomb targets"] {{BN}} | ||
* Wiener, J. (June 11, 2001) [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010611/wiener/2 "Southern Explosure"]. "The Nation". | * Wiener, J. (June 11, 2001) [http://www.thenation.com/doc/20010611/wiener/2 "Southern Explosure"]. "The Nation". | ||
* Robinson, Carol (November 4, 2022) "Propane tank, burning clothes found inside Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El; man held on suspicion of arson." {{AL}} | |||
* Yurkanin, Amy (November 6, 2022) "Rabbi: ‘No evidence’ of antisemitic attack in suspicious fire near Birmingham synagogue." {{AL}} | |||
* Robinson, Carol (November 7, 2022) "Birmingham man charged with arson in Temple Beth-El fire." {{AL}} | |||
* Garrison, Greg (January 12, 2024) "Birmingham’s historic Temple Beth-El installs rabbi: ‘It’s an amazing community’." {{AL}} | |||
==External Links== | ==External Links== | ||
* [http://www.templebeth-el.net Temple Beth-El] website | * [http://www.templebeth-el.net Temple Beth-El] website | ||
[[Category:Synagogues | {{DEFAULTSORT:Beth-El}} | ||
[[Category:Highland Avenue | [[Category:Synagogues]] | ||
[[Category:1926 buildings | [[Category:Highland Avenue]] | ||
[[Category:Civil rights landmarks | [[Category:1907 establishments]] | ||
[[Category:Charles McCauley buildings | [[Category:1926 buildings]] | ||
[[Category:Civil rights landmarks]] | |||
[[Category:Charles McCauley buildings]] | |||
Latest revision as of 21:29, 14 January 2024
Temple Beth-El in 2010
Temple Beth-El is a synagogue located at 2179 Highland Avenue in Birmingham, at the intersection of 21st Way South (formerly Beech Street). The congregation was founded in 1907 as Birmingham's second Orthodox congregation. The synagogue was the 3rd to be constructed in Birmingham after Temple Emanu-El and the Knesseth Israel Synagogue. It was formed by members splitting from Knesseth Israel.
In 1944 Beth-El became affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, and is now the only Conservative-affiliated synagogue in Birmingham, and one of only four in Alabama.
Currently, Temple Beth-El serves approximately 700-800 Jewish families in the Birmingham area. The Temple's "Sisterhood" chapter is affiliated with the Women's League for Conservative Judaism, while the Men's Club is part of the Federation of Jewish Men's Clubs. The Temple's youth groups are organized under the United Synagogue Youth.
Temple Beth-El's rabbi is Stephen Henkin. The music and youth director is Sarah Metzger.
Building
The current sanctuary, completed in December 1926, was designed by Charles McCauley in a Romanesque style. Beth-El is one of only a few Conservative synagogues in the United States to have its own mikveh or ritual bath.
The back part of the original building was added in 1950. William Chambers designed the renovated interiors at the time. A cultural center and classroom building was added in the 1990s, followed by renovations to the sanctuary, chapel and social hall in the 2000s.
The interior is graced by numerous sculptures by Phillip Ratner.
Temple Beth-El leases space to non-profit organizations, including the Reiki Association of the Southeast.
Bomb attempts
On April 28, 1958, 54 sticks of dynamite were placed outside Temple Beth-El in a bombing attempt. According to police reports, the burning fuses were doused by heavy rainfall, preventing the dynamite from exploding. Although the crime was never solved, police considered Bobby Frank Cherry, later convicted of bombing the 16th Street Baptist Church, to be a suspect.
In November 2022 officials responding to a fire reported at Temple Beth-El found a propane tank and clothing which had been set on fire in the basement. Gregory Earl Fuller was taken into custody by the Birmingham FBI and charged with second-degree arson by Jefferson County prosecutors. According to Rabbi Henkin, Fuller "admitted to lighting it" but added that "it had nothing to do with us being a synagogue."
Leaders
Rabbis
- A. Rapport, 1907–1909
- F. Mogitz, 1914–1916
- Solomon Katz, 1923–1929
- Abraham Bengis, 1930–1933
- E. A. Levi, 1933–1935
- Abraham Mesch, 1935–1962
- Morton Wallack, 1963–1967
- Philip Silverstein , 1968–1970
- Mark Elovitz, 1970–
- Brian Glusman, 2001–2009
- Michelle Goldsmith, 2009–2018
- Stephen Slater, June 2018–2021
- Hillel Norry (interim) 2021 - 2022
- Stephen Henkin 2022-
Presidents
- Max Roseman (1922–1925)
- Louis Pizitz (1925–1927)
- Max Roseman (1927–1929)
- Harry Berlin (1929–1931)
- Louis Pizitz (1931–1933)
- Jacob Allen (1933–1937)
- Joseph Solomon (1937–1940)
- Louis Levy (1940–1943)
- Felix Shevinsky (1943–1945)
- Max Greenwald (1945–1946)
- Max Hurvich (1946–1948)
- Eugene Zeidman (1948–1951)
- Fred Nichols (1951–1953)
- James Permutt (1953–1955)
- Fred Nichols (1955–1956)
- J. Harold Shevin (1956–1957)
- Max Kimerling (1957–1959)
- Sidney Ziff (1959–1961)
- Karl Friedman (1961–1963)
- Arnold Royal (1963–1965)
- Marshall Gordon (1965–1967)
- Joe Reznik (1967–1969)
- Norman Niren (1969–1971)
- Stanley Lapidus (1971–1973)
- Ronald Levitt
- Naomi Ivker, {2024)
References
- Temple, C. and Hansen, J. (July 16, 2000) "Ministers' homes, churches among bomb targets" The Birmingham News
- Wiener, J. (June 11, 2001) "Southern Explosure". "The Nation".
- Robinson, Carol (November 4, 2022) "Propane tank, burning clothes found inside Birmingham’s Temple Beth-El; man held on suspicion of arson." AL.com
- Yurkanin, Amy (November 6, 2022) "Rabbi: ‘No evidence’ of antisemitic attack in suspicious fire near Birmingham synagogue." AL.com
- Robinson, Carol (November 7, 2022) "Birmingham man charged with arson in Temple Beth-El fire." AL.com
- Garrison, Greg (January 12, 2024) "Birmingham’s historic Temple Beth-El installs rabbi: ‘It’s an amazing community’." AL.com
External Links
- Temple Beth-El website