Congregation Beth Elohim (Brooklyn, New York)

Congregation Beth Elohim ( he, בֵּית אֱלֹהִים), also known as the Garfield Temple and the Eighth Avenue Temple, is a Reform Jewish congregation located at 274 Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue, in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn in New York City, United States.

Founded in 1861 as a more liberal breakaway from Congregation Baith Israel, for the first 65 years it attempted four mergers with other congregations, including three with Baith Israel, all of which failed. The congregation completed its current Classical Revival synagogue building in 1910 and its "Jewish Deco" (Romanesque Revival and Art Deco) Temple House in 1929. These two buildings were contributing properties to the Park Slope historic district, listed as a New York City Landmark district and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The congregation went through difficult times during the Great Depression, and the bank almost foreclosed on its buildings in 1946. Membership dropped significantly in the 1930s because of the Depression, grew after World War II, and dropped again in the 1960s and 1970s as a result of demographic shifts. Programs for young children helped draw Jewish families back into the neighborhood and revitalize the membership.

By 2006, Beth Elohim had over 1,000 members, and, , it was the largest and most active Reform congregation in Brooklyn, the "oldest Brooklyn congregation that continues to function under its corporate name", and its pulpit was the oldest in continuous use in any Brooklyn synagogue. In 2009, it was listed by ''Newsweek'' as one of America's 25 "Most Vibrant" Jewish congregations.

Early years: Pearl Street

Congregation Beth Elohim was founded on September 29, 1861, by 41 German and Bohemian Jews at Granada Hall on Myrtle Avenue, members of Congregation Baith Israel who had become disaffected after they attempted and failed to reform practice there. Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 226. The synagogue name was chosen by a vote of the membership, and the services were led by George Brandenstein, who served as cantor, and was paid $150 (today $) a year. "Origins", Beth Elohim website. Gross (1999). Brandenstein was hired as cantor, not rabbi, because "the congregation believed having a cantor was more important", though in practice he filled both roles. A ''shamash'' (the equivalent of a sexton or beadle) was also hired for $75 a year.

While searching for a permanent location, the congregation continued to meet and hold services at Granada Hall. Men and women sat together, unlike the traditional separate seating, and services were conducted in German and Hebrew. "Timeless Symbolism", Beth Elohim website. Within a few months, the former Calvary Protestant Episcopal church on Pearl Street, between Nasau and Concord, was purchased for $5,100 (today $) and renovated for another $2,000 (today $). Stiles (1870), p. 816. , ''Brooklyn Eagle'', September 27, 1891. The new building was dedicated on March 30, 1862, and the congregation became known as "the Pearl street synagogue". ''Brooklyn Eagle'', October 4, 1882, p. 4. By 1868, membership had increased to 103, and by 1869, almost 100 students attended the Sunday school.

Beth Elohim had originally conducted its services in the traditional manner, but on February 19, 1870 "inaugurated the moderate reform services" instead. In an attempt to stem defections and make the synagogue more attractive to existing and potential members, that same month the congregation purchased, for $55,000 (today $), the building of the Central Presbyterian Church on Schermerhorn Street near Nevins Street. Abelow (1937), pp. 23–24. Sufficient numbers of new members did not, however, materialize, and the congregation was forced to give up its new building, forfeit its $4,000 (today $) deposit, and return to the Pearl Street building. Abelow (1937), p. 24. Instead, the Pearl street building was renovated, and an organ and choir added. Ignaz Grossmann served as rabbi from 1873 to 1876.

Beth Elohim voted to retire Brandenstein in 1882, an action which created some controversy both within the congregation, and among other Brooklyn synagogues. Younger members of the congregation found no specific fault with Brandenstein, but wanted "a change", and succeeded in dismissing him and electing an entirely new board of officers. The final vote was 29 in favor, 21 against, out of a total membership of 53 or 54 (only the male heads of households were counted as members during this era). ''Brooklyn Eagle'', May 27, 1884, p. 2. Solomon Mosche was hired to replace Brandenstein. Landman (1940), p. 546.

In April 1883, Baith Israel, Beth Elohim, and Temple Israel, Brooklyn's three leading synagogues, attempted an amalgamation. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', April 7, 1883, p. 1. This was the third such attempt; the previous two had failed when the members could not agree on synagogue ritual. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', April 26, 1883, p. 2. The combined congregation, which would purchase new premises, would have 150 members; members would be refunded half the purchase price of the pews in their existing buildings. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', April 26, 1883, p. 2. Mosche and the rabbi of Temple Israel were to split the offices of rabbi and cantor: Baith Israel, at the time, had no rabbi. Though this attempt also failed, in the following year the three congregations carried out combined activities, including a picnic and a celebration of the 100th birthday of Moses Montefiore. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', July 7, 1884, p. 4. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', October 27, 1884, p. 1. Membership at that time still hovered around 50.

Mosche fell ill in 1884, and after being unable to serve for six months, was replaced by 26-year-old William Sparger. ''The New York Times'', July 11, 1884, p. 8. Despite his illness, Mosche lived until age 75, dying on November 3, 1911. ''American Jewish Year Book'', Vol. 14, p. 125.

Sparger was Hungarian by birth, a graduate of the Prince Rudolph University of Vienna, and, according to a contemporary ''New York Times'' article, "belong dto the extreme liberal school of Hebrew theology". He introduced changes to the services, including improving the choir, bringing in a new prayer book, adding Friday night services, and the "radical reform" of making the sermon the most important part of the service. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', October 25, 1891, p. 2. He appealed to younger congregants, and, under his direction, the synagogue experienced a large increase in attendance.

State Street

Though more seats had been added to the synagogue by narrowing the aisles, Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 228. as a result of Sparger's innovations Beth Elohim outgrew its Pearl Street building, and a new one was sought. After a three-year search, in 1885 Beth Elohim purchased the building of the Congregational Church at 305 State Street (near Hoyt) for $28,000 (today $), and moved in that year. ''The New York Times'', June 29, 1885, p. 8.

In 1891, Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan offered Sparger a salary larger than Beth Elohim could match, and he moved there. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', October 25, 1891, p. 2. Beth Elohim subsequently split the offices of cantor and rabbi, hiring G. Taubenhaus as rabbi and the Mauritz Weisskopf as cantor.

Born in Warsaw, Taubenhaus could read the Pentateuch fluently in Hebrew at age four, and began studying the Talmud at age six. He attended the "Berlin theological seminary" (likely the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums) for six years. Upon emigrating to the United States, he served at Kehillah
Kodesh Bene Yeshurum in Paducah, Kentucky, Temple Israel in Dayton, Ohio, and Congregation B'nai Israel in Sacramento, California, before becoming the rabbi of the Shaari Zedek ("Gates of Hope") synagogue in New York. Differences with the latter congregation led to his resignation there shortly before being hired by Beth Elohim. Taubenhaus's brother Joseph would be appointed rabbi at Baith Israel, Beth Elohim's parent congregation, in 1893, and another brother, Jacob/Jean Taubenhaus, was a famous French chess master. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', May 1, 1893, p. 10.

By the time of Taubenhaus's hiring, Beth Elohim was, according to the ''Brooklyn Eagle'', "recognized as the leading Hebrew synagogue of Brooklyn". ''Brooklyn Eagle'', October 25, 1891, p. 2. The views of the congregation regarding ''kashrut'' (the Jewish dietary laws) were by then quite liberal; in 1892, when Hyman Rosenberg was expelled as rabbi of Brooklyn's Beth Jacob synagogue for eating ham, Taubenhaus stated that he did not believe his congregation would expel him for doing the same. ''Brooklyn Eagle'', December 16, 1892, p. 1.

In 1895, Samuel Radnitz succeeded Weisskopf as cantor, a role he filled until his death in 1944.

By the turn of the twentieth century English had replaced German in the services and official minutes, and the second days of holidays eliminated. The synagogue had 106 members and annual revenues of around $8,000 (today $), and its Sunday School had approximately 300 pupils. ''American Jewish Year Book'', Vol. 2, p. 328.

Taubenhaus left the congregation in 1901, and the following year Alexander Lyons was hired as the congregation's first American-born rabbi. "New Century", Beth Elohim website. Lyons went on to serve the congregation for 37 years, until his death in 1939 at the age of 71. ''The New York Times'', June 7, 1939, p. 26.

In 1907, the women's auxiliary was founded; until then, though seating was mixed, women had little say in the running of the synagogue. That year the congregation had 110 member families and annual revenues of $9,259.55 (today $). The congregational school, which held classes one day a week, had 15 teachers and 200 students. ''American Jewish Year Book'', Vol. 9, p. 262.

Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue

1908–1929: New buildings

In 1908, the congregation purchased a by lot on the northeast corner of Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue. Plans were made to erect a new synagogue building there with a sanctuary seating 1,500 people, at an anticipated cost of $100,000 (today $). ''Brooklyn Eagle'', October 7, 1908 The structure was designed and built by the Manhattan architectural firm of Simon Eisendrath and B. Horowitz (or Horwitz). Kamil & Wakin (2005), p. 152. Construction began in 1909 Morrone & Iska (2001), p. 376. and completed in 1910. Bergman (2001), p. 314. Designed in the Classical Revival style, this "monumental example" Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. xiii. of "austere neo-Classical grandeur" Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. xiiv. had five sides, representing the five books of Moses, a sanctuary that ultimately sat 1,200, "The Main Sanctuary", Beth Elohim website. and was capped by a saucer dome. Morrone & Iska (2001), p. 375. The entrance faced the corner of Garfield and Eighth, and carved in stone over it was the Biblical verse fragment "MINE HOUSE SHALL BE AN HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL PEOPLE" (). The basement held classrooms, an auditorium, and administrative offices, and behind the Torah ark was a combination Rabbi's study/Board meeting room. The State Street building was sold to Congregation Mount Sinai. Abelow (1937), p. 53.

1909 was also the year Judah Leon Magnes proposed and founded his ''Kehilla'', a "comprehensive communal organization for the Jews of New York", which operated until 1922. Kaufman (1999), p. 133. Lyons opposed its creation, arguing that Jews in New York were too diverse to co-exist in one organization with a single set of standards, that Jews should not organize as Jews for anything except purely religious purposes, and that in any event Reform Judaism was the future and Orthodox Judaism would not survive. As Lyons put it,

To me Reform Judaism is an irresistible conviction. I believe it to be the religion of the Jewish future, while I regard orthodoxy as a survival that may have a galvanized life now and then, but on the whole is doomed. ''The New York Times'', March 14, 1909, p. 6.

By 1919, Beth Elohim had 133 member families. The congregational school, which held classes once a week, had 305 students and 16 teachers. ''American Jewish Year Book'', Vol. 21, p. 439.

Negotiations to merge with Union Temple (the successor to Temple Israel) were started in 1925. A confirmation vote eventually passed, and the impending merger was announced in the ''Brooklyn Eagle''. However, younger congregants feared a loss of identity, and forced a withdrawal. Abramovitch & Galvin (2001), p. 33.

Instead, the congregation raised funds for a second building, and in 1928–1929 built the six-story Temple House (used for all congregational activities) on the corner opposite the main sanctuary. Designed by Mortimer Freehof and David Levy, the cast stone building's architectural style was "Jewish Deco", a mix of Romanesque Revival and Art Deco decorative forms that was common in Jewish buildings of the period. Romanesque features included the fenestrations, while a prominent Art Deco feature was "the figure of Moses and the Tablets of Law, emphasizing the corner of the roof parapet." Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. 25. The doorway and balcony at the east end of the building had "a distinctly Moorish flavor, featuring symbolic ornament: the Star of David, the Menorah, and the Lion of Judah." Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. 60. The names of major figures from the ''Tanakh

HOME


Content is Copyleft
Website design, code, and AI is Copyrighted (c) 2014-2017 by Stephen Payne


Consider donating to Wikimedia



As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases