B'nai Emet Synagogue (St. Louis Park, Minnesota)
Encyclopedia
B'nai Emet Synagogue is a Conservative
synagogue
located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
. St. Louis Park is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota
and a first ring-suburb
immediately west of Minneapolis
.
The synagogue has its origins in a number of earlier synagogues and congregations that merged in the course of a century, so that the earliest roots of B'nai Emet can be traced back from 1889 until it moved to its current location in 1956. It was used as a location for the Coen brothers
' 2009 film A Serious Man
.
The earliest synagogue component was Congregation B'nai Abraham established in 1889 and incorporated in 1891 in a South Minneapolis neighborhood by Romanian
Jewish immigrants. It was known as the "Rumanian Schil" or the "Rumanian Hebrew Congregation."
The congregation’s first home was located on 15th Avenue South between 3rd and 4th Streets. The structure seated about 300 people and was filled on Shabbat
with the services
following the customs of Romanian Jews.
The second building, B'nai Abraham's home for 36 years, was located at 825 Thirteenth Avenue South, purchased in 1920 for $10,000 ($ in current dollar terms). In the early days, the synagogue had its own Talmud Torah
(supplementary religious school for children's Torah study
). In 1927, when Minneapolis Talmud Torah built a South Side structure, B'nai Abraham closed its Talmud Torah.
In 1942, Rabbi Hardin served for two years. Later, Rabbi Reuben Maier became spiritual leader of the congregation. Rabbi Maier's wife Sophie was the daughter of Rabbi Alexandru Şafran
, chief rabbi
of Romania until his death. In 1952, Rabbi Mordecai Liebhaber succeeded Rabbi Maier who undertook the relocation to St. Louis Park where a communal building was built to meet the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the growing Jewish population and resulted in a decision to establish a combined synagogue-Jewish center. B'nai Abraham worked with B'nai B'rith
to achieve this end.
The congregation built a new sanctuary and center dedicated in 1959. This building had a number of multi-purpose rooms. The sanctuary, which seated 80, opened to a space used for an auditorium (increasing seating capacity to 1000) and gymnasium. B'nai Abraham grew from 10 families before the move in the 1950s to 400 families in 1971 when B'nai Abraham and Congregation Mikro-Tifereth voted to merge, creating B'nai Emet Synagogue, under the leadership of Rabbi Sylvan Kamens a noted Conservative rabbi.
As reported by the St. Louis Park Historical Society:
, Holiday "How-To" workshops, counseling, and lectures on intermarriage.
It has hosted a number of unique presentations such as dramatized storytelling.
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,...
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...
located in St. Louis Park, Minnesota
St. Louis Park, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,126 people, 20,782 households, and 10,557 families residing in the city. The population density was 4,122.5 persons per square mile . There were 21,140 housing units at an average density of 1,975.0 per square mile...
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...
. St. Louis Park is a city in Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County, Minnesota
Hennepin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Minnesota, named in honor of the 17th-century explorer Father Louis Hennepin. As of 2010 the population was 1,152,425. Its county seat is Minneapolis. It is by far the most populous county in Minnesota; more than one in five Minnesotans live...
and a first ring-suburb
Suburb
The word suburb mostly refers to a residential area, either existing as part of a city or as a separate residential community within commuting distance of a city . Some suburbs have a degree of administrative autonomy, and most have lower population density than inner city neighborhoods...
immediately west of Minneapolis
Minneapolis, Minnesota
Minneapolis , nicknamed "City of Lakes" and the "Mill City," is the county seat of Hennepin County, the largest city in the U.S. state of Minnesota, and the 48th largest in the United States...
.
The synagogue has its origins in a number of earlier synagogues and congregations that merged in the course of a century, so that the earliest roots of B'nai Emet can be traced back from 1889 until it moved to its current location in 1956. It was used as a location for the Coen brothers
Coen Brothers
Joel David Coen and Ethan Jesse Coen known together professionally as the Coen brothers, are American filmmakers...
' 2009 film A Serious Man
A Serious Man
A Serious Man is a 2009 dark comedy written, produced, and directed by Joel and Ethan Coen. The film stars Michael Stuhlbarg as a Minnesota Jewish man whose life crumbles both professionally and personally, leading to questions about his faith...
.
History
The synagogue's history reflects the emergence of organized Jewish communal and religious life in Minnesota.The earliest synagogue component was Congregation B'nai Abraham established in 1889 and incorporated in 1891 in a South Minneapolis neighborhood by Romanian
History of the Jews in Romania
The history of Jews in Romania concerns the Jews of Romania and of Romanian origins, from their first mention on what is nowadays Romanian territory....
Jewish immigrants. It was known as the "Rumanian Schil" or the "Rumanian Hebrew Congregation."
The congregation’s first home was located on 15th Avenue South between 3rd and 4th Streets. The structure seated about 300 people and was filled on 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...
with the services
Jewish services
Jewish prayer are the prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book....
following the customs of Romanian Jews.
The second building, B'nai Abraham's home for 36 years, was located at 825 Thirteenth Avenue South, purchased in 1920 for $10,000 ($ in current dollar terms). In the early days, the synagogue had its own Talmud Torah
Talmud Torah
Talmud Torah schools were created in the Jewish world, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic, as a form of public primary school for boys of modest backgrounds, where they were given an elementary education in Hebrew, the Scriptures , and the Talmud...
(supplementary religious school for children's Torah study
Torah study
Torah study is the study by Jewish people of the Torah, Hebrew Bible, Talmud, responsa, rabbinic literature and similar works, all of which are Judaism's religious texts...
). In 1927, when Minneapolis Talmud Torah built a South Side structure, B'nai Abraham closed its Talmud Torah.
In 1942, Rabbi Hardin served for two years. Later, Rabbi Reuben Maier became spiritual leader of the congregation. Rabbi Maier's wife Sophie was the daughter of Rabbi Alexandru Şafran
Alexandru Safran
Alexandru Şafran was a Romanian and, after 1948, Swiss rabbi. As chief rabbi of Romania , he intervened with authorities in the fascist government of Ion Antonescu in an unusually successful attempt to save Jews during the Holocaust.-Biography:Şafran was born in Bacău, and received his doctorate...
, chief rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Romania until his death. In 1952, Rabbi Mordecai Liebhaber succeeded Rabbi Maier who undertook the relocation to St. Louis Park where a communal building was built to meet the spiritual, educational, and social needs of the growing Jewish population and resulted in a decision to establish a combined synagogue-Jewish center. B'nai Abraham worked with B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith
B'nai B'rith International |Covenant]]" is the oldest continually operating Jewish service organization in the world. It was initially founded as the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in New York City, on , 1843, by Henry Jones and 11 others....
to achieve this end.
The congregation built a new sanctuary and center dedicated in 1959. This building had a number of multi-purpose rooms. The sanctuary, which seated 80, opened to a space used for an auditorium (increasing seating capacity to 1000) and gymnasium. B'nai Abraham grew from 10 families before the move in the 1950s to 400 families in 1971 when B'nai Abraham and Congregation Mikro-Tifereth voted to merge, creating B'nai Emet Synagogue, under the leadership of Rabbi Sylvan Kamens a noted Conservative rabbi.
As reported by the St. Louis Park Historical Society:
- Work was begun on this first synagogue in the suburbs in July 1958. The $300,000 building at 3115 Ottawa Avenue was designed by Ackerman and Cooperman. It was completed in March 1959 and dedicated on June 19–21, 1959. 700 people came to the dedication, including Mayor Herbert Lefler, who welcomed the congregation to the Park. The 70-year-old congregation consisted of 373 families and was first known as B'Nai Abraham. In 1960 advertised as "Your NEW conservative congregation serving St. Louis Park and Hopkins."
Social and political activism
The synagogue has joined with others in support of various causes. It joined with the Reform movement in urging Senator Norm Coleman to oppose budget cuts in 2005.Programs, presentations and workshops
The synagogue offers a variety of programs: Introduction to Judaism Classes, Hebrew classes, discussion of intermarriage, adult education, "December Dilemma" discussions, Preparation for ConversionConversion to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
, Holiday "How-To" workshops, counseling, and lectures on intermarriage.
It has hosted a number of unique presentations such as dramatized storytelling.
See also
- American JewsAmerican JewsAmerican Jews, also known as Jewish Americans, are American citizens of the Jewish faith or Jewish ethnicity. The Jewish community in the United States is composed predominantly of Ashkenazi Jews who emigrated from Central and Eastern Europe, and their U.S.-born descendants...
- History of the Jews in the United StatesHistory of the Jews in the United StatesThe history of the Jews in the United States , has been part of the American national fabric since colonial times.Until the 1830s the Jewish community of Charleston, South Carolina was the most numerous in North America. With the large scale immigration of Jews from Germany in the 19th century,...
- List of synagogues in Minnesota