Beth Israel Congregation (Washington, Pennsylvania)
Encyclopedia
Beth Israel Congregation is a Conservative
synagogue
located at 265 North Avenue in Washington, Pennsylvania
. Founded in 1891, it was the first Jewish congregation in Washington County, Pennsylvania
. Its first rabbi
, Jacob Goldfarb, served for 50 years.
The congregation constructed its first building in 1902. The current building, at 265 North Avenue, was dedicated in 1955.
, Beth Israel is the only synagogue in Washington County. Its rabbi is David Novitsky.
synagogue, serving as both its rabbi
and cantor
. It was Washington County
's first Jewish
congregation.
By the turn of the 20th century, the Beth Israel had 22 member families, and an annual revenues of $600 (today $). It held services on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, and had round 20 children in its religious school. In 1902, the congregation constructed its first synagogue building, at the corner of Franklin and Spruce. By 1907, membership was 26 families, out of a total Washington Jewish population of around 200 individuals. Annual revenues were $3,000 (today $), and the religious school, which held classes daily, had 25 students. Emmy Award
-winning film and television producer and director Bud Yorkin
was a member as a youth in the 1920s and 1930s.
Goldfarb retired in 1941, becoming rabbi emeritus. He was succeeded as rabbi the following year by Maxwell Berger, described by Isaac Landman
as "son of the chief rabbi of Toronto, Canada". Berger had previously served from 1940 to 1942 as the first permanent full-time rabbi of Beth El Congregation in Beckley, West Virginia
.
David J. Matzner was rabbi in the 1970s. Born in Wiesbaden
, Germany in 1914, he received his rabbinic training first at the Jewish Teachers' Seminary in Duerzburg, then (from 1936 to 1938) at Yeshivat Torat Chayim in Jerusalem, where he was ordained. He returned to Weisbaden, working as sales representative, and was interned in several Nazi concentration camps
during the Holocaust
. He emigrated to the United States in 1950, serving as rabbi of Mount Sinai Congregation in Wausau, Wisconsin and Sons of Jacob Congregation in Waterloo, Iowa before coming to Beth Israel. He retired in 1978, returning to Israel for two years, before settling in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he died in 1986. A eulogy written by a former Beth Israel member in the Observer-Reporter
described him as having "unique aura of sweetness and power".
David C. Novitsky was rabbi in the 2000s. A graduate of Touro Law Center, he was ordained in 1983 by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
of Yeshiva University
. In addition to serving as a rabbi, he practiced as a litigation attorney for over 14 years, and is an adjunct instructor in the Religious Studies department of Washington & Jefferson College
.
, Beth Israel is the only synagogue in Washington County. Novitsky is the rabbi.
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 at 265 North Avenue in Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington, Pennsylvania
Washington is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Pittsburgh Metro Area in the southwestern part of the state...
. Founded in 1891, it was the first Jewish congregation in Washington County, Pennsylvania
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
. Its first 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...
, Jacob Goldfarb, served for 50 years.
The congregation constructed its first building in 1902. The current building, at 265 North Avenue, was dedicated in 1955.
, Beth Israel is the only synagogue in Washington County. Its rabbi is David Novitsky.
Early history
Jacob Goldfarb moved to Washington, Pennsylvania in around 1890. The following year, he led the organization of Beth Israel Congregation as an OrthodoxOrthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
synagogue, serving as both its 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...
and 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...
. It was Washington County
Washington County, Pennsylvania
-Government and politics:As of November 2008, there are 152,534 registered voters in Washington County .* Democratic: 89,027 * Republican: 49,025 * Other Parties: 14,482...
's first Jewish
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
congregation.
By the turn of the 20th century, the Beth Israel had 22 member families, and an annual revenues of $600 (today $). It held services on Friday nights and Saturday mornings, and had round 20 children in its religious school. In 1902, the congregation constructed its first synagogue building, at the corner of Franklin and Spruce. By 1907, membership was 26 families, out of a total Washington Jewish population of around 200 individuals. Annual revenues were $3,000 (today $), and the religious school, which held classes daily, had 25 students. Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning film and television producer and director Bud Yorkin
Bud Yorkin
Bud Yorkin is an American film and television producer, director, writer and actor.Yorkin was born Alan David Yorkin in Washington, Pennsylvania. He earned a degree in engineering from Carnegie Tech, now Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsbugh, Pennsylvania...
was a member as a youth in the 1920s and 1930s.
Goldfarb retired in 1941, becoming rabbi emeritus. He was succeeded as rabbi the following year by Maxwell Berger, described by Isaac Landman
Isaac Landman
Isaac Landman was an American Reform rabbi, author and anti-Zionist activist. He was editor of the ten volume Universal Jewish Encyclopedia.-Biography:...
as "son of the chief rabbi of Toronto, Canada". Berger had previously served from 1940 to 1942 as the first permanent full-time rabbi of Beth El Congregation in Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley, West Virginia
Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, which was founded on April 4, 1838. The 2008 population was estimated to be 16,832 by the U.S. Census Bureau. Early in its history, the town was known as Beckleyville and Raleigh Court House...
.
Events since 1955
The congregation's current building at 265 North Avenue was dedicated in 1955. Designed by Alexander Sharove, it housed "two sanctuaries, classrooms, library, social hall, parlor, gymnasium/auditorium, and two kosher kitchens".David J. Matzner was rabbi in the 1970s. Born in Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden
Wiesbaden is a city in southwest Germany and the capital of the federal state of Hesse. It has about 275,400 inhabitants, plus approximately 10,000 United States citizens...
, Germany in 1914, he received his rabbinic training first at the Jewish Teachers' Seminary in Duerzburg, then (from 1936 to 1938) at Yeshivat Torat Chayim in Jerusalem, where he was ordained. He returned to Weisbaden, working as sales representative, and was interned in several Nazi concentration camps
Nazi concentration camps
Nazi Germany maintained concentration camps throughout the territories it controlled. The first Nazi concentration camps set up in Germany were greatly expanded after the Reichstag fire of 1933, and were intended to hold political prisoners and opponents of the regime...
during the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
. He emigrated to the United States in 1950, serving as rabbi of Mount Sinai Congregation in Wausau, Wisconsin and Sons of Jacob Congregation in Waterloo, Iowa before coming to Beth Israel. He retired in 1978, returning to Israel for two years, before settling in Pompano Beach, Florida, where he died in 1986. A eulogy written by a former Beth Israel member in the Observer-Reporter
Observer-Reporter
The Observer-Reporter is a daily newspaper covering Washington and Greene counties in Pennsylvania, with some overlap into the South Hills of Pittsburgh in Allegheny County. The newspaper is published by the Observer Publishing Company in Washington, Pennsylvania....
described him as having "unique aura of sweetness and power".
David C. Novitsky was rabbi in the 2000s. A graduate of Touro Law Center, he was ordained in 1983 by the Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary
Rabbi Isaac Elchanan Theological Seminary , or Yeshivat Rabbeinu Yitzchak Elchanan, is the rabbinical seminary of Yeshiva University, located in Washington Heights, New York. It is named after Rabbi Yitzchak Elchanan Spektor, who died the year it was founded, 1896...
of Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University
Yeshiva University is a private university in New York City, with six campuses in New York and one in Israel. Founded in 1886, it is a research university ranked as 45th in the US among national universities by U.S. News & World Report in 2012...
. In addition to serving as a rabbi, he practiced as a litigation attorney for over 14 years, and is an adjunct instructor in the Religious Studies department of Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College
Washington & Jefferson College, also known as W & J College or W&J, is a private liberal arts college in Washington, Pennsylvania, in the United States, which is south of Pittsburgh...
.
, Beth Israel is the only synagogue in Washington County. Novitsky is the rabbi.