Congregation Adath Israel Brith Shalom
Encyclopedia
Congregation Adath Israel Brith Sholom is a Reform
synagogue
located in Louisville, Kentucky
. Originally the Adath Israel Temple, it adopted its current name following a merger, but is more commonly known by the informal name The Temple.
in Kentucky, was chartered in 1842 and has occupied six buildings. It is a founding member of the Union for Reform Judaism
.
Brith Sholom, Louisville's third oldest synagogue, was organized in 1880. It was established for those wishing to pray in German, rather than the English used in Adath Israel. It joined the Reform movement in 1920.
In 1976, Adath Israel merged with Brith Sholom. This was motivated by the desire of both groups to improve their physical facilities and to relocate to the eastern part of Jefferson County
. For a few years after it was organized as Adath Israel Brith Sholom, it held services in the Brith Sholom building. In 1980, the congregation was able to move into its new sanctuary on Brownsboro Road.
The congregation's third building, designed by architects Kenneth McDonald and J.F. Sheblessy, was dedicated on June 3, 1906, was informally known as the "Third Street Synagogue." The neo-classical building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975 as a result of the strength and prestige of the architects. In 1977 it was sold to an Apostolic Church, the Greater Bethel Temple.
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...
located in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
. Originally the Adath Israel Temple, it adopted its current name following a merger, but is more commonly known by the informal name The Temple.
History
The congregation, the oldestOldest 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...
in Kentucky, was chartered in 1842 and has occupied six buildings. It is a founding member of the Union for Reform Judaism
Union 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...
.
Brith Sholom, Louisville's third oldest synagogue, was organized in 1880. It was established for those wishing to pray in German, rather than the English used in Adath Israel. It joined the Reform movement in 1920.
In 1976, Adath Israel merged with Brith Sholom. This was motivated by the desire of both groups to improve their physical facilities and to relocate to the eastern part of Jefferson County
Jefferson County, Kentucky
As of the census of 2000, there were 693,604 people, 287,012 households, and 183,113 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 305,835 housing units at an average density of...
. For a few years after it was organized as Adath Israel Brith Sholom, it held services in the Brith Sholom building. In 1980, the congregation was able to move into its new sanctuary on Brownsboro Road.
Architecture
In 1868 the congregation built an elaborate domed synagogue in an Orientalist style that featured twin towers topped by tall domes and a Torah Ark with a horseshoe arch topped by a similar dome. The architect was H. P. Bradshaw.The congregation's third building, designed by architects Kenneth McDonald and J.F. Sheblessy, was dedicated on June 3, 1906, was informally known as the "Third Street Synagogue." The neo-classical building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1975 as a result of the strength and prestige of the architects. In 1977 it was sold to an Apostolic Church, the Greater Bethel Temple.