Isaac M. Wise Temple
Encyclopedia
The Isaac M. Wise Temple (formerly the Plum Street Temple) is the historic synagogue
erected for Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
. Rabbi Wise was the founder of American Reform Judaism
. The temple building was designed by prominent Cincinnati architect James Keys Wilson
.
The temple is located at 720 Plum Street in Cincinnati, Ohio
and was built by members of the Lodge Street Synagogue. The temple
and was dedicated on Friday, August 24, 1866 and is among the oldest synagogue building
s still standing in the United States. As a daily paper wrote at the time, “Cincinnati never before had seen so much grandeur pressed into so small a space.” Although originally budgeted at a cost of US$35,000 for the land, and $55,000 for the building, the total cost of the enterprise exceeded $264,000 largely due to post Civil War
inflation.. This is the equivalent of approximately $3,654,000 in 2011 dollars. With a membership of approximately 220 families in 1865 this represents an investment of approximately $16,600 in 2011 dollars per family in the new structure.
The temple is across Plum Street from the historic Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral
and next to the site of the former St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral
, which was torn down in 1937.
In 1972, the Plum Street Temple was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
with a 19th century Germanic architectural style that blended the Neo-Byzantine architecture
and Moorish Revival
style derived from the architecture of Moorish Spain. The style of the synagogue, including the tripartite, twin-domed facade, was copied from the Leopoldstädter Tempel
, built in Vienna, Austria, in 1853. Many American congregations built Moorish Revival synagogues with facades inspired by Plum Street and Leopoldstädter.
The temple has a tripartite facade, rose window
and a basilica
style arch, similar to a Gothic Cathedral, but its Islamic influences are visible in its minaret
s and other details.
Plum Street is notable for having been the first of many American Moorish Revival
synagogues. All examples of similar architecture in Germany were destroyed by Hitler, although many examples survive in other parts of Europe.
Jewish immigrants in Cincinnati organized themselves into a separate congregation, K.K. B'nai Yeshurun, breaking away from the existing congregation, K. K. Bene Israel. Their first place of worship was in a home on Third Street, between Sycamore and Broadway. In 1841 the congregation purchased and renovated for use as a house of worship a Federal-style, brick, four-story row house on Lodge Street.
The congregation build its first synagogue in 1848 on Lodge Street in the gothic Revival style. The Lodge Street Synagogue was dedicated on September 22, 1848 in Cincinnati, Ohio
. It can be seen here
The congregation voted in 1853 to engage Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
as its spiritual leader, this congregation built the Plum Street Temple beginning in 1865. Prior to the Civil War, the 200 families of K. K. B'nai Yeshurun (Isaac M. Wise Temple) envisioned a magnificent building to house their growing twenty year old congregation that had already gained a national prominence because of their rabbi, Isaac Mayer Wise. With his energy and vision, the congregation and Cincinnati were fast becoming a center of national Jewish life. Plum Street Temple was dedicated on Friday, August 24, 1866. The original ledger book with all the entries of specific costs entailed in the construction of Plum Street Temple has recently been found.
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...
erected for Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
Isaac Mayer Wise
Isaac Mayer Wise , was an American Reform rabbi, editor, and author.-Early life:...
. Rabbi Wise was the founder of American Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
. The temple building was designed by prominent Cincinnati architect James Keys Wilson
James Keys Wilson
James Keys Wilson was a prominent architect in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied with Charles A. Mountain in Philadelphia and then Martin E. Thompson and James Renwick in New York James Keys Wilson (1828–1894) was a prominent architect in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied with Charles A. Mountain in...
.
The temple is located at 720 Plum Street in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
and was built by members of the Lodge Street Synagogue. The temple
Temple
A temple is a structure reserved for religious or spiritual activities, such as prayer and sacrifice, or analogous rites. A templum constituted a sacred precinct as defined by a priest, or augur. It has the same root as the word "template," a plan in preparation of the building that was marked out...
and was dedicated on Friday, August 24, 1866 and is among the oldest synagogue building
Oldest 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...
s still standing in the United States. As a daily paper wrote at the time, “Cincinnati never before had seen so much grandeur pressed into so small a space.” Although originally budgeted at a cost of US$35,000 for the land, and $55,000 for the building, the total cost of the enterprise exceeded $264,000 largely due to post Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
inflation.. This is the equivalent of approximately $3,654,000 in 2011 dollars. With a membership of approximately 220 families in 1865 this represents an investment of approximately $16,600 in 2011 dollars per family in the new structure.
The temple is across Plum Street from the historic Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral
Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral
Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral is the cathedral of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati. It is a Greek revival structure located at 8th and Plum Streets in downtown Cincinnati...
and next to the site of the former St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral
St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral, Cincinnati
The St. Paul Episcopal Cathedral was located on the south east corner of Seventh and Plum Streets, in Cincinnati, Ohio. The church was across from the Saint Peter In Chains Cathedral and next to the Plum Street Temple. The original St. Paul's Episcopal Church was located at 111 East Fourth Street....
, which was torn down in 1937.
In 1972, the Plum Street Temple was placed on 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...
.
Architecture
This building was constructed by James Keys WilsonJames Keys Wilson
James Keys Wilson was a prominent architect in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied with Charles A. Mountain in Philadelphia and then Martin E. Thompson and James Renwick in New York James Keys Wilson (1828–1894) was a prominent architect in Cincinnati, Ohio. He studied with Charles A. Mountain in...
with a 19th century Germanic architectural style that blended the Neo-Byzantine architecture
Neo-Byzantine architecture
The Byzantine Revival was an architectural revival movement, most frequently seen in religious, institutional and public buildings. It emerged in 1840s in Western Europe and peaked in the last quarter of 19th century in the Russian Empire; an isolated Neo-Byzantine school was active in Yugoslavia...
and Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
style derived from the architecture of Moorish Spain. The style of the synagogue, including the tripartite, twin-domed facade, was copied from the Leopoldstädter Tempel
Leopoldstädter Tempel
The Leopoldstädter Tempel was the largest synagogue of Vienna, in the district of Leopoldstadt. It was also known as the Israelitische Bethaus in der Wiener Vorstadt Leopoldstadt. It was built in 1858 in a Moorish Revival style by the architect Ludwig Förster...
, built in Vienna, Austria, in 1853. Many American congregations built Moorish Revival synagogues with facades inspired by Plum Street and Leopoldstädter.
The temple has a tripartite facade, rose window
Rose window
A Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window, but is especially used for those found in churches of the Gothic architectural style and being divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery...
and a basilica
Basilica
The Latin word basilica , was originally used to describe a Roman public building, usually located in the forum of a Roman town. Public basilicas began to appear in Hellenistic cities in the 2nd century BC.The term was also applied to buildings used for religious purposes...
style arch, similar to a Gothic Cathedral, but its Islamic influences are visible in its minaret
Minaret
A minaret مناره , sometimes مئذنه) is a distinctive architectural feature of Islamic mosques, generally a tall spire with an onion-shaped or conical crown, usually either free standing or taller than any associated support structure. The basic form of a minaret includes a base, shaft, and gallery....
s and other details.
Plum Street is notable for having been the first of many American Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival
Moorish Revival or Neo-Moorish is one of the exotic revival architectural styles that were adopted by architects of Europe and the Americas in the wake of the Romanticist fascination with all things oriental...
synagogues. All examples of similar architecture in Germany were destroyed by Hitler, although many examples survive in other parts of Europe.
History
In 1840, a group of GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Jewish immigrants in Cincinnati organized themselves into a separate congregation, K.K. B'nai Yeshurun, breaking away from the existing congregation, K. K. Bene Israel. Their first place of worship was in a home on Third Street, between Sycamore and Broadway. In 1841 the congregation purchased and renovated for use as a house of worship a Federal-style, brick, four-story row house on Lodge Street.
The congregation build its first synagogue in 1848 on Lodge Street in the gothic Revival style. The Lodge Street Synagogue was dedicated on September 22, 1848 in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. It can be seen here
The congregation voted in 1853 to engage Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise
Isaac Mayer Wise
Isaac Mayer Wise , was an American Reform rabbi, editor, and author.-Early life:...
as its spiritual leader, this congregation built the Plum Street Temple beginning in 1865. Prior to the Civil War, the 200 families of K. K. B'nai Yeshurun (Isaac M. Wise Temple) envisioned a magnificent building to house their growing twenty year old congregation that had already gained a national prominence because of their rabbi, Isaac Mayer Wise. With his energy and vision, the congregation and Cincinnati were fast becoming a center of national Jewish life. Plum Street Temple was dedicated on Friday, August 24, 1866. The original ledger book with all the entries of specific costs entailed in the construction of Plum Street Temple has recently been found.
