Temple Beth Sholom (Miami Beach, Florida)
Encyclopedia
Temple Beth Sholom is the largest and oldest Reform
Synagogue
on Miami Beach, Florida
, with 1130 member households. Temple Beth Sholom is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism
and in the mainstream of liberal Judaism.
A charter of the State of Florida was granted shortly thereafter. Rabbi Samuel Machtai, the "Radio Rabbi", conducted the first High Holy Days
Services in 1942. The service was held in a storefront, where 20 Miami Beach Jewish families gathered to provide a house of worship for themselves and for Jewish servicemen. Two years later, the Beth Sholom Jewish Center decided to hire a full-time rabbi. On August 9, 1944, at the 36th meeting of the board of directors, held in the home of its chairman, Charles Tobin, it was decided to employ Rabbi Leon Kronish to serve as the center's spiritual leader. Rabbi Kronish was installed by Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise
, President of New York's Jewish Institute of Religion
, in the North Beach
Elementary School auditorium.
To begin to build a Congregation, Rabbi Kronish went from house to house knocking on doors and wherever he saw a mezuzah
, he invited the family to join the new synagogue. On April 24, 1945, the by-laws were changed and a resolution was passed to amend the Charter of Beth Sholom Center, to rename the nonprofit organization Temple Beth Sholom. The next home of the Temple was a two-story, dilapidated house called the Chase Avenue Hotel at 4141 Chase Avenue. The growing Congregation acquired the building and had it remodeled. The membership grew from 40 households to more than 750 by 1955 and by the late 1960's included more than 1200 families. The Temple has grown, from what was called the laundry building or the horse stable, to where it currently stands that one the corner of Chase Avenue and Arthur Godfrey Road. In 1956, the sanctuary and banquet hall were built and designed by architect Percival Goodman
; in 1961, the religious school and auditorium were added; in 1984, the school was refurbished and the administrative wing was completed. In 2003, the school building was refurbished once again, and we are now completing a brand new two story facility which includes Youth Center, offices, Chapel, Welcome Center, classrooms, meeting spaces and art gallery. The Temple is also surrounded by outdoor spaces including play areas, meditation garden and palm plaza.
In 1967, the Temple began its development as a cultural center of the greater Miami area, in keeping with Rabbi Kronish's vision of the Temple as a place for community as well as worship. In 1969, Rabbi Harry Jolt, zecher tzadik livracha, who had recently retired from his pulpit in Ventnor, New Jersey, was asked by Rabbi Kronish to become Auxiliary Rabbi and assist in the cultural and adult education programs of the Temple. His death, at age 97, was a deep loss for the congregation.
Rabbi Kronish's loving devotion to the State of Israel was exemplified through his involvement in Federation, Israel Histradruth, American Jewish Congress
and the Israel Bonds National Leadership. He was one of the leaders in World Jewry and with his family's move from Poland
, a first generation American Jew. The Confirmation Class has journeyed on a pilgrimage to Israel every year, a program that Rabbi Kronish initiated. Reaching beyond Jewish borders, the Congregation has also been deeply involved in the civil rights movement and in fighting world hunger. Rabbi Kronish's death in 1996 officially ended the first era of Temple Beth Sholom's history.
, and has served as vice chairman of the Miami Mission 1000 and Mega Mission Two. He is a past President of the Rabbinic Association of Greater Miami. Nationally, he was Chairman of the UJA National Rabbinic Cabinet, past Chair of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of Israel Bonds and past Treasurer of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
. He is presently Co-Chair of the Synagogue/Federation Relations Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
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...
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...
on Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach, Florida
Miami Beach is a coastal resort city in Miami-Dade County, Florida, United States, incorporated on March 26, 1915. The municipality is located on a barrier island between the Atlantic Ocean and Biscayne Bay, the latter which separates the Beach from Miami city proper...
, with 1130 member households. Temple Beth Sholom is a 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...
and in the mainstream of liberal Judaism.
Founding
The Beth Sholom Jewish Center was started by Abraham Zinnamon and Benjamin Appel. After seeing a Yiddish newspaper in Appel's hands, Zinnamon approached him with the idea of forming a Jewish Center. They put together a group of people for the first founders' meeting of Beth Sholom Center, which took place on April 6, 1942. On June 3 of that same year, a building at 761 41st Street was leased.A charter of the State of Florida was granted shortly thereafter. Rabbi Samuel Machtai, the "Radio Rabbi", conducted the first High Holy Days
High Holy Days
The High Holidays or High Holy Days, in Judaism, more properly known as the Yamim Noraim , may mean:#strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur ;...
Services in 1942. The service was held in a storefront, where 20 Miami Beach Jewish families gathered to provide a house of worship for themselves and for Jewish servicemen. Two years later, the Beth Sholom Jewish Center decided to hire a full-time rabbi. On August 9, 1944, at the 36th meeting of the board of directors, held in the home of its chairman, Charles Tobin, it was decided to employ Rabbi Leon Kronish to serve as the center's spiritual leader. Rabbi Kronish was installed by Rabbi Stephen Samuel Wise
Stephen Samuel Wise
Stephen Samuel Wise was an Austro-Hungarian-born American Reform rabbi and Zionist leader.-Early life:...
, President of New York's Jewish Institute of Religion
Jewish Institute of Religion
The Jewish Institute of Religion was an educational establishment created by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise in 1922 in New York City. While generally incorporating Reform Judaism, it was separate from the previously established Hebrew Union College...
, in the North Beach
North Beach
North Beach may refer to a number of places in the world:United States*North Beach, San Francisco*North Beach, Florida, a census-designated place in Indian River County*North Beach, Miami Beach, the northern section of the city of Miami Beach, Florida...
Elementary School auditorium.
To begin to build a Congregation, Rabbi Kronish went from house to house knocking on doors and wherever he saw a mezuzah
Mezuzah
A mezuzah is usually a metal or wooden rectangular object that is fastened to a doorpost of a Jewish house. Inside it is a piece of parchment inscribed with specified Hebrew verses from the Torah...
, he invited the family to join the new synagogue. On April 24, 1945, the by-laws were changed and a resolution was passed to amend the Charter of Beth Sholom Center, to rename the nonprofit organization Temple Beth Sholom. The next home of the Temple was a two-story, dilapidated house called the Chase Avenue Hotel at 4141 Chase Avenue. The growing Congregation acquired the building and had it remodeled. The membership grew from 40 households to more than 750 by 1955 and by the late 1960's included more than 1200 families. The Temple has grown, from what was called the laundry building or the horse stable, to where it currently stands that one the corner of Chase Avenue and Arthur Godfrey Road. In 1956, the sanctuary and banquet hall were built and designed by architect Percival Goodman
Percival Goodman
Percival Goodman was an American urban theorist and architect who designed more than 50 synagogues between 1948 and 1983. He has been called the "leading theorist" of modern synagogue design, and "the most prolific architect in Jewish history."-Biography:Percival Goodman was born in New York City...
; in 1961, the religious school and auditorium were added; in 1984, the school was refurbished and the administrative wing was completed. In 2003, the school building was refurbished once again, and we are now completing a brand new two story facility which includes Youth Center, offices, Chapel, Welcome Center, classrooms, meeting spaces and art gallery. The Temple is also surrounded by outdoor spaces including play areas, meditation garden and palm plaza.
In 1967, the Temple began its development as a cultural center of the greater Miami area, in keeping with Rabbi Kronish's vision of the Temple as a place for community as well as worship. In 1969, Rabbi Harry Jolt, zecher tzadik livracha, who had recently retired from his pulpit in Ventnor, New Jersey, was asked by Rabbi Kronish to become Auxiliary Rabbi and assist in the cultural and adult education programs of the Temple. His death, at age 97, was a deep loss for the congregation.
Rabbi Kronish's loving devotion to the State of Israel was exemplified through his involvement in Federation, Israel Histradruth, American Jewish Congress
American Jewish Congress
The American Jewish Congress describes itself as an association of Jewish Americans organized to defend Jewish interests at home and abroad through public policy advocacy, using diplomacy, legislation, and the courts....
and the Israel Bonds National Leadership. He was one of the leaders in World Jewry and with his family's move from Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, a first generation American Jew. The Confirmation Class has journeyed on a pilgrimage to Israel every year, a program that Rabbi Kronish initiated. Reaching beyond Jewish borders, the Congregation has also been deeply involved in the civil rights movement and in fighting world hunger. Rabbi Kronish's death in 1996 officially ended the first era of Temple Beth Sholom's history.
Recent history
In 1985, the temple engaged Gary Glickstein, a young scholar to serve as Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Glickstein's serves on the advisory board of the Greater Miami Coalition for a Drug Free Community, was past Chairman of the President's Advisory Committee on Jewish Studies at Barry UniversityBarry University
Barry University is a private, Catholic university, which was founded in 1940 in Miami Shores, Florida, a suburb north of Downtown Miami. It is part of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Miami....
, and has served as vice chairman of the Miami Mission 1000 and Mega Mission Two. He is a past President of the Rabbinic Association of Greater Miami. Nationally, he was Chairman of the UJA National Rabbinic Cabinet, past Chair of the National Rabbinic Cabinet of Israel Bonds and past Treasurer of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
Central Conference of American Rabbis
The Central Conference of American Rabbis , founded in 1889 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the principal organization of Reform rabbis in the United States and Canada, the CCAR is the largest and oldest rabbinical organization in the world....
. He is presently Co-Chair of the Synagogue/Federation Relations Committee of the Greater Miami Jewish Federation.
Rabbis
- 1944–1984: Rabbi Leon Kronish
- 1985–present: Rabbi Gary A. Glickstein
- 1987–1994: Rabbi Jason Gwasdof
- 1994–present: Rabbi Gayle Pomerantz
- 1995–present: Rabbi Robert A. Davis, D.Min.
- Rabbi Harry Jolt
- Rabbi Paul Kaplan
Cantors
- 1944–1957: Cantor Sam Kellemer
- 1957–present (emeritus): Cantor David Conviser
- 1989–present: Cantor Steven Haas