Temple Emanuel (Cherry Hill, New Jersey)
Encyclopedia
Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish
congregation located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
. It was founded in 1950 on the western side of Cherry Hill, and moved in 1992 to Cherry Hill's east side. Its first rabbi
was Herbert M. Yarrish, who served from 1956 to 1975. , the senior rabbi is Jerome P. David, the associate rabbi is Geri Newburge, and the cantor
is Neil Schnitzer.
's first Reform Jewish
congregation. The members initially met in a variety of locations, including homes, schools, churches, and other quarters. They hired their first full-time rabbi
, Herbert M. Yarrish, in 1956. Yarrish was a graduate of Harvard University
, who had received a master's degree in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College
in 1949. He had previously served as a rabbi in Dallas, Texas; as a USAF chaplain
at Lackland Air Force Base
during the Korean War
; at a synagogue in Flint, Michigan; and in 1955 as a part-time rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, Massachusetts.
In 1959, when membership reached approximately 300, the congregation broke ground on its first permanent synagogue building in Delaware Township, on Cherry Hill's west side. Jerome P. David joined as assistant rabbi in 1974.
Yarrish retired in 1975; following his retirement he worked as a stock broker
. He was succeeded as senior rabbi by Edwin N. Soslow, a role he filled until his death in 1987. Soslow was succeeded as senior rabbi by Jerome P. David. The congregation moved to its current building in east Cherry Hill in 1992.
In 2005, Temple Emanuel broke the world record
for dreidel
spinning, with 541 dreidels spun simultaneously for at least ten seconds. There were 578 participants, succeeding the previous record of 535 people by the University of Maryland Hillel in 1999. In 2010, members of Yeshiva University
broke Temple Emanuel's record, by spinning a total of 618 dreidels.
, the senior rabbi is Jerome P. David, the associate rabbi is Geri Newburge, and the cantor
is Neil Schnitzer.
building there. In 1992, the congregation moved to the new facilities, across from the Katz Jewish Community Center
(JCC). The facilities include a social hall (used for special occasions such as wedding
s, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and conferences), an industrial kitchen (adjacent to the social hall; used for banquets, as well as volunteer groups, such as the 'soup kitchen' where people prepare foods for poor people), an outdoor atrium
(also used for Sukkot
), a spacious lobby
, chapel
, sanctuary
, library
, preschool
and Hebrew school complexes
.
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...
congregation located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
. It was founded in 1950 on the western side of Cherry Hill, and moved in 1992 to Cherry Hill's east side. 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...
was Herbert M. Yarrish, who served from 1956 to 1975. , the senior rabbi is Jerome P. David, the associate rabbi is Geri Newburge, and the 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...
is Neil Schnitzer.
History
Temple Emanuel was established in 1950 as Cherry Hill, New JerseyCherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
's first Reform Jewish
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...
congregation. The members initially met in a variety of locations, including homes, schools, churches, and other quarters. They hired their first full-time 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...
, Herbert M. Yarrish, in 1956. Yarrish was a graduate of Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, who had received a master's degree in Hebrew letters from Hebrew Union College
Hebrew Union College
The Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion is the oldest extant Jewish seminary in the Americas and the main seminary for training rabbis, cantors, educators and communal workers in Reform Judaism.HUC-JIR has campuses in Cincinnati, New York, Los Angeles and Jerusalem.The Jerusalem...
in 1949. He had previously served as a rabbi in Dallas, Texas; as a USAF chaplain
United States Air Force Chaplain Corps
The Chaplain Corps of the United States Air Force consists of enlisted chaplain assistants and clergy who become commissioned Air Force officers, endorsed and ordained by their particular religious organization...
at Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base
Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force base located west-southwest of San Antonio, Texas. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command ....
during the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
; at a synagogue in Flint, Michigan; and in 1955 as a part-time rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in Needham, Massachusetts.
In 1959, when membership reached approximately 300, the congregation broke ground on its first permanent synagogue building in Delaware Township, on Cherry Hill's west side. Jerome P. David joined as assistant rabbi in 1974.
Yarrish retired in 1975; following his retirement he worked as a stock broker
Stock broker
A stock broker or stockbroker is a regulated professional broker who buys and sells shares and other securities through market makers or Agency Only Firms on behalf of investors...
. He was succeeded as senior rabbi by Edwin N. Soslow, a role he filled until his death in 1987. Soslow was succeeded as senior rabbi by Jerome P. David. The congregation moved to its current building in east Cherry Hill in 1992.
In 2005, Temple Emanuel broke the world record
World record
A world record is usually the best global performance ever recorded and verified in a specific skill or sport. The book Guinness World Records collates and publishes notable records of all types, from first and best to worst human achievements, to extremes in the natural world and beyond...
for dreidel
Dreidel
A dreidel is a four-sided spinning top, played with during the Jewish holiday of Hanukkah.Each side of the dreidel bears a letter of the Hebrew alphabet:נ ,ג ,ה ,ש ,...
spinning, with 541 dreidels spun simultaneously for at least ten seconds. There were 578 participants, succeeding the previous record of 535 people by the University of Maryland Hillel in 1999. In 2010, members 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...
broke Temple Emanuel's record, by spinning a total of 618 dreidels.
, the senior rabbi is Jerome P. David, the associate rabbi is Geri Newburge, and the 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...
is Neil Schnitzer.
Current building
The congregation acquired 9 acres (3.6 ha) of land on the east side of Cherry Hill (at the intersection of Springdale and Kresson Roads) in 1989, and began construction of a new synagogueSynagogue
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...
building there. In 1992, the congregation moved to the new facilities, across from the Katz Jewish Community Center
Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center
The Betty and Milton Katz Jewish Community Center is a Jewish Community Center located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.-History:...
(JCC). The facilities include a social hall (used for special occasions such as wedding
Wedding
A wedding is the ceremony in which two people are united in marriage or a similar institution. Wedding traditions and customs vary greatly between cultures, ethnic groups, religions, countries, and social classes...
s, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and conferences), an industrial kitchen (adjacent to the social hall; used for banquets, as well as volunteer groups, such as the 'soup kitchen' where people prepare foods for poor people), an outdoor atrium
Atrium (architecture)
In modern architecture, an atrium is a large open space, often several stories high and having a glazed roof and/or large windows, often situated within a larger multistory building and often located immediately beyond the main entrance doors...
(also used for Sukkot
Sukkot
Sukkot is a Biblical holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tishrei . It is one of the three biblically mandated festivals Shalosh regalim on which Hebrews were commanded to make a pilgrimage to the Temple in Jerusalem.The holiday lasts seven days...
), a spacious lobby
Lobby (room)
A lobby is a room in a building which is used for entry from the outside. Sometimes referred to as a foyer or an entrance hall.Many office buildings, hotels and skyscrapers go to great lengths to decorate their lobbies to create the right impression....
, chapel
Chapel
A chapel is a building used by Christians as a place of fellowship and worship. It may be part of a larger structure or complex, such as a church, college, hospital, palace, prison or funeral home, located on board a military or commercial ship, or it may be an entirely free-standing building,...
, sanctuary
Sanctuary
A sanctuary is any place of safety. They may be categorized into human and non-human .- Religious sanctuary :A religious sanctuary can be a sacred place , or a consecrated area of a church or temple around its tabernacle or altar.- Sanctuary as a sacred place :#Sanctuary as a sacred place:#:In...
, library
Library
In a traditional sense, a library is a large collection of books, and can refer to the place in which the collection is housed. Today, the term can refer to any collection, including digital sources, resources, and services...
, preschool
Preschool education
Preschool education is the provision of learning to children before the commencement of statutory and obligatory education, usually between the ages of zero and three or five, depending on the jurisdiction....
and Hebrew school complexes
Hebrew school
Hebrew school can be either the Jewish equivalent of Sunday school - an educational regimen separate from secular education, focusing on topics of Jewish history and learning the Hebrew language, or a primary, secondary or college level educational institution where some or all of the classes are...
.