Temple Emanuel (St. Louis, Missouri)
Encyclopedia
Temple Emanuel is a Reform
synagogue
located at 12166 Conway Road, near the corner of New Ballas Road, in St. Louis, Missouri
. Organized in 1956, it is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism
(UAHC). It has a membership of 300 families.
The Temple is notable not only for its size, but for its unique modern architecture.
The idea for the synagogue had its genesis in the late 1940s by parents interested in their children's' religious upbringing. They consequently established the St. Louis School for Judaism (which started in September 1953), and ultimately formed Temple Emanuel and adopted its name at a December 16, 1956, meeting. It was the first new Reform congregation in St. Louis in 70 years. Initially, the congregation was composed of 48 families. Services were initially held at the Bible Presbyterian Church
. Groundbreaking for the synagogue's own building on Conway Road took place in September 1961, and it was dedicated in January 1963.
In March 2008, the synagogue and Temple Israel
in Creve Coeur (which had approximately 1,000 families) announced a plan to merge, which would have created one of the area's largest Reform Jewish congregations, with 1,400 families. Leaders of Temple Emanuel had been discussing the merger in confidence for two months. When the Boards of Directors of the congregations were asked to review the possible merger, the discussions became public.
In April 2008, members of Temple Emanuel were given presentations on the possibility of merging with another congregation. Its school enrollment had declined from 137 students in 2001 to 79 students in 2008. Ultimately, after 2/3 of congregants indicated that they preferred independence in balloting the following month, the congregation decided overwhelmingly to remain independent.
In 2010, Temple Sinai mounted an exhibition of black and white photographs of Albanian Muslims who rescued 2,000 Jews during the Holocaust
. Its rabbi said a goal of the congregation with the exhibit was "to tell people ... these are examples of Muslim-Jewish respect, tolerance and love."
and Sunday religious services.
Temple Emanuel instituted its Sunday services in 1958, decades after the Sunday-Sabbath movement in American Reform Judaism had largely ended.
It also provides Sunday religious classes, as well as Torah study and adult learning courses. In addition, it provides programs on interfaith issues and family learning, as well as a youth group and senior programs.
In 1959, its rabbi was Rabbi Philip Gershon, and Rabbi Josua Tabb was the synagogue's rabbi from 2003–09.
As of 2011, the rabbi of the synagogue was Rabbi Justin Kerber, a former lawyer who was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2007. Its Rabbi Emeritus and Senior Scholar is Dr. Joseph R. Rosenbloom, who was rabbi at the synagogue for 42 years. Since 1977, the temple's "Cantorial Soloist" has been Malachi Owens, a non-Jewish African American
who worked as an electrical engineer and has also been a Baptist minister since 1998.
The synagogue's president for 2011–13 is Charles A. Lowenhaupt (son of Henry Lowenhaupt, one of the congregation's first rabbis), who succeeded David Sherman III, who had served a three-year term. Arthur A. Scharff Jr., Arthur Lieber Jr., Norman Drey, and Paul Dubinsky were former presidents of Temple Emmanuel.
, was designed by architect William Bernoudy
, of the firm Bernoudy-Mutrux-Bauer, which was known for its originality. It was designed in the shape of the six-pointed Jewish star
. Its roof of laminated wood beams and thick plank decking, which is clad in copper, is also its ceiling. The congregation owns the building, and the land on which it sits.
The St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission has named the synagogue an outstanding example of mid-century Modern architecture worthy of preservation.
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...
located at 12166 Conway Road, near the corner of New Ballas Road, in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. Organized in 1956, it is affiliated with 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...
(UAHC). It has a membership of 300 families.
The Temple is notable not only for its size, but for its unique modern architecture.
History
The synagogue was organized in 1956. It is affiliated with the UAHC.The idea for the synagogue had its genesis in the late 1940s by parents interested in their children's' religious upbringing. They consequently established the St. Louis School for Judaism (which started in September 1953), and ultimately formed Temple Emanuel and adopted its name at a December 16, 1956, meeting. It was the first new Reform congregation in St. Louis in 70 years. Initially, the congregation was composed of 48 families. Services were initially held at the Bible Presbyterian Church
Bible Presbyterian Church
The Bible Presbyterian Church is an American Protestant denomination.-History:The Bible Presbyterian Church was formed in 1937, predominantly through the efforts of such conservative Presbyterian clergymen as Carl McIntire, J. Oliver Buswell and Allen A. MacRae. Francis Schaeffer was the first...
. Groundbreaking for the synagogue's own building on Conway Road took place in September 1961, and it was dedicated in January 1963.
In March 2008, the synagogue and Temple Israel
Congregation Temple Israel (St. Louis, Missouri)
Congregation Temple Israel is a Reform synagogue in St. Louis, Missouri.The synagogue was founded in 1886, as 63 members broke away from Shaare Emeth Temple.Rabbi Solomon H. Sonneschein was its first rabbi...
in Creve Coeur (which had approximately 1,000 families) announced a plan to merge, which would have created one of the area's largest Reform Jewish congregations, with 1,400 families. Leaders of Temple Emanuel had been discussing the merger in confidence for two months. When the Boards of Directors of the congregations were asked to review the possible merger, the discussions became public.
In April 2008, members of Temple Emanuel were given presentations on the possibility of merging with another congregation. Its school enrollment had declined from 137 students in 2001 to 79 students in 2008. Ultimately, after 2/3 of congregants indicated that they preferred independence in balloting the following month, the congregation decided overwhelmingly to remain independent.
In 2010, Temple Sinai mounted an exhibition of black and white photographs of Albanian Muslims who rescued 2,000 Jews 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...
. Its rabbi said a goal of the congregation with the exhibit was "to tell people ... these are examples of Muslim-Jewish respect, tolerance and love."
Services, classes, and programs
The synagogue provides ShabbatShabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
and Sunday religious services.
Temple Emanuel instituted its Sunday services in 1958, decades after the Sunday-Sabbath movement in American Reform Judaism had largely ended.
It also provides Sunday religious classes, as well as Torah study and adult learning courses. In addition, it provides programs on interfaith issues and family learning, as well as a youth group and senior programs.
Membership, clergy, and leadership
As of 2011, the synagogue had a membership of 300 families.In 1959, its rabbi was Rabbi Philip Gershon, and Rabbi Josua Tabb was the synagogue's rabbi from 2003–09.
As of 2011, the rabbi of the synagogue was Rabbi Justin Kerber, a former lawyer who was ordained at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in 2007. Its Rabbi Emeritus and Senior Scholar is Dr. Joseph R. Rosenbloom, who was rabbi at the synagogue for 42 years. Since 1977, the temple's "Cantorial Soloist" has been Malachi Owens, a non-Jewish African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
who worked as an electrical engineer and has also been a Baptist minister since 1998.
The synagogue's president for 2011–13 is Charles A. Lowenhaupt (son of Henry Lowenhaupt, one of the congregation's first rabbis), who succeeded David Sherman III, who had served a three-year term. Arthur A. Scharff Jr., Arthur Lieber Jr., Norman Drey, and Paul Dubinsky were former presidents of Temple Emmanuel.
Design
Its 1962 building in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, MissouriCreve Coeur, Missouri
Creve Coeur, derived from French for "heartbreak" , is a second-ring suburb of St. Louis, located in west St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The city derives its name from Creve Coeur Lake, which is shaped like a broken heart. The population was 17,833 at the 2010 census...
, was designed by architect William Bernoudy
William Bernoudy
William Adair Bernoudy was an American architect.Bernoudy was born in St. Louis. He studied under Frank Lloyd Wright in the 1930s. He is noted for the many modernist homes and public buildings he designed, mostly in the St. Louis area....
, of the firm Bernoudy-Mutrux-Bauer, which was known for its originality. It was designed in the shape of the six-pointed Jewish star
Star of David
The Star of David, known in Hebrew as the Shield of David or Magen David is a generally recognized symbol of Jewish identity and Judaism.Its shape is that of a hexagram, the compound of two equilateral triangles...
. Its roof of laminated wood beams and thick plank decking, which is clad in copper, is also its ceiling. The congregation owns the building, and the land on which it sits.
The St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission has named the synagogue an outstanding example of mid-century Modern architecture worthy of preservation.
External links
- Synagogue website
- Dedication Temple Emanual: 5723 (January 1963), Temple Emanuel (St. Louis, Missouri), Temple Emanual, 1963
- The building art in St. Louis, by George McCue, published by the St. Louis Chapter, American Institute of ArchitectsAmerican Institute of ArchitectsThe American Institute of Architects is a professional organization for architects in the United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the AIA offers education, government advocacy, community redevelopment, and public outreach to support the architecture profession and improve its public image...
, 1967