Temple Emanuel (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Encyclopedia
Temple Emanuel is a leading Reform
Jewish synagogue
located in Worcester, Massachusetts
, affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism
. Founded in 1921, it is the oldest and largest Reform congregation in Worcester
. The current building was constructed in 1949 and greatly expanded in 1961 when hebrew school enrollment neared 1,000 students. Membership peaked at over 1,300 families in 1957, making it one of the largest Reform congregations in the country at the time. Today, membership stands at around 500 families.
in 1921, calling it the "West Side Community House." By 1924, Temple Emanuel had outgrown its facility and moved into the former Bancroft School
at 111 Elm Street. The congregation affiliated officially with the Reform Movement
in 1937.
Temple Emanuel has had two long-tenured rabbi
s who were influential both in the congregation, in the larger Worcester
community, and in the Reform
movement. Levi Olan
(1929–1948) became the first Jewish president of the Worcester Ministerial Union and grew Temple membership from less than 200 families to 610 families during his tenure. Joseph Klein (1949–1977, 1984–1996) continued Olan's tradition of interfaith leadership and also served as president of the Worcester Ministers' Association and the Greater Worcester Clergy Association. Membership grew during his tenure from 610 families to nearly 1,400 families in 1957, before seeing a gradual decline.
Since July 2009, the congregation has been led by Rabbi Matthew L. Berger.
's Rabbinical seminary
, including the current President of the Union for Reform Judaism
, Rabbi Eric Yoffie
.
At one point in his tenure, in 1957, Emanuel had 1,340 member families (including 42 families who were also members of the Conservative
Congregation Beth Israel
). Worcester's ten other Jewish congregations, including Shaarai Torah, had a combined family membership of 1,410.
Klein went on to serve as the first Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Las Cruces, New Mexico
, where he stayed until 1984, when he and his wife Rose returned to Worcester. He then served as Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanuel until his death at the age of 84 on Sunday September 29, 1996. Also of note, Klein was the great-grandfather of Hollywood actress Alisan Porter
, who starred in Curly Sue
.
congregation in Worcester. Temple Sinai's Statement of Principles indicated it would limit membership to 500 families.
On March 12, 1961, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
participated in a community forum held at Temple Emanuel.
In 1965, Herbie Hancock
and other jazz legends accompanied 17 year-old congregant and conductor Jonathan Klein to record "Hear O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony in Jazz" in front of a crowd of 1,000 people inside the Temple.
On April 19, 1989, the funeral for Abbie Hoffman
, the famous 1960's radical, founder of the Yippies and member of the Chicago Seven
who had died at the age of 52 one week earlier, was held in Temple Emanuel's Persky sanctuary. Over 900 people were in attendance and an overflow crowd of hundreds more listened outside the temple over a loudspeaker. In attendance were basketball star Bill Walton
, folk singer Pete Seeger
, fellow Yippie Aron Kay, Republican political consultant Jay Severin
, Hoffman's cousin and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sydney Schanberg
, and Jerry Rubin
, fellow Chicago Seven member.
Temple Emanuel celebrated its 70th anniversary on October 25, 1991 by honoring four people who had made significant impacts on the congregation. Then-Vice President of the Union for Reform Judaism
Rabbi Eric Yoffie
, who grew up in the congregation, gave the sermon. Rabbi Emeritus Joseph Klein and past presidents Milton S. Sheftel, Judith S. Yoffie and Wallace W. Wolf (posthumously) were honored.
On June 12, 2003, the congregation officially installed Carlton Watson, a black man who had converted to Judaism, as its president. Watson, executive director of the Henry Lee Willis Community Center in Worcester, is believed to be the first black person to serve as president of a synagogue in the United States.
, is located at the junction of May and Chandler Streets in the heart of Worcester's
leafy, residential West Side, adjacent to Worcester State University. The building, built in brick and designed in the Colonial Revival style, was consecrated in 1949. A 1,000-seat auditorium, a second classroom wing, and a suite of clergy offices were added in 1961.
Over the summer of 2011, the Persky sanctuary will undergo its first major renovation. Plans call for the first 6 rows of pews to be removed to make room for an extended, lower bimah
(speaker's platform) that is intended to create a more intimate atmosphere and enable the congregation to use the space more frequently. This will reduce the capacity of the sanctuary from 918 to 626.
services are held every Friday evening at 7:30 and Saturday morning at 10:30.
The following served in an interim role:
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...
Jewish 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 Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
, 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...
. Founded in 1921, it is the oldest and largest Reform congregation in Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
. The current building was constructed in 1949 and greatly expanded in 1961 when hebrew school enrollment neared 1,000 students. Membership peaked at over 1,300 families in 1957, making it one of the largest Reform congregations in the country at the time. Today, membership stands at around 500 families.
History
Formed in 1920 as a Modern Orthodox synagogue called the "Worcester Modern Congregation," the congregation opened its first home at 22 Suburban Road in WorcesterWorcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
in 1921, calling it the "West Side Community House." By 1924, Temple Emanuel had outgrown its facility and moved into the former Bancroft School
Bancroft School
Located on a campus in Worcester, Massachusetts, Bancroft School is an independent, coeducational, K-12, college-preparatory day school serving the communities of Central Massachusetts and MetroWest Boston....
at 111 Elm Street. The congregation affiliated officially with the Reform Movement
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...
in 1937.
Temple Emanuel has had two long-tenured 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...
s who were influential both in the congregation, in the larger Worcester
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
community, and in the Reform
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...
movement. Levi Olan
Levi Olan
Rabbi Levi Arthur Olan was born in Cherkasy, Ukraine. From 1949 to 1970 he was Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El of Dallas, Texas. Prior to that, from 1929 to 1948, he was Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts ....
(1929–1948) became the first Jewish president of the Worcester Ministerial Union and grew Temple membership from less than 200 families to 610 families during his tenure. Joseph Klein (1949–1977, 1984–1996) continued Olan's tradition of interfaith leadership and also served as president of the Worcester Ministers' Association and the Greater Worcester Clergy Association. Membership grew during his tenure from 610 families to nearly 1,400 families in 1957, before seeing a gradual decline.
Since July 2009, the congregation has been led by Rabbi Matthew L. Berger.
Joseph Klein
The Temple's longest-serving rabbi, Joseph Klein, began his duties on January 1, 1949 and would remain on the pulpit until his retirement in 1977. Klein is famously credited with inspiring eight of his pupils at Temple Emanuel to attend Hebrew Union College, the Union for Reform JudaismUnion 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...
's Rabbinical seminary
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...
, including the current President 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...
, Rabbi Eric Yoffie
Eric Yoffie
Eric H. Yoffie is a Reform rabbi, and president of the Union for Reform Judaism , the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America which represents an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada...
.
At one point in his tenure, in 1957, Emanuel had 1,340 member families (including 42 families who were also members of the Conservative
Conservative Judaism
Conservative Judaism is a modern stream of Judaism that arose out of intellectual currents in Germany in the mid-19th century and took institutional form in the United States in the early 1900s.Conservative Judaism has its roots in the school of thought known as Positive-Historical Judaism,...
Congregation Beth Israel
Congregation Beth Israel (Worcester, Massachusetts)
Congregation Beth Israel is an egalitarian Conservative congregation located at 15 Jamesbury Drive in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1924 as an Orthodox synagogue, it formally affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in 1949, and describes itself as the "leading...
). Worcester's ten other Jewish congregations, including Shaarai Torah, had a combined family membership of 1,410.
Klein went on to serve as the first Rabbi of Temple Beth-El in Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, New Mexico
Las Cruces, also known as "The City of the Crosses", is the county seat of Doña Ana County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 97,618 in 2010 according to the 2010 Census, making it the second largest city in the state....
, where he stayed until 1984, when he and his wife Rose returned to Worcester. He then served as Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emanuel until his death at the age of 84 on Sunday September 29, 1996. Also of note, Klein was the great-grandfather of Hollywood actress Alisan Porter
Alisan Porter
Alisan Porter is an American actress, singer and dancer.-Life and career:Porter was born in Worcester, Massachusetts. Porter is Jewish. Her maternal grandmother, whose father Joseph Klein was a prominent Worcester rabbi, ran the Charlotte Klein Dance Center in Worcester...
, who starred in Curly Sue
Curly Sue
Curly Sue is a 1991 comedy film starring James Belushi, Alisan Porter and Kelly Lynch. The film was written and directed by John Hughes. Music for the movie was provided by Georges Delerue, with the end title song "You Never Know" performed by Ringo Starr....
.
Significant Events
In a letter dated December 16, 1957, the "Steering Committee of Temple Sinai," a small group of Temple Emanuel members who felt that the close family atmosphere of the Temple had been lost and that religious observance had become more conservative over the years, informed the secretary of the board of Temple Emanuel that they intended to create a second ReformReform 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 in Worcester. Temple Sinai's Statement of Principles indicated it would limit membership to 500 families.
On March 12, 1961, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was an American clergyman, activist, and prominent leader in the African-American Civil Rights Movement. He is best known for being an iconic figure in the advancement of civil rights in the United States and around the world, using nonviolent methods following the...
participated in a community forum held at Temple Emanuel.
In 1965, Herbie Hancock
Herbie Hancock
Herbert Jeffrey "Herbie" Hancock is an American pianist, bandleader and composer. As part of Miles Davis's "second great quintet," Hancock helped to redefine the role of a jazz rhythm section and was one of the primary architects of the "post-bop" sound...
and other jazz legends accompanied 17 year-old congregant and conductor Jonathan Klein to record "Hear O Israel: A Prayer Ceremony in Jazz" in front of a crowd of 1,000 people inside the Temple.
On April 19, 1989, the funeral for Abbie Hoffman
Abbie Hoffman
Abbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ....
, the famous 1960's radical, founder of the Yippies and member of the Chicago Seven
Chicago Seven
The Chicago Seven were seven defendants—Abbie Hoffman, Jerry Rubin, David Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, John Froines, and Lee Weiner—charged with conspiracy, inciting to riot, and other charges related to protests that took place in Chicago, Illinois on the occasion of the 1968...
who had died at the age of 52 one week earlier, was held in Temple Emanuel's Persky sanctuary. Over 900 people were in attendance and an overflow crowd of hundreds more listened outside the temple over a loudspeaker. In attendance were basketball star Bill Walton
Bill Walton
William Theodore "Bill" Walton III is a retired American basketball player and television sportscaster. The "Big Red-Head", as he was called, achieved superstardom playing for John Wooden's powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the early '70s, winning three straight College Player of the Year Awards, while...
, folk singer Pete Seeger
Pete Seeger
Peter "Pete" Seeger is an American folk singer and was an iconic figure in the mid-twentieth century American folk music revival. A fixture on nationwide radio in the 1940s, he also had a string of hit records during the early 1950s as a member of The Weavers, most notably their recording of Lead...
, fellow Yippie Aron Kay, Republican political consultant Jay Severin
Jay Severin
Jay Severin, , is an American political talk radio personality. Severin has signed a multi-year contract with Boston's WXKS-AM Talk 1200 as an on-air personality...
, Hoffman's cousin and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Sydney Schanberg
Sydney Schanberg
Sydney Hillel Schanberg is an American journalist who is best known for his coverage of the war in Cambodia.-Life:Schanberg joined The New York Times as a journalist in 1959. He spent much of the early 1970s in Southeast Asia as a correspondent for the Times...
, and Jerry Rubin
Jerry Rubin
Jerry Rubin was an American social activist during the 1960s and 1970s. During the 1980s, he became a successful businessman.-Early life:...
, fellow Chicago Seven member.
Temple Emanuel celebrated its 70th anniversary on October 25, 1991 by honoring four people who had made significant impacts on the congregation. Then-Vice President 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...
Rabbi Eric Yoffie
Eric Yoffie
Eric H. Yoffie is a Reform rabbi, and president of the Union for Reform Judaism , the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America which represents an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada...
, who grew up in the congregation, gave the sermon. Rabbi Emeritus Joseph Klein and past presidents Milton S. Sheftel, Judith S. Yoffie and Wallace W. Wolf (posthumously) were honored.
On June 12, 2003, the congregation officially installed Carlton Watson, a black man who had converted to Judaism, as its president. Watson, executive director of the Henry Lee Willis Community Center in Worcester, is believed to be the first black person to serve as president of a synagogue in the United States.
Facilities
The current home of Temple Emanuel, designed by Boston architect Charles R. GrecoCharles R. Greco
Charles R. Greco was an American architect who worked in the Boston area during the first half of the 20th century.-Childhood and architectural education:...
, is located at the junction of May and Chandler Streets in the heart of Worcester's
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
leafy, residential West Side, adjacent to Worcester State University. The building, built in brick and designed in the Colonial Revival style, was consecrated in 1949. A 1,000-seat auditorium, a second classroom wing, and a suite of clergy offices were added in 1961.
- Abraham & Mae Persky Sanctuary (918 seats)
- Philip & Mary Rose Chapel (174 seats)
- Stacy A. Cohan Youth Center
- Joseph and Sophie Cohan Nursery School Playground
Over the summer of 2011, the Persky sanctuary will undergo its first major renovation. Plans call for the first 6 rows of pews to be removed to make room for an extended, lower bimah
Bimah
A bimah A bimah A bimah (among Ashkenazim, derived from Hebrew בּמה , almemar (from Arabic al-minbar) or tebah (among Sephardim) is the elevated area or platform in a Jewish synagogue which is intended to serve the place where the person reading aloud from the Torah stands during the Torah reading...
(speaker's platform) that is intended to create a more intimate atmosphere and enable the congregation to use the space more frequently. This will reduce the capacity of the sanctuary from 918 to 626.
Temple Emanuel Today
Temple Emanuel is unique among Reform congregations in that it holds services 365 days a year. On January 4, 1954, Klein instituted daily lay-lead services, which to this day are held in the chapel Monday through Thursday at 5:45 PM, and Sundays at 9:30 AM. 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...
services are held every Friday evening at 7:30 and Saturday morning at 10:30.
Rabbinical Leadership
| Name | Years | Emeritus |
|---|---|---|
| Maurice Mazure | 1923–1926 | |
| Julius Gordon | 1926–1929 | |
| Levi Olan Levi Olan Rabbi Levi Arthur Olan was born in Cherkasy, Ukraine. From 1949 to 1970 he was Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El of Dallas, Texas. Prior to that, from 1929 to 1948, he was Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts .... |
1929–1948 | |
| Joseph Klein | 1949–1977 | 1984–1996 |
| Stanley Davids | 1977–1986 | |
| Norman Mendel | 1986–1991 | |
| James Simon | 1992–1998 | |
| Jordan Millstein | 1999–2008 | |
| Matthew Berger | 2009- |
The following served in an interim role:
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Stuart Gershon | 1991–1992 |
| Sigma Faye Coran | 1998–1999 |
| Ilene Bogosian | 2008–2009 |
Cantorial Leadership
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Hugo Chaim Adler Hugo Chaim Adler Hugo Chaim Adler was a Belgian composer, cantor, and choir conductor. Born in Antwerp to Jewish parents, Adler studied at the Hochschule für Musik Köln from 1912-1915. In 1915 he was drafted into the German Army during the First World War; serving for three years in the infantry until he was... |
1939–1955 |
| Joseph Gottlieb | 1955–1978 |
| Howard Tabaknek | 1978–1982 |
| Sheri Blum | 1982–1994 |
| Betsey Peters-Epstein | 1994–2002 |
| Sally Neff | 2002–2004 |
| Daniel Mutlu | 2004–2008 |
| Sharon Brown Goldstein | 2009- |
Assistant/Associate Rabbis
| Name | Years | Later Position |
|---|---|---|
| Alexander Schindler Alexander Schindler Alexander Schindler was a rabbi and the leading figure of American Reform Judaism during the 1970s and 1980s.Born in Germany, he came to America with his family at age 12... |
1953–1959 | President 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... 1973-96 |
| Daniel L. Kaplan | 1959–1962 | Senior Rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA 1962-70 |
| Leivy Smolar | 1962–1965 | President of Baltimore Hebrew University Baltimore Hebrew University Baltimore Hebrew University was founded as Baltimore Hebrew College and Teachers Training School in 1919 to promote Jewish scholarship and academic excellence, it continues to be the only institution of higher learning in Maryland devoted solely to all aspects of Judaic and Hebraic studies... 1971-92 |
| David Davis | 1965–1967 | Rabbi Laureate at Congregation Ohabai Sholom (Nashville, Tennessee) |
| Henry A. Zoob | 1967–1970 | Rabbi Emeritus at Temple Beth David, Westwood, MA |
| Ira S. Youdovin | 1970–1973 | Executive Vice President of the Chicago Board of Rabbis |
| Harold S. Jaye | 1973–1974 | Rabbi at Temple B'Nai Darom, Ocala, FL 1987–Present |
| Peter Tarlow Peter Tarlow Rabbi Peter E. Tarlow has since 1983 been the executive director of Texas A&M Hillel. He is a scholar in the area of tourism safety, a consultant for the tourism industry, and the founder of "Tourism & More Inc." He works for the city of Arlington, Texas as a security consultant in preparation... |
1974–1977 | Hillel Director, Texas A&M Texas A&M University Texas A&M University is a coeducational public research university located in College Station, Texas . It is the flagship institution of the Texas A&M University System. The sixth-largest university in the United States, A&M's enrollment for Fall 2011 was over 50,000 for the first time in school... |
| David Sofian | 1977–1980 | Senior Rabbi at Temple Israel (Dayton, Ohio) Temple Israel (Dayton, Ohio) Temple Israel is a Reform congregation located at 130 Riverside Drive in Dayton, Ohio. Formed in 1850, it incorporated as "Kehillah Kodesh B'nai Yeshurun" in 1854. After meeting in rented quarters, the congregation purchased its first synagogue building, a former Baptist church at 4th and... |
| Steven Fox | 1980–1982 | Executive Vice-President, CCAR 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.... |
| Daniel L. Pernick | 1982–1985 | Senior Rabbi at Beth Am Temple, Pearl River, NY Pearl River, New York Pearl River is a hamlet , in the Town of Orangetown Rockland County, New York, United States located east of Nauraushaun; north of the state of New Jersey; south of Nanuet and west of Blauvelt... |
| Alan M. Ullman | 1985–1988 | Founder of the School for Jewish Studies |
| Janice Garfunkel | 1988–1989 | Rabbi at Temple Sholom, Springfield, OH |
| Stuart Weinberg Gershon | 1989–1991, 1992–1994 | Rabbi at Temple Sinai, Summit, NJ |
| Sigma Faye Coran | 1994–1998 | Senior Rabbi at K.K. Bene Israel / Rockdale Temple Rockdale Temple The Rockdale Temple, K.K. Bene Israel, is the oldest Jewish congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains, the oldest congregation in Ohio, the second oldest Ashkenazi congregation in the United States and one of the oldest synagogues in the United States... , Cincinnati, OH |
- Stuart Weinberg Gershon served as Interim Senior Rabbi from 1991-1992.
- Sigma Faye Coran served as Interim Senior Rabbi from 1998-1999.
Auxiliary Rabbis
Due to a decline in membership, the full time assistant rabbi position was eliminated in June 1998. From that time through June 2009, the Temple was served by one full time Rabbi with the assistance of a part time Auxiliary Rabbi (or, from 2002–2004, a full time cantor). Since 2009, all pastoral duties are performed by the Rabbi.| Name | Years | Later Position |
|---|---|---|
| Howard A. Berman | 1998–1999 | Founding Rabbi of Boston Jewish Spirit |
| Paula L. Feldstein | 1999–2002 | Shalom Baby Coordinator, Synagogue Leadership Initiative, UJA Federation of Northern New Jersey |
| Dennis Ross | 2004–2009 | Author; Director of Concerned Clergy for Choice |
- From 2002-2004, Cantor Sally Neff assisted in performance of pastoral duties.
Rabbis
| Name | Later Position |
|---|---|
| Andrew Baker | Director of International Jewish Affairs, American Jewish Committee American Jewish Committee The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world... |
| Arthur Bielfeld | Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El, North York, ON, Canada, 1968–2001 |
| Lewis E. Bogage | Associate Rabbi at Central Synagogue Central Synagogue The Central Synagogue is located at 652 Lexington Avenue on the corner of 55th Street, Manhattan, New York City, New York. Built in 1872 in the Moorish Revival style as a copy of Budapest's Dohány Street Synagogue, it pays homage to the Jewish existence in Moorish Spain... , New York City |
| Kenneth Brickman | Rabbi at Temple Beth-El, Jersey City, NJ |
| Marc S. Dworkin | Executive Director, American Jewish Committee American Jewish Committee The American Jewish Committee was "founded in 1906 with the aim of rallying all sections of American Jewry to defend the rights of Jews all over the world... , Orange County Orange County, California Orange County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Santa Ana. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,010,232, up from 2,846,293 at the 2000 census, making it the third most populous county in California, behind Los Angeles County and San Diego County... |
| Daniel Freelander | Senior Vice President 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... , member of Kol B'Seder |
| Steven S. Mason | Senior Rabbi at North Shore Congregation Israel North Shore Congregation Israel North Shore Congregation Israel is a Reform synagogue in Glencoe, Illinois.The congregation was started in 1920 as the North Shore branch of Sinai Congregation and is the oldest in the Chicago North Shore suburbs. First full time rabbi was Harvey Wessel in 1926.The congregation's 1964 building was... , Glencoe, IL, 1997-current |
| Dennis Shulman Dennis Shulman Dennis G. Shulman is an American clinical psychologist, psychoanalyst, author, teacher, and ordained rabbi who was the Democratic nominee for the United States Congress in New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District... |
Democratic nominee for the United States Congress in New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District, 2008 |
| Eric Yoffie Eric Yoffie Eric H. Yoffie is a Reform rabbi, and president of the Union for Reform Judaism , the congregational arm of the Reform movement in North America which represents an estimated 1.5 million Reform Jews in more than 900 synagogues across the United States and Canada... |
President 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... , 1996-current |
Cantors
| Name | Later Position |
|---|---|
| Michael M. Mandel | Cantor, Congregation Beth Emeth, Wilmington, DE, 2001-2003 |
- Alan F. SegalAlan F. SegalAlan F. Segal was a professor of religion and Ingeborg Rennert Professor of Jewish Studies at Barnard College.Segal was born in Worcester, Massachusetts...
, Professor of Religion and Ingeborg Rennert Professor of Jewish Studies at Barnard CollegeBarnard CollegeBarnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough... - Paul D. Eisenberg, Professor Emeritus of Philosophy at Indiana University
- Jay Gordon, Host of Elvis Only on WODSWODS- External links :****...
, Oldies 103.3 FM (Boston, MA)
Prominent members
- Samuel AdlerSamuel Adler (composer)Samuel Hans Adler is an American composer and conductor.-Biography:Adler was born to a Jewish family in Mannheim, Germany, the son of Hugo Chaim Adler, a cantor and composer, and Selma Adler. The family fled to the United States in 1939, where Hugo became the cantor of Temple Emanuel in...
, Composer - Massachusetts State Senator Harriette L. ChandlerHarriette L. ChandlerHarriette L. Chandler is the Massachusetts State Senator for the 1st Worcester district, which includes parts of the city of Worcester, where she resides, and the towns of Berlin, Boylston, Holden, Paxton, Princeton, and West Boylston, and parts of Clinton, and Northborough. She is a Democrat who...
(Democrat, First Worcester District) - Arthur E. ChaseArthur E. ChaseArthur E. Chase is an American businessman and politician who represented the Worcester District in the Massachusetts Senate from 1991–1995. He was the Republican nominee for Secretary of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in 1994, but lost in the general election to William F. Galvin.-References:...
, Former Massachusetts State Senator (Republican) - Joseph C. Casdin (died 2007 age 93) Mayor of Worcester 1959, 62-63, 67-68
- Harold DevineHarold DevineHarold "Harry" George Devine was an American boxer who competed in the 1928 Summer Olympics.He was born in New Haven, Connecticut and died in North Oxford, Massachusetts.-Amateur career:...
(died 1998 age 88), 1928 Olympic Bronze Medal Recipient in Boxing - Joanne GoldsteinJoanne GoldsteinJoanne Feinberg Goldstein is an American labor attorney and the current Massachusetts Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development.A graduate of the University of Michigan and the Hofstra University School of Law, Goldstein began her legal career practing union side labor law with Angoff, Goldman,...
, Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development, Commonwealth of MassachusettsMassachusettsThe Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
2010-Present - Abbie HoffmanAbbie HoffmanAbbot Howard "Abbie" Hoffman was a political and social activist who co-founded the Youth International Party ....
, 1960's radical and founder of the Yippies - Myra KraftMyra KraftMyra Nathalie Kraft, née Hiatt was an American philanthropist. She was the daughter of the late Worcester philanthropist Jacob Hiatt and wife of New England Patriots and New England Revolution owner Robert Kraft....
, wife of Robert KraftRobert KraftRobert K. Kraft is an American business magnate. He is the Chairman and was the Chief Executive Officer of The Kraft Group, a diversified holding company with assets in paper and packaging, sports and entertainment, real estate development and a private equity portfolio...
, owner of the New England PatriotsNew England PatriotsThe New England Patriots, commonly called the "Pats", are a professional football team based in the Greater Boston area, playing their home games in the town of Foxborough, Massachusetts at Gillette Stadium. The team is part of the East Division of the American Football Conference in the National... - Harry C. PayneHarry C. PayneHarry C. "Hank" Payne was the 14th president of Williams College.-References:...
, President of Williams CollegeWilliams CollegeWilliams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
1994-1999 - Denise Eisenberg RichDenise Eisenberg RichDenise Rich, née Eisenberg is an American songwriter, socialite, philanthropist, and political fundraiser.-Music:In 1984, Rich penned the lyrics to "Frankie", a hit in 1986 for the R&B group Sister Sledge...
, songwriter, socialite, philanthropist, and political fundraiser, ex-wife of Marc RichMarc RichMarc Rich is an international commodities trader and entrepreneur. He is best known for founding the commodities company Glencore. He was indicted in the United States on federal charges of illegally making oil deals with Iran during the late 1970s-early 1980s Iran hostage crisis and tax evasion... - Warren M. RobbinsWarren M. RobbinsWarren Murray Robbins was an American art collector, whose collection of African art led to the formation of the National Museum of African Art at the Smithsonian Institution....
, Founder of the National Museum of African ArtNational Museum of African ArtThe National Museum of African Art is a museum that is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.. Located on the National Mall, the museum specializes in African art and culture...
See Also
- Shaarai Torah Synagogue (Worcester, Massachusetts)
- Congregation Beth Israel (Worcester, Massachusetts)Congregation Beth Israel (Worcester, Massachusetts)Congregation Beth Israel is an egalitarian Conservative congregation located at 15 Jamesbury Drive in Worcester, Massachusetts. Founded in 1924 as an Orthodox synagogue, it formally affiliated with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism in 1949, and describes itself as the "leading...