Temple Israel (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
Encyclopedia
Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish
congregation located at 2004 East 22nd Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma
. Founded in 1914, the synagogue
affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism
in 1915, and constructed its first building on South Cheyenne Street in 1919. Early rabbi
s included Jacob Menkes, Charles Latz, Samuel Kaplan, Jacob Krohngold, and Benjamin Kelsen.
In 1932, Temple Israel constructed a new building on South Cheyenne. Rabbis there included Hyman Iola, Abraham Shusterman, Randall Falk, and Morton C. Fierman. In 1955 the congregation moved to its current home, a building on East 22nd Place designed by Percival Goodman
. Long-serving rabbis in this building were Norbert Rosenthal (1951–1976) and Charles Sherman (1976– ).
Membership rose from 170 families in 1943 to 525 in 1979, but has since fallen to 425. , Temple Israel was the only Reform synagogue
in Tulsa. The rabbi was Charles Sherman, and the cantor
was Kari Siegel-Eglash.
) in 1915. Its first religious leader was Abraham Feldman, who, at the time, was studying at the Reform Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati. He served until 1915. In 1917, the members hired Jacob B. Menkes as their first rabbi
. A 1910 graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
, he served until 1919, the year the congregation occupied its first permanent building (until then services had been held in a series of temporary premises).
Located at 1306 South Cheyenne (at 14th Street), it was, according to some sources, the oldest synagogue building in Oklahoma. It was eventually abandoned and fell into disuse, occupied only by the homeless seeking shelter, and was severely damaged by a fire on January 27, 2009, in which the roof and floors collapsed. In 2009, real estate developer Kevin Stephens stated that he planned to move forward with plans to save its facade and develop the building into a center for sustainability, community, and non-profit space.
The year the synagogue moved to South Cheyenne, Charles B. Latz, a 1914 graduate of Hebrew Union College, succeeded Menkes as rabbi. That same year a synagogue sisterhood was formed, followed the next year by a brotherhood. During the early 1920s the Tulsa All Souls Unitarian Church (founded 1921) met for a time in Temple Israel's building.
Latz served until 1924. He was followed by Samuel S. Kaplan, a 1920 graduate of Hebrew Union College, who served from 1924 to 1927, then Jacob P. Krohngold, who joined in 1927. 1929 saw three rabbis at Temple Israel; Krohngold, who left that year, Benjamin Kelsen, who came and left that year, and Hyman Iola, a 1921 graduate of Hebrew Union College.
historic district
. That same year the congregation formed a choir. Iola was succeeded in 1935 by Abraham Shusterman. Shusterman, a 1931 graduate of Hebrew Union College, served until 1941, moving to Baltimore, Maryland's Har Sinai Congregation
. While Shusterman was rabbi, Temple Israel starting having bar mitzvah ceremonies, and added Torah
readings to the Friday night services.
Shusterman was replaced in 1941 by Ely E. Pilchik. Pilchik had been born in Baranowicz, Poland
, and had immigrated to the United States in 1920. He was a graduate of Hebrew Union College, but "was more traditional than the typical Reform rabbi". By 1943, the congregation had around 170 member families. Pilchik served until 1947, moving to Newark, New Jersey's Temple B'nai Jeshurun.
Randall M. Falk also joined as rabbi in 1945. His tenure was only one year, until 1946, and he focused on Temple Israel's religious school. In 1947 Morton C. Fierman joined as rabbi, succeeding Pilchik, and served until 1951.
Fierman was succeed in 1951 by Norbert L. Rosenthal, who concentrated on "a variety of holiday celebrations and educational programs". Rosenthal had previously served as rabbi of Old York Road Temple in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
. In 1972, he allowed Oral Roberts
to address the congregation at the bar mitzvah of a member. Rosenthal served until 1976, becoming rabbi emeritus. In 1981, he assisted in the establishing of Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas
, and served thereafter as its first rabbi, visiting every other week to conduct Friday services.
During Rosenthal's tenure, in 1955, the congregation moved to its present home at 2004 East 22nd Place, just south of the Utica Square
Shopping Center. The South Rockford building was sold to Christ the King Catholic Church, which remodeled it so that it could be used as a fellowship hall
. In 1975 it was renamed Fletcher Hall, after the former parish
priest, and in 1991 it was removed to make way for a playground for students at Marquette Catholic School
.
, the East 22nd Place synagogue's front is dominated by massive twin pillars displaying the Ten Commandments
, which represent the biblical Pillar of Fire
and the Pillar of Cloud
. Goodman hired the sculptor Seymour Lipton
to produce three works of ceremonial art for the sanctuary's bimah
, "a ner tamid, a monumental seven-branch menorah
, and an abstracted, vine motif that is placed along the top of the Torah Ark." The shape of the ner tamid "represents two sets of angels' wings that were set over the Ark
in the ancient Temple of Solomon
." The vine decoration contains pomegranates, "an ancient symbol of fruitfulness." The menorah, which is lit Fridays and holidays, "is symbolic of the Tree of Life
".
Charles P. Sherman joined as rabbi in 1976. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1969. At Temple Israel, he focused on education, and created programs for mixed Jewish/non-Jewish couples and converts to Judaism
. He was a strong supporter of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, and garnered support for it from the Southwest Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union for Reform Judaism). He also "advocated social justice and religious action, as well as fuller participation in the Reform movement and community at large." While rabbi at Temple Israel, he also taught at the University of Tulsa
and Phillips Theological Seminary
, and served as president of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis, the Tulsa Ministerial Alliance, the Tulsa Police and Fire Chaplaincy Corps, the National Conference for Community and Justice
(Tulsa Region) and the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry. In 1979, he presided over the bar mitzvah at Temple Israel of future wrestler Bill Goldberg
. That year membership was 525 families, but by 1995 that had fallen to under 500. In 2005 Sherman was inducted into the Tulsa Historical Society Hall of Fame, and in 2010 he was awarded the Russell Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award by the Oklahomans for Equality.
After graduating from Hebrew Union College in 2008, Anna Beroll joined Temple Israel as rabbi. She had previously served as a student rabbi in several congregations.
, Temple Israel was the only Reform synagogue in Tulsa, and had a membership of 425 families. The rabbi was Charles Sherman, and the cantor
was Kari Siegel-Eglash.
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 at 2004 East 22nd Place in Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Tulsa is the second-largest city in the state of Oklahoma and 46th-largest city in the United States. With a population of 391,906 as of the 2010 census, it is the principal municipality of the Tulsa Metropolitan Area, a region with 937,478 residents in the MSA and 988,454 in the CSA. Tulsa's...
. Founded in 1914, 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...
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...
in 1915, and constructed its first building on South Cheyenne Street in 1919. Early 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 included Jacob Menkes, Charles Latz, Samuel Kaplan, Jacob Krohngold, and Benjamin Kelsen.
In 1932, Temple Israel constructed a new building on South Cheyenne. Rabbis there included Hyman Iola, Abraham Shusterman, Randall Falk, and Morton C. Fierman. In 1955 the congregation moved to its current home, a building on East 22nd Place designed by 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...
. Long-serving rabbis in this building were Norbert Rosenthal (1951–1976) and Charles Sherman (1976– ).
Membership rose from 170 families in 1943 to 525 in 1979, but has since fallen to 425. , Temple Israel was the only Reform 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...
in Tulsa. The rabbi was Charles Sherman, 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...
was Kari Siegel-Eglash.
Early history, South Cheyenne building
Temple Israel was founded in December 1914, and joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now 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...
) in 1915. Its first religious leader was Abraham Feldman, who, at the time, was studying at the Reform 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 Cincinnati. He served until 1915. In 1917, the members hired Jacob B. Menkes as their 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...
. A 1910 graduate of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America
Jewish Theological Seminary of America
The Jewish Theological Seminary of America is one of the academic and spiritual centers of Conservative Judaism, and a major center for academic scholarship in Jewish studies.JTS operates five schools: Albert A...
, he served until 1919, the year the congregation occupied its first permanent building (until then services had been held in a series of temporary premises).
Located at 1306 South Cheyenne (at 14th Street), it was, according to some sources, the oldest synagogue building in Oklahoma. It was eventually abandoned and fell into disuse, occupied only by the homeless seeking shelter, and was severely damaged by a fire on January 27, 2009, in which the roof and floors collapsed. In 2009, real estate developer Kevin Stephens stated that he planned to move forward with plans to save its facade and develop the building into a center for sustainability, community, and non-profit space.
The year the synagogue moved to South Cheyenne, Charles B. Latz, a 1914 graduate of Hebrew Union College, succeeded Menkes as rabbi. That same year a synagogue sisterhood was formed, followed the next year by a brotherhood. During the early 1920s the Tulsa All Souls Unitarian Church (founded 1921) met for a time in Temple Israel's building.
Latz served until 1924. He was followed by Samuel S. Kaplan, a 1920 graduate of Hebrew Union College, who served from 1924 to 1927, then Jacob P. Krohngold, who joined in 1927. 1929 saw three rabbis at Temple Israel; Krohngold, who left that year, Benjamin Kelsen, who came and left that year, and Hyman Iola, a 1921 graduate of Hebrew Union College.
South Rockford building
During Iola's tenure, in 1932, Temple Israel moved to another building, at 1602 South Rockford (at 16th Street),in what is now the Swan LakeSwan Lake (Tulsa)
Swan Lake is a historic district in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its borders consist of 15th Street to the North, Utica Street to the East, 21st Street to the South, and Peoria Avenue to the west...
historic district
Historic district (United States)
In the United States, a historic district is a group of buildings, properties, or sites that have been designated by one of several entities on different levels as historically or architecturally significant. Buildings, structures, objects and sites within a historic district are normally divided...
. That same year the congregation formed a choir. Iola was succeeded in 1935 by Abraham Shusterman. Shusterman, a 1931 graduate of Hebrew Union College, served until 1941, moving to Baltimore, Maryland's Har Sinai Congregation
Har Sinai Congregation
Har Sinai Congregation is a Reform Jewish synagogue located in Owings Mills, Maryland. Originally established in 1842 in Baltimore, it is the oldest congregation in the United States that has been affiliated with the Reform movement since its inception....
. While Shusterman was rabbi, Temple Israel starting having bar mitzvah ceremonies, and added Torah
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
readings to the Friday night services.
Shusterman was replaced in 1941 by Ely E. Pilchik. Pilchik had been born in Baranowicz, Poland
Baranovichi
Baranovichi , is a city in the Brest Province of western Belarus with a population of 173,000. It is a significant railway junction and home to a state university.-Overview:...
, and had immigrated to the United States in 1920. He was a graduate of Hebrew Union College, but "was more traditional than the typical Reform rabbi". By 1943, the congregation had around 170 member families. Pilchik served until 1947, moving to Newark, New Jersey's Temple B'nai Jeshurun.
Randall M. Falk also joined as rabbi in 1945. His tenure was only one year, until 1946, and he focused on Temple Israel's religious school. In 1947 Morton C. Fierman joined as rabbi, succeeding Pilchik, and served until 1951.
Fierman was succeed in 1951 by Norbert L. Rosenthal, who concentrated on "a variety of holiday celebrations and educational programs". Rosenthal had previously served as rabbi of Old York Road Temple in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Willow Grove, Pennsylvania
Willow Grove is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A community in Philadelphia's northern suburbs, the population was 15,726 at the 2010 census. It is located in Abington Township and Upper Moreland Township...
. In 1972, he allowed Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts
Granville "Oral" Roberts was an American Pentecostal televangelist and a Christian charismatic. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University....
to address the congregation at the bar mitzvah of a member. Rosenthal served until 1976, becoming rabbi emeritus. In 1981, he assisted in the establishing of Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas
Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas
Temple Shalom of Northwest Arkansas is a small, mixed-denomination liberal, volunteer-run congregation that serves as the focal point for Jewish life in the Fayetteville, Arkansas area...
, and served thereafter as its first rabbi, visiting every other week to conduct Friday services.
During Rosenthal's tenure, in 1955, the congregation moved to its present home at 2004 East 22nd Place, just south of the Utica Square
Utica Square
Utica Square is an upscale outdoor shopping center located in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The center is anchored by locally-owned department store Miss Jackson's , and a branch of the Saks Fifth Avenue chain...
Shopping Center. The South Rockford building was sold to Christ the King Catholic Church, which remodeled it so that it could be used as a fellowship hall
Fellowship hall
A fellowship hall is a large room in a church building where certain activities in the church building are done, such as certain dinners, breakfasts, meetings, workshops, etc...
. In 1975 it was renamed Fletcher Hall, after the former parish
Parish
A parish is a territorial unit historically under the pastoral care and clerical jurisdiction of one parish priest, who might be assisted in his pastoral duties by a curate or curates - also priests but not the parish priest - from a more or less central parish church with its associated organization...
priest, and in 1991 it was removed to make way for a playground for students at Marquette Catholic School
Marquette Catholic School
Marquette Catholic School is the school for Christ the King Parish in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Its principal is Pete Theban.The school was founded at its current Cherry Street location in 1926. Originally named for the parish, it received its current name in 1930 from Ruth Murphy, whose children,...
.
East 22nd Place building
Designed by prolific synagogue architect Percival GoodmanPercival 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...
, the East 22nd Place synagogue's front is dominated by massive twin pillars displaying the Ten Commandments
Ten Commandments
The Ten Commandments, also known as the Decalogue , are a set of biblical principles relating to ethics and worship, which play a fundamental role in Judaism and most forms of Christianity. They include instructions to worship only God and to keep the Sabbath, and prohibitions against idolatry,...
, which represent the biblical Pillar of Fire
Pillar of Fire (theophany)
A Pillar of Fire was one of the manifestations of the presence of the God of Israel in the Torah. According to Exodus, the pillar of fire provided light so that Jews could travel by night during the Exodus from Egypt . The pillar of fire is traditionally paired with the manifestation of the divine...
and the Pillar of Cloud
Pillar of Cloud (theophany)
A pillar of cloud was one of the manifestations of the presence of the God of Israel in the Torah. According to Exodus, the pillar of cloud guided Jews by day during the Exodus from Egypt . The pillar of cloud is traditionally paired with the manifestation of the divine presence by night as the...
. Goodman hired the sculptor Seymour Lipton
Seymour Lipton
Seymour Lipton was an American abstract expressionist sculptor. He was a member of the New York School who gained widespread recognition in the 1950s. He initially trained as a dentist but focused on sculpture from 1932. His early choices of medium changed from wood to lead and then to bronze, and...
to produce three works of ceremonial art for the sanctuary's 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...
, "a ner tamid, a monumental seven-branch menorah
Menorah
The menorah is described in the Bible as the seven-branched ancient lampstand made of gold and used in the portable sanctuary set up by Moses in the wilderness and later in the Temple in Jerusalem. Fresh olive oil of the purest quality was burned daily to light its lamps...
, and an abstracted, vine motif that is placed along the top of the Torah Ark." The shape of the ner tamid "represents two sets of angels' wings that were set over the Ark
Ark of the Covenant
The Ark of the Covenant , also known as the Ark of the Testimony, is a chest described in Book of Exodus as solely containing the Tablets of Stone on which the Ten Commandments were inscribed...
in the ancient Temple of Solomon
Solomon's Temple
Solomon's Temple, also known as the First Temple, was the main temple in ancient Jerusalem, on the Temple Mount , before its destruction by Nebuchadnezzar II after the Siege of Jerusalem of 587 BCE....
." The vine decoration contains pomegranates, "an ancient symbol of fruitfulness." The menorah, which is lit Fridays and holidays, "is symbolic of the Tree of Life
Tree of Life
The tree of life in the Book of Genesis is a tree planted by God in midst of the Garden of Eden , whose fruit gives everlasting life, i.e. immortality. Together with the tree of life, God planted the tree of the knowledge of good and evil . According to some scholars, however, these are in fact...
".
Charles P. Sherman joined as rabbi in 1976. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in 1969. At Temple Israel, he focused on education, and created programs for mixed Jewish/non-Jewish couples and converts to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism
Conversion to Judaism is a formal act undertaken by a non-Jewish person who wishes to be recognised as a full member of the Jewish community. A Jewish conversion is both a religious act and an expression of association with the Jewish people...
. He was a strong supporter of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Religious Coalition for Abortion Rights, and garnered support for it from the Southwest Council of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (now Union for Reform Judaism). He also "advocated social justice and religious action, as well as fuller participation in the Reform movement and community at large." While rabbi at Temple Israel, he also taught at the University of Tulsa
University of Tulsa
The University of Tulsa is a private university awarding bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA. It is currently ranked 75th among doctoral degree granting universities in the nation by US News and World Report and is listed as one of the "Best 366 Colleges" by...
and Phillips Theological Seminary
Phillips Theological Seminary
Phillips Theological Seminary, located in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is a theological seminary associated with the Christian Church , the United Methodist Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Association.- History :...
, and served as president of the Southwest Association of Reform Rabbis, the Tulsa Ministerial Alliance, the Tulsa Police and Fire Chaplaincy Corps, the National Conference for Community and Justice
National Conference for Community and Justice
The National Conference for Community and Justice is a national, human relations, non-profit organization in the United States. Its mission is to fight bias, bigotry, and racism and promote understanding and respect through advocacy, conflict resolution, and education.The NCCJ was founded in 1927...
(Tulsa Region) and the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry. In 1979, he presided over the bar mitzvah at Temple Israel of future wrestler Bill Goldberg
Bill Goldberg
Goldberg earned a scholarship to play for the University of Georgia Bulldogs football team where he served as a defensive tackle. He was taken in the 11th round, with the 302nd overall selection, in the 1990 NFL Draft....
. That year membership was 525 families, but by 1995 that had fallen to under 500. In 2005 Sherman was inducted into the Tulsa Historical Society Hall of Fame, and in 2010 he was awarded the Russell Bennett Spiritual Inclusion Award by the Oklahomans for Equality.
After graduating from Hebrew Union College in 2008, Anna Beroll joined Temple Israel as rabbi. She had previously served as a student rabbi in several congregations.
, Temple Israel was the only Reform synagogue in Tulsa, and had a membership of 425 families. The rabbi was Charles Sherman, 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...
was Kari Siegel-Eglash.
Further reading
- Zarrow, Alison. Abandoned Tulsa, Furnace Press, 2005, ISBN 978-0-9772742-2-2, pp. 53-61.