Temple of Israel (Wilmington, North Carolina)
Encyclopedia
The Temple of Israel is a Jewish house of prayer located on the corner of Fourth and Market Streets in Wilmington
, North Carolina
, United States
. Built in 1876, the Temple of Israel is the oldest
synagogue
in North Carolina and one of the earliest Reform
synagogues in the American South. Temple of Israel is led by Rabbi
Harley Karz-Wagman.
opening in 1855. An Orthodox Jewish congregation was formed in 1867, but did not succeed. In 1872, a Reform congregation was started by German
Jews and their synagogue, the Temple of Israel, was dedicated on May 12, 1876.
Princeton All American football player and World War I hero Arthur Bluethenthal
was a member of the synagogue.
styles. The Moorish architecture is unique in the city of Wilmington, but was common during late 19th century for many American synagogues. The synagogue features horseshoe arch
es and twin towers topped with golden onion domes. The building's exterior was restored in 1982 and once again in 2000.
Wilmington, North Carolina
Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1876, the Temple of Israel is the oldest
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
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 North Carolina and one of the earliest 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...
synagogues in the American South. Temple of Israel is led by 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...
Harley Karz-Wagman.
History
Sephardic Jews first arrived in North Carolina during the early 18th century. By 1852, a Jewish Burial Society was formed in Wilmington with a Hebrew cemeteryJewish cemetery
A Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....
opening in 1855. An Orthodox Jewish congregation was formed in 1867, but did not succeed. In 1872, a Reform congregation was started by German
Germans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
Jews and their synagogue, the Temple of Israel, was dedicated on May 12, 1876.
Princeton All American football player and World War I hero Arthur Bluethenthal
Arthur Bluethenthal
Arthur Bluethenthal, nicknamed "Bluey" , was an All American football player for Princeton University, who died in combat fighting for France in World War I.-Early life:...
was a member of the synagogue.
Architecture
The Temple of Israel's architecture is a combination of Greek Revival and MoorishMoorish architecture
Moorish architecture is the western term used to describe the articulated Berber-Islamic architecture of North Africa and Al-Andalus.-Characteristic elements:...
styles. The Moorish architecture is unique in the city of Wilmington, but was common during late 19th century for many American synagogues. The synagogue features horseshoe arch
Horseshoe arch
The horseshoe arch, also called the Moorish arch and the Keyhole arch, is the emblematic arch of Islamic architecture. They were formerly constructed in Visigothic Spain. Horseshoe arches can take rounded, pointed or lobed form....
es and twin towers topped with golden onion domes. The building's exterior was restored in 1982 and once again in 2000.