Wilshire Boulevard Temple

Wilshire Boulevard Temple
The synagogue building, in 2017
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Steve Leder
  • Rabbi Elissa Ben-Naim
  • Rabbi David Eshel
  • Rabbi Susan Nanus
  • Rabbi Joel Nickerson
  • Rabbi Joel Simonds
  • Rabbi Hannah Elkin
  • Rabbi Karen Fox (Emerita)
StatusActive
Notable artworksHugo Ballin murals
Location
Location3663 Wilshire Boulevard, Los Angeles, California
CountryUnited States
Wilshire Boulevard Temple is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Wilshire Boulevard Temple
Location in Los Angeles, California
Geographic coordinates34°3′44″N 118°18′17″W / 34.06222°N 118.30472°W / 34.06222; -118.30472
Architecture
Architect(s)
TypeSynagogue architecture
Style
FounderJoseph Newmark
General contractorHerbert M. Baruch Corporation
Date established1862 (as a congregation)
Completed
Construction cost$1.5 million
Specifications
Capacity
  • 1,300 worshipers (sanctuary)
  • 400 worshipers (balcony)
Dome(s)One
Dome height (outer)135 feet (41 m)
Dome dia. (outer)100 feet (30 m)
Website
wbtla.org
Congregation B'nai B'rith
NRHP reference No.81000154
LAHCM No.116
Significant dates
Added to NRHP21 December 1981
Designated LAHCMMarch 21, 1973
[1][2][3]

The Wilshire Boulevard Temple, known from 1862 to 1933 as Congregation B'nai B'rith, is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 3663 Wilshire Boulevard, in the Wilshire Center district of Los Angeles, California, in the United States. Founded in 1862, it is the oldest Jewish congregation in Los Angeles.[4][5]

The congregation's main building, with a sanctuary topped by a large Byzantine Revival dome and decorated with interior murals, was designated as a City of Los Angeles Historic Cultural Monument in 1973 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.[1][4][6][7][8] The Moorish-style building was completed in 1929 and was designed by architect Abram M. Edelman.[a]

The Wilshire Boulevard Temple is one of the largest Jewish congregations in Los Angeles, and has been led by several influential rabbis. Edgar Magnin has been described as the "John Wayne" of rabbis,[9] and served for 69 years, from 1915 to 1984.

In 1998 the congregation opened a second campus on the Westside, following relocations among its people. Despite repeated reports that the congregation might sell its older, landmark building in what had become known as the Koreatown neighborhood, the temple began extensive renovations of the historic facility in 2008;[10] and the remodelled sanctuary reopened in 2013.

The Audrey Irmas Pavilion, a major 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2) expansion adjacent to the synagogue, was completed between 2018 and 2021, designed by Shohei Shigematsu from the Office of Metropolitan Architecture, a leading global architectural firm.[11]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. ^ "Historic - Cultural Monuments (HCM) Listing: City Declared Monuments" (PDF). City of Los Angeles. September 7, 2007. Retrieved May 28, 2008.
  3. ^ "Inventory — Wilshire Boulevard Temple Nomination Form" (history and detailed descriptions of building's elements). National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 1981.
  4. ^ a b "Our History". Wilshire Boulevard Temple.[self-published source?]
  5. ^ "Wilshire Boulevard Temple". Larchmont Chronicle.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Orange was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Wilshire Boulevard Temple". Levin & Associates Architects.
  8. ^ Sheldon, Betsy (1999). The Jewish Travel Guide. Hunter Publishing. p. 92. ISBN 978-1556508790 – via Google Books.
  9. ^ "Best Seat In The House Of Worship: The Temple Hollywood Built". NPR.org. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  10. ^ "Our Clergy". Wilshire Boulevard Temple. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013.[self-published source?]
  11. ^ ZEIGER, MIMI (November 20, 2018). "Rem Koolhaas' upcoming Wilshire Boulevard Temple expansion will balance openness with security". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 25, 2018.


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