Temple Israel (Memphis, Tennessee)

For similarly named synagogues, see Temple Israel.
Temple Israel
A tan brick building with dark glass walls, including a large curved glass wall facing the viewer. In front of the building are trees and a lawn, and in front of that a driveway and parking spaces.
Temple Israel entrance
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Micah Greenstein
  • Rabbi Bess Wohlner
  • Rabbi Jeremy Simons (Assistant)
  • Rabbi Harry Danziger (Emeritus)
StatusActive
Location
Location1376 East Massey Road, Memphis, Tennessee
CountryUnited States
Temple Israel (Memphis, Tennessee) is located in Tennessee
Temple Israel (Memphis, Tennessee)
Location in Tennessee
Geographic coordinates35°06′40″N 89°50′47″W / 35.11111°N 89.84639°W / 35.11111; -89.84639
Architecture
Architect(s)
TypeSynagogue
Date established
  • 1853 (as a congregation)
  • 1854 (Chartered by the State)
Completed
  • 1860 (Main and Exchange Sts.)
  • 1884 (Poplar Avenue #1)
  • 1917 (Poplar Avenue #2)
  • 1976 (East Massey Road)
Construction cost$7 million (today $37 million[1])
Specifications
Capacity
  • Sanctuary: 1,335–1,500
  • Chapel: 300
MaterialsSteel with masonry; copper roof
Website
timemphis.org
[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9]

Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 1376 East Massey Road, in Memphis, Tennessee, in the United States. It is the only Reform synagogue in Memphis, the oldest and largest Jewish congregation in Tennessee, and one of the largest Reform congregations in the U.S. It was founded in 1853 by mostly German Jews as Congregation B'nai Israel (Hebrew for "Children of Israel"). Led initially by cantors, in 1858 it hired its first rabbi, Jacob Peres, and leased its first building, which it renovated and eventually purchased.

Peres was fired in 1860 because he opened a store that conducted business on Saturdays, the Jewish Sabbath. He was replaced by Simon Tuska, who moved the congregation from Orthodox to Reform practices. Tuska died in 1871, and was succeeded by Max Samfield; under his leadership, the synagogue was one of the founding members of the Union for Reform Judaism. In 1884, Children of Israel completed a new building, and membership grew rapidly. Samfield died in 1915, and was succeeded by Bill Fineshriber, an outspoken supporter of women's suffrage and equal rights for African Americans. The following year the congregation moved to a new building, where membership continued to grow. Fineshriber left in 1924, and was succeeded by Harry Ettelson.

The synagogue experienced difficulty during the Great Depression—membership dropped, the congregational school was closed, and staff had their salaries reduced—but conditions had improved by the late 1930s. In 1943 the synagogue changed its name to Temple Israel, and by the late 1940s membership had almost doubled from its low point in the 1930s. Ettelson retired in 1954, and was succeeded by Jimmy Wax.

Wax became known for his activism during the Civil Rights Movement. Though some members—particularly those whose families had lived in the South for generations—had segregationist views, others were prominent in the fight for black civil rights. During Wax's tenure, most of Temple Israel's members moved far from the existing synagogue, and in 1976 the congregation constructed its current building, closer to where most members lived. Wax retired in 1978, and was succeeded by Harry Danziger, who brought traditional practices back to the congregation. He retired in 2000, and was succeeded by Micah Greenstein. As of 2021, Temple Israel has almost 1,450 member families. Greenstein is the Senior Rabbi, and the cantorial soloist is Happie Hoffman.[10]

  1. ^ 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved February 29, 2024.
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  10. ^ "Clergy | Temple Israel". www.timemphis.org. Archived from the original on May 13, 2020. Retrieved August 15, 2017.