Temple Sinai (Oakland, California)

For similarly named synagogues, see Temple Sinai.
Temple Sinai
The corner of a two-story brick building faces the intersection of two streets. To the right, the building presents many small windows, with three taller ones near the corner, all framed in white. To the left, the building presents more small windows framed in white, and a portico supported by multiple white columns. Atop the building is an elliptical dome which has white-framed windows on its sides.
The synagogue building, in 2008
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
Leadership
StatusActive
Location
Location2808 Summit Street, Oakland, California 94609
CountryUnited States
Geographic coordinates37°49′00″N 122°15′52″W / 37.81667°N 122.26444°W / 37.81667; -122.26444
Architecture
Architect(s)G. Albert Lansburgh (1914)
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleBeaux-Arts (1914)
Date established1875 (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking1913
Completed
  • 1878 (14th and Webster)
  • 1886 (13th and Clay)
  • 1895 (12th and Castro)
  • 1914 (28th and Webster)
Construction cost$100,000 (today $3 million)[1]
Specifications
Dome(s)One
MaterialsPressed brick, carved wood
Designated1995
Reference no.118
Website
oaklandsinai.org
[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Temple Sinai (officially the First Hebrew Congregation of Oakland[8]) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 2808 Summit Street (28th and Webster Streets) in Oakland, California, in the United States. Founded in 1875, it is the oldest Jewish congregation in the East San Francisco Bay region.[9][10]

Its early members included Gertrude Stein and Judah Leon Magnes, who studied at Temple Sinai's Sabbath school, and Ray Frank, who taught them. Originally traditional, the temple reformed its beliefs and practices under the leadership of Rabbi Marcus Friedlander (1893–1915). By 1914, it had become a Classical Reform congregation.[11][12][13] That year the current sanctuary was built: a Beaux-Arts structure designed by G. Albert Lansburgh, which is the oldest synagogue building in Oakland.[4]

The congregation weathered four major financial crises by 1934. From then until 2011, it was led by just three rabbis, William Stern (1934–1965), Samuel Broude (1966–1989), and Steven Chester (1989–2011).[11][14]

In 2006 Temple Sinai embarked on a $15 million capital campaign to construct an entirely new synagogue campus adjacent to its current sanctuary.[15] Groundbreaking took place in October 2007,[16] and by late 2009 the congregation had raised almost $12 million towards the construction.[17] As of 2015, Temple Sinai had nearly 1,000 member families.[16] The rabbis were Jacqueline Mates-Muchin and Yoni Regev, and the cantor was Ilene Keys.[2] The synagogue has two emeritus rabbis, Samuel Broude (1924-2020) and Steven Chester.

  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.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TSClergy was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Isaac2009p35 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Palmer2008p4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference OlitzkyRaphael1996p55 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference Voorsanger1916pp66-67 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference BeauxArtsDomeColumns was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference OlitzkyRaphael1996p54 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  11. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference OlitzkyRaphael1996pp54-55 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference OlitzkyRaphael1996p56 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference Pine2008 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference TSHistory was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  17. ^ Cite error: The named reference im tirtzu was invoked but never defined (see the help page).