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DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

Thursday, March 23, ISS•

Highlights from the History of Beth El

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• • •

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Temple Influential in Starting
Reforms in Modern Service

By IRVING I. KATZ

lARLY in the year 1850, a German-Jewish couple by the
name of Isaac and Sarah Cozens arrived in Detroit from
New York and took up residence in a house near the corner of
Congress and St. Antoine streets. Detroit then had a popula-
tion of 21,019, including a few German-Jewish families.

The Cozens soon were joined
by other Jewish immigrants and
Minhag America (American re
in the spring of
form ritual).
1850, the f irst
(2) To retain organ music an d
. Minyan (requir-
a mixed choir as an integral par
ed number of 10
of the service.
males 13 years
(3) To introduce the three-year
and older to hold
services in De-
cycle of reading from the Torah
instead of the one-year orthodox
troit was con-
cycle.
ductee in their
home by Marcus! ..
(4) To abolish the wearing of
Cohen.
the Talit (prayer shawl) at sery
As has been
ices and the use of Tachrichim
traditional in
I. Katz
(shrouds) for interments.
Jewish life throughout the ages
(6) To permit congregants to
when 10 or more Jewish families worship without hats at services
found themselves living together,
(7) Tu allow men and women
the little band of Jews in Detroit to sit together at services.
formed a congregation.
8) To introduce the ceremony
Steps were taken in the sum- of confirmation in addition to the
mer of 1850, through the initia- orthodox ceremony of Bar Mitz-
tive of Mr. and Mrs. Cozens, to vah.
establish a congregation. Joseph
Dr. Isidor Kalisch, one of the
Newman was elected temporary leading spirits of the Cleveland
chairman and after a series of Rabbinical Conference in 1855,
meetings, the Beth El Society, the first in America and one of
Michigan's first Jewish congrega- the editors of the Miiihag Amer-
tion, was organized on September ica Prayer Book, was the first
22. 1850, by about 25 German- Detroit Rabbi to preach English
sermons.
Jewish families.
Rabbi Elias Eppstein introduc-
The first officers elected were
Jacob Silberman, president; Solo- ed late Friday evening services in
mon Bendit, vice-president and 1867, immediately following the
treasurer, and Joseph Freedman, occupancy by the congregation of
the Washington Avenue Temple,
secretary.
Beth El's second house of worship
OUTSTANDING LEADERS
During the first half century of on Washington avenue (now
its existence, Congregation Beth boulevard) and Clifford, which
was dedicated by Dr. Isaac M.
El (originally the Beth El Society) Wise.
was served by the following Rab-
KOHLER'S INFLUENCE
bis:
Dr. Kaufmann Kohler, who was
Samuel Marcus, 1850-1854; Dr. brought by Beth El from Ger-
Liebman Adler, 1854-1861; Abra- many and in later years became
ham Laser, 1861-1864; Dr. Isidor the most powerful intellectual
Kalisch, 1864-1866; Elias Eppstein, force in reform Judaism in Amer-
1866-1869; Dr. Kaufmann Kohler, ica and who served as president
1869:1871; M. Greenblatt, 1870- of the Hebrew Union College,
1871; Emanuel Gerechter, 1871- abolished the observance of the
1874; Dr. Leopold Wintner, 1873- second day of the major festivals.
1876; Dr. Henry Zirndorf, 1876- Thus in less than a decade, since
1884; Dr. Louis Grossman, 1884- organ music and a mixed choir
1898.
were introduced at Beth El, the
Originally Beth El was an or- congregation traveled nearly the
thodox congregation. The first whole gamut of reform.
Rabbi, Rev. Samuel Marcus, ful- On July 8, 1873, a delegation
filled the functions of teacher, from Beth El attended the meet-
cantor, shochet (ritual slaughter- ing of 34 congregations in Cin-
er) and mohel.
cinnati which organized the Un-
Moderate modifications of the ion of American Hebrew Congre-
ritual began during the ministry gations, and on September 28 of
fo Dr. Liebman Adler who came that year Beth El became an affil-
to Detroit at the recommendation late thereof.
of Dr. Isaac M. Wise, the founder
Representatives of Beth El also
of Reforem Judaism in America, attended the Cleveland conven-
and who was the first Rabbi in tion of the Union of American
Detroit to preach sermons (in Hebrew Congregations in July,
German). 1874, where the establishment of
During the first decade the con- the Hebrew Union College was
gregation met at
• the Cozens endorsed and opened the follow-
home, private homes of members, ing year. The Hebrew Union Col-
a rented room above the store of lege is celebrating this month the
Silberman St Hersch on Jefferson 75th anniversary of its founding.
avenue, and a rented hall over a Dr. Henry Zirndorf, who was
drug store on Michigan Grand brought to Detroit from Germany
avenue (now Cadillac Square). and in later years served as pro-
II, 1861 the congregation pur- fessor of history and literature at
chased for $3,500 the French the Hebrew Union College, estab-
M.E. Church on Rivard street. On lished the temple library, oldest
August 30, 1861, the Rivard street Jewish congregational library in
Synagogue, Detroit's first Jewish Michigan and one of the oldest in
house of worship, was dedicated the United States.
by Dr. Isaac M. Wise, who preach-
RABBIS ORGANIZE
ed the first English sermon at
Dr. Louis Grossmann was the
Beth El.
first Hebrew Union College grad-
The use of organ music and a uate to occupy the pulpit of Beth
mixed choir at the dedication of El. In July, 1889, Temple Beth
the synagogue created a schism El was host to the 11th Council of
in the congregation, resulting in the Union of American Hebrew
the withdrawal of 17 members Congregations.
who established the orthodox con-
At this convention, the Central
gregation Shaarey Zedek which Conference of American Rabbis,
today is one of the largest con- the national organization of liber;
servative congregations in the al rabbis in the United States
country. This move gave a free which is today the largest and
hand to the remaining liberal most influential rabbinical body
members and in 1862, the congre- in the world, was organized.
In 1895, the congregation adopt-
gation voted to introduce the fol-
ed the use of the Union Prayer
lowing reforms:
Book published by the Central
REFORMS ENACTED
' (1) To replace the Minhag Ash- Conference of American Rabbis.
kenaz (German ritual used in In 1896. a law was passed prohib-
orthodox congregations) by the iting the wearing of hats at serv-

P.

Dr. Franklin Served Detroit
and Congregation for 42 Years

came the official publication of el.:Ilion of Temple Youth.
Beth El until 1910 when the Tem-
At this Council, the National
pie Bulletin resumed publication, Association of Temple Secretaries
continuing to this day.
was founded by Irving I. Katz,
In 1903 the temple on Wood- executive secretary of Temple
ward Eliot, Beth El's third house Beth El, whn served as the first
of worship and the first to be built president of the Association.
by the members, was dedicated.
In the fall of 1941 a group y„
In the same year, Sunday morn- Beth El members organized Te'''
ing services were introduced ple Israel, Detroit's second refdi...
which continued until 1936 when temple.
they were replaced by the late
In November, 1941, Dr. B.
Friday evening services which Benedict Glazer, senior associate
continue to this day.
rabbi of Temple Emanu-El in
DEMOCRATIC REFORMS
'New Yolk and a graduate of the
RABBI GLAZER
In 1903, Beth El was the pi- 1926 class of the Hebrew Union
• • •
oneer congregation in the coun- College, succeeded Dr. Franklin.
ices which was optional with the try to intrfoduce democracy in Under his spiritual leadership, the
members until that year.
the synagogue by adopting the Temple has grown from 900 fain-
The long and distinguished unassigned seating system at ser- ilies in 1941 to 1,600 families in
ministry of Dr. Leo M. Franklin, vices throughout the year, a plan 1950 and today is the fourth larg-
a graduate of the 1892 class of the which has since been inaugurated est Jewish congregation in the
Hebrew Union College, extends in over 50 per cent of the liberal United States.
for almost half a century. Dr. congregations in the country.
INNOVATIONS IN SERVICE
Franklin served as active nib!) .
From 1907 to 1909 Dr. Frank- In 1942, a children's monthly
lin served as president of the Sabbath morning service, a con-
Hebrew Union College Alumni secration service for confirmands
A Word of Thanks
Association and from 1919 to 1921 and their parents at the Sabbath
The Jewish Chronicle is In- he was president of the Central Eve service preceding confirma-
debted to Mr. Irving Katz, ex- Conference of American Rabbis. tion, and an annual book review
ecutive secretary of Temple
In 1914, Dr. Franklin establish- course were instituted by Dr.
Beth El, for his cooperation in ed the Jewish Student Congrega- Glazer.
providing our staff with the tion at the University of Michi-
In the same year, Rabbi Her-
vast material on the history of gan, the first in the country and shel Limon was appointed as
Temple Beth El.
the forerunner of the present minister of religious education.
The pictures of historical Bnai Brith Hillel Foundations.
In 1943, Dr. Glazer founded the
value in this issue also were
In 1917, when Rabbi Samuel annual Institute on Judaism for
obtained from Mr. Katz's flies. Mayerberg came here as the first the Christian clergy of the city.
full-time assistant rabbi, supple- In the same year the Congrega-
of Temple Beth El from 1899 to mentary services on the High tion liquidated its mortgage in-
1941 and as rabbi emeritus from Holy Days for non-members were debtedness.
In 1947 the first AmeriCan Jew-
1941 to the time of his death in introduced.
Rabbi Henry Berkowitz sue- ish Cavalcade service was held
1948.
In 1901, the Temple Bulletin, ceeded Rabbi Mayerberg as as- jointly with Temple Israel.' In
one of the first congregational sistant rabbi. August, 1947, Rabbi Sidney Ak-
In 1922, the present edifice on selrad assumed the post of assist-
bulletins in the country, was pub-
Woodward and Gladstone, one of ant rabbi.
lsihed.
the finest in the country, was de-
To accommodate its large mem-
At the end of that year, how- dicated.
bership, double services on the
ever, Dr. Franklin became the
In 1925 an amendment to the
editor of the Jewish American, by-laws of the congregation was evenings of Holy Days were in-
Detroit's first English -Jewish adopted which provided that the troduced in 1948. In the same
Weekly, and the newspaper be- wife of a member automatically year, Dr. Glazer inaugurated the
child naming ceremony at the
• • •
becomes a member of the congre- Sabbath morning services, and in
gation in her own right with full the following year, memorial ser-
membership privileges. This led vices on the last day of Passover
to the election of women on the were introduced.
board of trustees of the temple.
The following have served as
In that year. Rabbi Leon Fram presidents of Beth El during the
succeeded Rabbi Berkowitz as di- past century:
rector of religious education.
Jacob Silberman, Joseph New-
In 1930 the congregation was man, Isidor Frankel, Morris
re-incorporated in perpetuity. In Hirschman, Emanuel Schloss, Si-
1937 Dr. Franklin delivered the mon Freedman, Sigmund Roths-
Alumni Lectures and Founder's child, David J. Workum.
Day address at the Hebrew Union
Simon Heavenrich, Martin But-
College. These lectures were pub- zel, Seligman Schloss, Julius Rob-
lished in 1938 under the title "The inson, Samuel Heavenrich, Julius
Rabbi—The Man and His Mes- Freud, Louis Blitz, Justice Henry
sage."
M. Butzel, Bernard B. Selling;
In 1941, Temple Beth El and its
Benjamin L. Lambert, Louis
auxiliary organizations were Welt, Bernard Ginsburg, Isaac
hosts to the 37th Council of the Gilbert, Adolph Finsterwald, Mil-
Union of American Hebrew Con- ford Stern, Milville S. Welt, Is-
gregations and the national con- rael Ilimelhoch, Morris Garvett,
ventions of the National Federa- Harry C. Grossman, Joseph M.
tion of Temple Sisterhoods, Na- Welt, Leonard T. Lewis, Dr. Her-
tional Federation of Temple bert I. Kallet and Nate S. Sha- ''‘
NATE SHAPERO
Brotherhoods, and National Fed- pero, the incumbent.
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