-- Page Fifty
THE JEWISH NEWS
A History of Temple Beth El
In April, 1941, Dr. Franklin
announced his desire to retire
from the active ministry, after
more than 42 years of continuous
service as rabbi of Temple Beth
El, and the board of trustees
adopted a resolution on April
22, 1941, creating the status of
Rabbi Emeritus for Dr. Frank-
lin, as of Oct. 31, 1941.
The congregation and its
auxiliary organizations w e r e
hosts to the 37th Biennial Coun-
cil of the Union of American
Hebrew Congregations and the
concurrent . conventions of the
National Federation of Temple
Sisterhoods, National Federation
of Temple Brotherhoods, and the
National Federation of Temple
Youth. (At this conlcave, the
National Association of Temple
Secretaries was formed and
Irving I. Katz, the present ex-
ecutive secretary of Temple Beth
El, became its first president).
Dr. Glazer Elected
In the Summer of 1941 a
group of members orgahized a
new
Reform Congregation -
Temple Israel-and Rabbi Leon
Fram became the spiritual lead-
er. At a special meeting of the
congregation on Sept. 28, 1941,
Dr. B. Benedict Glazer, Senior
Associate Rabbi of Temple Ern-
anu-El of New York, and a grad-
uate of the 1926 Class of Hebrew
Union College, was elected rabbi
of Temple Beth El. He arrived in
Detroit on Nov. 10 and was in-
stalled at the Sabbath Eve ser-
vices on Nov. 14, 1941.
On Dec. 17, 1941, a community
dinner was held, honoring Dr.
and Mrs. Franklin on the oc-
casion of Dr. Franklin's retire-
ment from the active ministry,
and Dr. Franklin was presented
with a citation by the Detroit
Round Table of Catholics, Jews
and Protestants.
In the Fall of 1941, children's
monthly Sabbath morning ser-
vices were instituted. In Febru-
ary, 1942, Dr. Glazer was the
guest preacher on the Coast-to-
Continued from Page 43
1922 the Temple Arts Society
was organized and a well-
equipped gym opened. When a
fire destroyed the C e n t r al
Christian Church, the Temple
offered its facilities to that con-
gregation for worship.
Elected for Life Tenure
On Nov. 10, 1922, Dr. Franklin
was elected for a life tenure. In
1923 the Bethelite, the Religious
School newspaper, was started.
A flagpole, dedicated to the boys
who gave their lives in World
War I, was erected. Dr. Franklin
was awarded an honorary LL.D.
degree by the University of De-
troit-a Catholic institution. In
1924, annual fellowship nights
were initiated and the "Temple
Affiliated Societies" plan in-
augurated, making it possible for
the family of every member to
participate in all the activities of
the auxiliary organizations of
the Temple for a nominal sum.
The Silver Jubilee of Dr.yrank-
lin's ministry here was observed.
In 1925, Rabbi Leon Fram of
Chicago, a graduate of the 1920
class of the Hebrew Union Col-
lege, succeeded Rabbi Berkowitz
as director of religious educa-
tion, and the reorganization of
the School followed. -A new cur-
riculum was introduced; the
school was divided into Kinder-
garden, Intermediate, Junior
High and Senior High depart-
ments. Religious High School
Graduation Exercises were 'in-
troduced and Beth El College of
Jewish Studies, an • evening
school for adults and for the
training of Religious School
teachers, became the model for
many other congregations. Thus,
the educational program of Beth
El provided educational facilities
for children and adults from the
ages of 4 to 70.
Wives Granted. Membership
In 1925, a change in member-
ship regulations automatically
gave the wives of members
membership status.
In 1925 and several years
thereafter, the Religious services
of Beth El were broadcast over
Station WSW". On Dec. 13, 1925,
the congregation observed its
Diamond Jubilee. In 1926 the
Fenkell branch of the Religious,
School was opened. A cradle
roll, where the names of child-
ren born to members were re-
gistered and an immediate con-
tact established by the School
with the parents, was instituted.
In 1927 the congregation was
host to the Jewish Chautauqua
Society meeting. In 1928 the first
graduation of Beth El College of
Jewish Studies was held. In 1929
a branch of the Religious School
was established at Northville,
Mich., where even today an in-
structor is provided by the
Temple. The congregation was
host to the 40th annual meeting
of the Central Conference of
American Rabbis.
In 1930 the congregation was
reincorporated in perpetuity,
and the 80th anniversary of its
founding observed. In 1933 the
Temple Forum, which continued
for four- years, was instituted. In
1934 the first laymen's religious
service was conducted; the first
parent-teachers' meeting _ held
,
BUSINESS
or
INDIVIDUAL
LOANS
on
MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
FIXTURES
and the congregation observed
Dr. Franklin's 35th anniversary.
In 1935 the Detroit Temple
Group Plan was instituted, to
stimulate a greater measure of
participation by the members in
the activities of the congregation
and to give the opportunity to
initiate activities and to formu-
late policies.
Observes 85th Birthday
The first annual joint meeting
of all the Jewish men's clubs of
the city was held. The congrega-
tion observed its 85th birthday.
In 1936 the Sabbath Eve Ser-
vices were re-introduced and
Sunday Services discontinued.
Sabbath morning services have
been held uninterruptedly by
Beth El for 95 years.
In 1937 Dr. Franklin was the
speaker over the Coast-to-Coast
"Church of the Air" program
and also delivered the Alumni
lectures and Founder's Day Ad-
dress at the Hebrew Union Col,
lege, which was later published
in book form under the title
"The Rabbi-the Man and His
Message."
In 1938 a High School Choir
was organized. Dr. Franklin
spoke for the second time on the
Church of the Air program and
was elected for the second time
president of the Detroit Library
Commission. In 1939 Dr. Frank-
lin spoke over the Coast-to-
Coast "Message of Israel" pro-
gram; was awarded an honorary
D.D. degree by Hebrew Union
College and the congregation
celebrated his 40th anniversary.
Congregation Cemetery
On Oct. 3, 1939, the congrega-
tion purchased a site for ceme-
tery purposes. The new ceme-
tery-Beth El Memorial Park-
is owned and controlled by the
congregation and operates on
the "perpetual care plan." Only
uniform markers are allowed.
Beth El Memorial Park was
dedicated <on Dec. 1, 1940. A re-
solution passed by the board of
trustees in January, 1945, gives
a member of any Reform con-,
gregation affiliated with Union
of American Hebrew Congrega-
tion the same privileges as those
accorded members of Temple
Beth El. In 1940 - Dr. Franklin
broadcast for the second time on
the "Message of Israel". program
and was awarded an honorary
LL.D. degree by Wayne Uni-
versity. The Congregation cele-
brated its 90th anniversary.
,
Passover
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mortgage was burned at an his-
tonic celebration.
The congregation and its
auxiliary organizations partici-
pated in the Fourth War Loan
Drive and sold $1,600,000- . worth
of war bonds-the largest sum
sold by any congregation in the
Midwest.
A capacity congregation at-
tended D-Day Service on June
6,- 1944.
Dr. Franklin was honored by
the University of Michigan Li-
brary with a "Leo M. Franklin
Section"; was elected for the
third time as president of the
Detroit Public Library Commis-
sion, and was also elected to
honorary 'membership for litera-
ture in the International' Mark
Twain Society.
Exceeds Bond "Record
The congregation participated
in the Fifth War Loan -Drive
and exceeded the record estab-
lished in the previous drive. In
the Summer of 1944, Jay Kauf-
man, a student at Hebrew Union
College, acted as Summer rabbi.
On Jan. 19, 1945, the 95th an-
niversary service of Temple
Beth El was held.
At the request of the Union of
American - Hebrew Congrega-
tions a Sefer Torah - was sent to
some liberated community in
Europe.
The 95th annual meeting and
anniversary celebration will be
held on May 27, 1945.
Beth El has today 1,200 mem-
bers and is considered the
fourth largest and one of the
most active Reform congrega-
tions in the United States.
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Coast "Message of Israel" radio
program. A Consecration Ser-
vice for confirmands and their
parents, at , the Sabbath Eve
services preceding confirmation,
was instituted.
The Summer Rabbi •
During the Summer of 1942
Rabbi Bernard H. Lavine, a
graduate of the 1942 Class of
Hebrew Union College, served
as Summer Rabbi. On Aug. 15,
1942, Rabbi Herschel , Lymon, a
graduate of the 1942 Class of
Hebrew Union College, was ap-
pointed as Minister of Religious
Education. Dr. Glazer inaugur-
ated the annual book-review
course. The Temple Boy Scout
Troops celebrated their 25th an-`
niversary of scouting . at Beth. El.
At' the Sabbath Eve services
on Feb. 12, 1943, the honor roll
of the congregation, containing
275 nam,es of Temple men and
women in the service, was dedi-
cated. The Honor Roll now has
451 names, and eight gold stars.
In March, 1943, Dr. Glazer in-
augurated the annual Institute
on Judaism for the Christian
clergymen and religious educat-,
ors of the city. In August, 1943,
Rabbi LyrriOn entered the Chap-
laincy of the United States
Army and was granted a leave
of absence by the Temple board.
Dr. Glazer was elected a dele-
gate to the American Jewish
Conference.
Building Debt-Free .
The High School Department
of the Religious School was
made available, without charge,
to all the Jewish youth of the
city,
In September, 1943, a drive to
liquidate the capital indebted-
ness of the congregation was
launched and at the Yom Kippur
Eve services Dr. Glazer and Dr.
Franklin announced that the
Temple building was debt-free.
On Jan. 23, 1944, the Temple
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