This Week

Redefining Reform

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At its 150th anniversary, Temple Beth El looks back on a rich

history of leadership, innovation and social action.

Judaism is ever evolving, but whose
commitment to the community and its
efforts to reach out beyond its own bor-
ders have been steadfast.
he beginnings were modest.
Nationally, Temple Beth El has given
On Sept. 22, 1850, a dozen
Reform Judaism several leading rabbis
German Jews met at the
— among them, Rabbis Leo Franklin
home of Sarah and Isaac
and Richard C. Hertz — and some
Cozens to formally establish the "Bet El
innovative ideas, such as unassigned
Society." This dedicated group became
seating in the sanctuary. Locally, many
the first Jewish congregation in the state
congregations have evolved from Beth El
of Michigan.
(as it was called at first), including
Today, that congregation is known as
Congregation Shaarey Zedek and
Temple Beth El, and it has 150 years of
Temple Israel.
history to celebrate. Over the course of
Additionally, Beth El members and
that century and a half, its rabbis and
rabbis
from the very beginning have
members have continually redefined this
worked
to create a better community
religious institution. At its core, this is a
through
joint projects and personal
congregation whose idea of Reform
endeavors.
But let's go back and trace those
Heidi S. Christein is director of the
modest beginnings. Initially, Marcus
Leonard N Simons Jewish Community
Cohen led services for the small group
Archives of the Jewish Federation of
in Beth El members' homes. Soon, how-
Metropolitan Detroit. She was Temple
ever, a New York Orthodox rabbi,
Beth El's first professional archivist; prior
Samuel Marcus, was engaged to serve
to that she was an archivist at the Walter
not only as spiritual leader but also as
I? Reuther Library at Wayne State
cantor, teacher, ritual slaughterer and
University.

HEIDI S. CHRISTEIN
Special to the Jewish News

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5/5
2000

EDITOIVS, - NOTE:

Many synagogue; have closed or merged,
but Temple Beth El hai endured, influ-
encing many congregations and serving
as a champion for the Reform movement
and Detroit Jewry Here we reflect on
the temple's historic role; next week, we
focus on today and the future. A corn-
panion story on a musical retrospective.
about Beth El appears on page 100.

mohel (performing circumcisions); all
services he performed for $200 a year.
In 1851, Beth El legally incorporated
and, in 1852, seeking fixed quarters, the
congregation rented a room on Jefferson
Avenue over the store of Silberman and
Hersch.
Though more settled, the fledgling
TEMPLE BETH EL on page 10