68
 

SOUVENIR,
 

TEMPLE  EMANU=EL.
 

I
 

Ml 1       1  ML
 


 

!i!io|[Bh^ijgi

^■liiiBl—BHliiii—

ElBllMBiy^H
 

'TT H E congregation
worshipping in
the Temple Emanu-
El, Fifth avenue and
Forty-third street, has
been for many years
the largest and most
influential, as well as
one of the foremost,
among the Jewish con¬
gregations of Amer¬
ica, It was founded
fifty years ago, and
recently celebrated its
semi - centennial. It
was organized by a small band of German
Jews of New York, who had become dissatis¬
fied with the conservative forms in vogue in
the synagogues of the land, and were the pio¬
neers in this reform movement, at least as far
as the northern part of the United States is
concerned. Its founders, thirty-three in num¬
ber, were educated citizens of liberal views,
who demanded also a religious service in har¬
mony with these sentiments, and hence took
steps which resulted in the organization of the
Temple Emanu-El in 1845. A small room was
hired in Grand and Clinton streets, and here
the new congregation, composed of former
members of the Cultus-Verein (Society for
Religious Worship), as it styled itself, met for
religious service. Recently one of its first cir¬
culars was brought to light by its indefatigable
Secretary, Mr. Myer Stern, in which these
purposes and principles found forcible expres¬
sion. The concluding lines of this circular
appeal clearly illustrate the change in the ma¬
terial condition of its members since then, it
having read as follows : '' Initiation fee is two
dollars. Monthly contributions, one shilling.''
Rev. Leo Merzbacher was chosen as its first
Rabbi and Lecturer at the modest salary of
|200 per year, and a Reader at the like salary.
In 1847 more ambitious quarters were secured
in a church building in Chrystie street, pur¬
chased  for $12,000;  but these  surroundings
 

also soon were outgrown, and another church
building in Twelfth street, west of Third
avenue, was purchased for $30,000 in 1854 ; and
this also gave place in the course of time,
thanks to the northward development of New
York's Jews and their increase in numbers,
to the present magnificent Temple structure
on Fifth avenue and Forty-third street, which
the congregation erected and dedicated in 1868.
Such was the enthusiasm and zeal of its mem¬
bers that the first sale of pews in that year re¬
sulted in the receipt of over $700,000 for 231^^2
out of its 366 pews, leaving a surplus from this
source alone, over its total cost, of $86,000.

Dr. Merzbacher died in office in 1856, and
was succeeded by Dr. Samuel Adler, who re¬
mained in active service till 1874. During a
portion of this time the congregation had an
English lecturer in Mr, R. J. De Cordova, and
later Rev. J. K, Gutheim officiated as English
lecturer. In 1873 Rev. Dr. Gustave Gottheil
was elected minister of the congregation, and
has remained its efficient and beloved Rabbi
ever since, bringing home a knowledge of
Judaism to those without as well as within the
Jewish pale. Rev, Dr, Joseph Silverman has
been its energetic junior minister since 1888.

Although Temple Emanu-El was started as
a reform congregation, its changes from the
old forms have been gradual, but steady. At
first the congregation worshipped with covered
heads, and the sexes separated. The sale of
the privilege of being called to the Law was at
once abolished, and as soon as a building was
secured, an organ was introduced, German
hymns having been introduced even before
this. Soon after 1859 the custom of praying
with covered heads was abolished ; the use of
the Tallis, or praying scarf, was abandoned
about 1854 ; and the wearing of cap and gown
by the Rabbis and Cantor was dispensed with
about 1874. In 1869 the Bar Mitzvah rite was
done away with, and found its substitute in
the confirmation of boys and girls. As early
as 1849 the congregation decided in favor of
the preparation of a ritual in German and Eng¬
lish, but nothing appears to have been done
till 1854, when a new prayer book was com-