Temple_Beth_El_(Alpena,_Michigan)

Temple Beth El (Alpena, Michigan)

Temple Beth El (Alpena, Michigan)

Unaffiliated synagogue in Michigan, US

Temple Beth-El is a non-denomational Jewish synagogue, located at 125 White Street, in Alpena, Michigan, in the United States. It is the only synagogue in northeastern Lower Michigan.[1] The congregation is closely associated with the Hebrew Benevolent Society Cemetery.[2][3][lower-alpha 1]

For similarly named synagogues, see Beth-El.
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While having no resident rabbi, the temple occasionally brings in visiting rabbis or cantors. It also has periodic outreach programs, which include dialogue with other religious groups in Alpena, Michigan.[8][9][10]

The temple is located at 125 White Street in a vernacular style building built in 1889, making it one of America's relatively few surviving 19th century synagogues.[11] The building was moved to the present site in 1891.[3]

The congregation's archives are in the library of Wayne State University.[12]

Notes

  1. The oldest synagogue in continuous use in Michigan is Temple Beth Shalom in Traverse City, Michigan, dating back to 1885.[4] Older congregations in Michigan (not buildings) exist. E.g., Temple Beth Israel (Jackson, Michigan) a Reform synagogue[5] was formed in 1862 by Jews of German background, organized in 1858, and was the second Reform congregation in Michigan.[6] Temple Beth El (Detroit) was founded in 1850.[7]

References

  1. [1]
    Schwartz, Danny (October 4, 2022). "Synagogue Spotlight: Thriving on Michigan's Coastline". The Detroit Jewish News. Retrieved April 18, 2023. Alpena's Temple Beth-El is Michigan's only synagogue east of I-75 from Bay City to Sault Ste. Marie.
  2. [2]
    "Jewish Alpena is back! Temple Beth-El: A Campaign to document the history and special story of Alpena's Jewish Sanctuary". Patroncity, Jewish Historical Society of Michigan. April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2023. In 1875, the Hebrew Benevolent Society was formed for the purpose of "buying a burial ground." Founders then chartered a society and rented a room in which to hold regular meetings and prayer services (1877). As with all newly emerging Jewish congregations of the era, the Hebrew Benevolent Society was chartered to take care of its sick, bury the dead, and hold Sabbath and holiday services, which at the time, were conducted by officers and selected members.
  3. [3]
    "Temple Beth El of Alpena". DISCOVER HERITAGE ROUTE 23. Retrieved April 19, 2023. It is believed that Julius Myers was among the early Jewish residents of Alpena, settling in the area sometime before 1867. The successful clothier would later serve as president of Alpena's Hebrew Benevolent Society... The first organizational meeting of the new congregation was held on Sunday, October 19, 1890. It was at that meeting that arrangements were made for the purchase of a frame building on Hitchcock Street in Alpena, for a purchase price of $1,100. from Leyman, Robert (October 2, 1958) "An American Shetl A History of the Jewish Community of Alpena, Michigan"
  4. [4]
    "Homepage". Temple Beth Shalom. Traverse City. n.d. Congregation Beth Shalom is a small, vibrant Jewish congregation in the beautiful town of Traverse City. Our synagogue, built in 1885, is Michigan's oldest in continuous use.[self-published source?]
  5. [5]
    "Homepage". Temple Beth Israel Synagogue. n.d. Retrieved March 29, 2009.[self-published source?]
  6. [6]
    "Temple History". Temple Beth Israel Synagogue. n.d. Retrieved August 29, 2009.[self-published source?]
  7. [7]
    Katz, Irving I.; Katz, Jacob R. Marcus (1955). The Beth El Story, with a History of the Jews in Michigan before 1850. Wayne State University Press.
  8. [8]
    "Visiting Rabbi at Temple Beth-El LIFE". The Alpena News. July 18, 2019. Retrieved April 19, 2023.
  9. [9]
    "Rabbi Melanie Aron returns to Temple Beth-El LIFE". The Alpena News. July 15, 2022.
  10. [10]
    "Temple Beth-El reflects on Rabbi Howard Morrison's teachings during visit LOCAL NEWS". The Alpena News. April 6, 2019.
  11. [11]
    Laymen, Robert (January 1986). "The Alpena Jewish Community" (PDF). Michigan Jewish History. 26 (1). United States: Jewish Historical Society of Michigan: 4–8. Retrieved April 21, 2023.
  12. [12]
    "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 3, 2010. Retrieved May 11, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)


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