Temple Beth Israel

1842-1862

In 1842, German born Jacob Hirsch settled in the twelve-year old village of Jackson, Michigan, joined within a few months by Jacob Levy, and in 1846 by Bernard Wolff. In 1858 the Jewish residents organized the Hebrew Benevolent Society. First officers were: Henry Lang, president; Joseph Hanauer, vice president; Louis Zunder, secretary; and Joseph Hirsch, treasurer.

This group formed the nucleus of the Jewish congregation that purchased an acre of land for a burial ground in 1859. On May 21, 1859, Rosa Hirsch, thirty-eight year old wife of Jacob Hirsch, was interred there. Rabbi Liebman Adler of Temple Beth El in Detroit conducted the funeral rites and consecrated the cemetery.

The earliest Jewish prayer meetings were held at the home of Jacob Hirsch, 189 Mechanic Street. Jackson was a city of 10,000 in 1862 when the congregation was formed, the second Reform Synagogue in the State of Michigan. Ten Jewish families of German descent purchased a small Greek Revival building for $400, a former Baptist Church building on the public square in the heart of the city. Consumer's Energy Office building is currently located on the site. The building had a steeple, town clock and bell, contained sixty pews and would seat 300. Its first membership totaled thirty-one. Reverend Mayer Wetterhahn from Cleveland was hired as spiritual leader, teacher and shochot supplementing his $360 annual salary with three and five cent fees for ritual slaughtering of poultry.

A Hebrew-German school was established at that time for secular and religious education. From the time of the founding of the Congregation through all or most of the remaining forty years of the nineteenth century, the minutes of Board meetings were taken in German.

1862-1864

The following "Fundamental Articles" appeared in the original Constitution in 1862:

1. "Peace and Harmony should reign in an Israelitish Congregation, friendship and brotherly love should inspire its members to aid each other through words and deeds and to constitute one great family."

2. "Members of a Hebrew Congregation should be Israelites, indeed, either by birth or creed, which fact in both cases is to manifest itself by a course of life becoming a good Israelite."

3. "The Congregation in its religious institution, while manifesting a due veneration for the transmission (of the heritage) of our fathers, should yet satisfy the demands of time and follow the progressive culture of our time."

Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise came to Jackson to give the consecration sermon on January 29, 1864. The founder of liberal Judaism in this country wrote an article in the "Israelite" dated February 12, 1864 in which he described the "kind spirit of esteem and friendship uniting the Jewish and Gentile population of Jackson." He tells too, of great celebrations, feasts and balls attended by the townspeople and visitors from Kalamazoo, Albion, Niles, Marshall, Adrian, and Detroit to the new congregation." Rabbi Wise founded the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC), Hebrew Union College, and the Central Conference of American Rabbis.

In September of 1864, Rabbi Elias Epstein became the second preacher, teacher and cantor of the congregation. During this same year, a Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society was organized.

In September of 1864, Rabbi Elias Epstein became the second preacher, teacher and cantor of the congregation. During this same year, a Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society was organized. In 1865 Henry Lang bought a house for $300 and rented it to the congregation for school purposes.

1865

In June of 1865 prayer shawls were prohibited to all but the rabbi, president, vice president and those with altar honors. The first Torah and its ornaments were presented to the congregation by Henry Lang and Joseph Hanan in 1863. A silver engraved plate in the form of the Ten Commandments to hang on the Torah and a second Torah were presented to the congregation on Sabbath Chanuke in 1866 by members of the Mendelsohn Literary Association, a social organization established by Rabbi Epstein.

At a special meeting of the Congregation held on April 21, 1865, a committee of three was appointed "to draft resolutions to express our sorrow on the untimely death of the lamented Chief Magistrate, Abraham Lincoln." The last three resolutions read:

1. "Resolved that to the honor of the deceased father of his Country, prayers shall be offered for the term of six weeks in our regular prayer meetings."

2. "Resolved that these resolutions be entered in our Minutes and publicly read during Services for the six successive Sabbaths."

3. "Resolved that these Resolutions shall be printed in the Jackson Daily Citizen, and other city papers, and that a copy be transmitted to the family of the late President, to the Secretary of State, and to his Excellency, Andrew Johnson."

1866-1881

In May 1866, Rabbi Weil came to Beth Israel to recite prayers and read from the Torah. In 1871 a system of fines was established to bolster attendance. In June, 1872 the "Jackson Debating Society" was founded, and in 1874 equal rights were granted women of the congregation along with equal taxation for seats on the High Holy Days. In 1874 Jackson City Lodge No. 256 of B'nai B'rith was founded, later to become the David Heuman Lodge No. 807.

Following the departure of Rabbi Weil in 1871, the congregation was served from 1871 to 1872 by Rabbi Alexander Rehfield, Rabbi Henry Desenbery from 1872 to 1877, Rabbi Henry Friedman from 1877 to 1879, and Dr. E. Eger from 1879 to 1881.

An item in the Jackson Weekly Citizen for 20 April, 1880, page five, said "The members of the Beth Israel Society have engaged the services of a new rabbi - Rev. Dr. Resenoheth of St. Louis, Missouri." Nowhere else in our archives is this man's name mentioned.

1881-1905

From 1881 to 1900 the Temple was inactive, with services reduced to the High Holy Days. Not until 1900 did we have visiting Rabbi George Zepin, from Kalamazoo. During this dark period, the synagogue was sold and all that remained was a bank account in the congregation's name. In 1905, after a series of meetings instituted by the B'nai B'rith, the congregation was reorganized and a new constitution and by-laws adopted on March 26, 1905. Rabbi Leonard Rothstein was engaged as biweekly rabbi from 1904 to 1907. This was the year the Temple Aid Society, later to become known as our Sisterhood, was established.

On July 9, 1902, Maurice Heuman, acting for the congregation, bought a church building on East Wesley Street for $1250, for a new Temple. The building is still standing and is used as a plumbing contractor's warehouse. Participating as congregational president was Al Weiger; S.J. Loeb, vice-president; Herman Marx, secretary; S.E. Wolff, Maurice Heuman, Julius Lewek and Meyer Levy, trustees. The new Synagogue was dedicated on Friday evening and Saturday mornings, September 22 and 23, 1905. Rabbi Leo M. Franklin, then spiritual leader of Temple Beth El of Detroit, gave the dedication address. Rabbi George Zepin, then Director of Circuit Work of the UAHC delivered the morning sermon.

1906-1944

In 1906 Maurice Heuman was elected president and held this office for twenty-eight years as well as serving as mayor of Jackson from 1928 to 1932. In April 1st of that year we joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

In 1907 Rabbi Emanuel Kahn came as a biweekly rabbi; Rabbi Samuel Thurman conducted services from 1910 to 1912. The Congregation was without a Rabbi from 1912 to 1917. During the time from 1912 to 1919, Professor I.L. Sharfman of the University of Michigan conducted weekly and high holiday services.

Rabbi Adolph Steiner was a full-time leader in 1920, followed by Rabbi Bernard Stern until 1922. From 1923 to 1924 and 1927 to 1931 we had student or neighboring rabbis conducting only biweekly and high holiday services. From 1925 to 1926 we had Rabbi Fram from Beth El in Detroit. In 1933, Rabbi Jerome Folkman came as full-time religious leader. Active in the community, he was Chairman of the Public Library Board, President of the Ministerial Association, and Director of the Community Chest. From 1936 to 1939, Rabbi Charles Lesser occupied the pulpit. From 1939 to 1943, Rabbi Bernard Zeiger served. During this period, the first committees were formed and the first great strides were made towards the goal of a new Temple. Rabbi Nathan Kaber came to the congregation in 1944. 

1944-1945

Fundraising was a top priority in 1944 and 1945 for a new building. As of October 27, 1944, $33,950.98 had been raised. Four sites were considered: one a half mile beyond the city limits on Spring Arbor Road, another on Brown Street near the Cascades, the third on Michigan Avenue at West Avenue, and a fourth on Greenwood and Randolph Streets, purchased in case the Michigan Avenue deal fell through. It was later sold. By February 2, 1948 the building fund was just $37,000 short of the $120,000 goal. Temple leadership managed to purchase the Michigan Avenue site for the new Temple from the Union School District for $7551. They also purchased a bungalow for the Rabbi for $6996. And, that same year they donated $500 from the Temple to the Jackson YMCA to furnish two residence rooms.

On October 21, 1945, Temple Beth Israel celebrated its eighty-fifth anniversary with a dinner and program at the Hotel Hayes. The annual Passover Seder in 1945 year was limited to seventy-five. Cost was $2.00 for adults and $1.00 for children twelve and under.

In March, 1945, the congregation dedicated an honor roll plaque containing the names of members and sons of members in the service during World War II. Out of a congregation of fifty families thirty-five young men served the nation in the Armed Forces.

1946

The February 1, 1946 bulletin carried a letter from President Harry S. Truman addressed to Dr. Morgenstern, honoring the 70th Anniversary of Hebrew Union College. In it he says, "It is now the oldest rabbinical institution on this continent. From it have gone forward hundreds of men who have devoted themselves to the best interests of our country, and to the ideals of their faith. They have pioneered in many social and progressive movements and have been in the vanguard when the country called for service and sacrifice - showing the essential unity of high religion and noble Americanism."

The 1948/49 Sisterhood Directory (Blue Book) listed seventy-six members. Activities that year included a June Outdoor Picnic Supper, and a July Dessert-Lunch. In August both a Rummage Sale and Beach Party were held. September and October were reserved for Sisterhood Card Parties. In November they played Bingo. December featured parties for "Kiddies" and "Chanukah", followed by a Smorgasbord and Movies of Palestine in January. In March a Carnival and Book Review took place followed by a second Rummage Sale. In April a dance was held. In May Sisterhood held their annual Donor Luncheon. The yearly budget in 1948 was $2,463.95.

In February, 1946, the congregation sponsored the first institute on Judaism for the Christian clergy in the community to which all the members of the Jackson Ministerial Association were invited to hear Dr. Sam Cohan, Professor of Theology from Hebrew Union College. It was followed in 1947 by an institute on Judaism for the Jackson Council of Church Women with Rabbi Kaber as lecturer. Records show support by our Temple under the leadership of Bill Levy for the Hebrew Union College, the Jackson Jewish Federation, and for our "Overseas Responsibilities."

1947-1949

Rabbi Kaber was succeeded by Dr. Carl Herman, who died suddenly after six weeks' stay in Jackson, October and November in 1947. Zola Rosenfeld was Temple president at the time and also acted as a lay leader for services.

In 1948 Dr. Frank Rosenthal was called to our pulpit. He initiated "The Institute of Religious Studies," radio broadcasts for Jewish holidays and interfaith services.

On June 19, 1949, following years of planning, a new Temple was dedicated on the site at 801 W. Michigan Avenue, our current building. Louis Glick and Nathan Rosenfeld were co-chairs of the building committee. Zola Rosenfeld was temple president; Helen Heuman, Sisterhood president; and Fred Farkas, president of B'nai B'rith. Ed Crowle was the Organist and Director of Music. Maurice Gerow sang "Arioso" by Handel at the dedication ceremony. Dr. Frank Rosenthal was Rabbi. That same year Henriette Rosenfeld and Bea Dickstein from Pontiac organized the youth organization, Michigan State Temple Youth. This organization continued for half a century to play a vital and important role for our Reform Jewish youth.

1950-1960

The Nettie Wolff Happy Day and Memorial Fund was established in 1950 for Jewish charities.

In 1952 Rabbi Harold Gelfman joined us, followed in 1955 by Morris Shapiro. A popular speaker who was involved in the Jackson community, Rabbi Shapiro was director of the Family Service Bureau, on the faculty of the University of Life, President of the Jackson Ministerial Association, and Jewish Chaplain for all Michigan State Penal Institutions.

At the 100th anniversary in 1959, Rabbi Shapiro shared the Bima with Rabbi Philip Frankel of Lansing who gave the sermon. Heinz Ahronheim was the Temple president; Maynard Green, president of B'nai B'rith; and Harriet Stolorow, president of Sisterhood. During this period the Sisterhood held workshops for Jackson County teachers explaining the Holidays.

1960-1970

In 1963 the Judaica Art Fund was established for the care and restoration of existing art and Judaica and for the purchase of new art.

After Shapiro left in 1962, Henry Schwartz followed until 1964. In 1966 the Zola Rosenfeld family commissioned, then donated the four stained glass windows on the West wall of the current sanctuary in memory of Zola who died in 1961. They were dedicated on May 22, 1966; Rabbi Rosenthal gave the sermon. Well known artist A. Raymond Katz created the windows which represent Torah, peace, justice and good deeds.

Rabbi Rievan Slavkin served the Temple until 1970. During this period Heinz Ahronheim with Herb Amster formed "Operation Gentle Persuasion" which met at the Temple. This was a community organization to promote brotherhood and racial understanding at a time of great turmoil in the school systems of Jackson County. The first woman Rabbi, Sally Preisand, while she was still a student, served the congregation with Gordon Gladstone for a year before Steven Chester joined us in 1971.

The Second Century Fund was established in 1968 as an emergency fund to operate the Temple into the next century. The Gifts and Endowments Fund was established for memorials or mitzvahs with the principal going into the Second Century Fund.

1970-1988

On June 3, 1971, Rabbi Chester was ordained in Cincinnati. That night, fire swept through Temple Beth Israel burning holes in the ceiling of the sanctuary, and severely damaging the social hall and the stained glass windows. Fortunately members of the Temple reached the building in time to rescue the three Torahs and other priceless and historic artifacts. It has been reported Heinz Ahronheim and Bob Glick ran into the burning building to save the Torahs. Although scorched, the Torahs were repairable. During the rebuilding, the congregation met at the First Methodist Church and borrowed Torahs from the prison to conduct services.

Dr. Edith Ahronheim was the first woman to become Temple president. She held the office from 1976 to 1978. Ten years later Barbara Rudolph became the second woman president of Temple Beth Israel, and presided from 1986 to 1988.

Rabbi Chester led the congregation for five years with Irwin Tannenbaum his successor from 1976 to 1984. Retired Rabbi Phillip Frankel served for six months until Jeffrey Gale arrived late in 1984 from London where he was trained at the Leo Beck School. He stayed three years as did Robert Shafran. Rabbi Alan Ponn joined us in 1990 and in the fall of 1999, became Rabbi Emeritus.

The Tree of Life was donated to the Temple as a memorial to Sadie and Louis Glick by the Glick family as an ongoing fund-raiser for the Temple to commemorate happy occasions.

1990 and Beyond 

In 1993 the Evelyn Hirsch Israel Travel Loan Fund was established by her husband Henry to make low interest loans to people desiring to travel to Israel.

In 1994 the Ahronheim Speaker Fund was established in memory of Heinz and Edith by their children.

Rabbis at Temple Beth Israel have served as the Jewish Chaplain at Southern Michigan Prison at Jackson since the time of Rabbi Shapiro in 1957. That was around the same time the chapel in the main complex was built, funded with the help of the infamous Jewish "Purple Gang" of the Detroit area. The Chapel has an Ark, Torah, Ritual Objects including prayer shawls donated over the years, and comes with a fully equipped Jewish Library. The first Seders were held in the 1940's. Seders from mid 1950's through the 1970's were catered from the Raleigh House in Detroit with sometimes over 100 people attending, including State dignitaries. Many Temple Beth Israel congregants have regularly visited Prison services over the years. Our Sisterhood has been providing a Passover Seder Dinner at the prison since the 1970's.

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