Dublin Core
Title
Temple B’Nai Israel
Subject
Judaism; Florence, AL; Lauderdale County, AL
Description
A significant Jewish community has existed in the Shoals area since the 1840s. One of the earliest references to the Jewish community in Florence, Alabama was in September 1882 (Rosh Hashanah) in the Florence Gazette reminding readers that “our citizens of that belief generally observed by closing their places of business.”
Various rabbis from Birmingham and Huntsville performed wedding ceremonies and funerals until the congregation decided the time had come to build a temple and to hire a Rabbi. The Florence-Standard Journal reported that Rosh Hashanah services had been conducted in the Masonic Hall on Court Street (which, in addition to the homes of various members, would appear to have been the usual meeting place for the group that became Temple B’Nai Israel. Many of the male congregants were Masons.)
The Florence Herald reported in March of 1899 that “there were about twenty-five children who needed instruction in their faith.”
In June of 1900, the Times reported that plans were being made to build a Temple in Florence. Mark Reisman and M. (believed to stand for Mose) Coplan led the building project. The Times reported, “some of our best citizens are Hebrews and they form quite a considerable portion of our community, they are law abiding and prosperous and always found on the right side of every question leading to the upbuilding and prosperity of the city’s growth.”
In July of 1900, The Times reported that $800 had been raised toward the building of a Temple and that, a board of trustees had been elected at a meeting in the home of Morris Coplan: President, Mark Reisman; Vice President, A. E. Bresler; Secretary, H. Weinbaum (of Sheffield); Treasurer, H. Miller. Philip Olim, H. Goldman, A. Kreisman, and Joe P. May were elected as Trustees.
On January 22, 1906, the Congregation incorporated in Colbert County under the name of Congregation B’nai Israel of the Tri-Cities. The first permanent meeting place of Temple B’nai Israel was in Sheffield, Alabama, (from 1906 until 1953) where the congregants were active religiously and socially.
In January 1953, at the annual (business) meeting of the group, Louis Rosenbaum (then president) announced that the purpose of the meeting was to make a final decision on the new building. An architect had estimated that it would cost $3,500 to repair the old building, and an attorney opined that the old building could be sold. The group discussed a sketch of the new building and voted that lots on Hawthorne Street in Florence be purchased. It was agreed that the auditorium and the portion of the building that would house religious school rooms be built immediately with the auditorium serving as the sanctuary until that time. The sum of $10,000 was taken from the surplus Federation funds to place into a building fund. The Lt. Alvin Rosenbaum Foundation conveyed almost all of lots 1, 2, and 3 in Block 427 of the City of Florence to the Congregation B’nai Israel of the Tri-Cities. The Temple still stands at 201 Hawthorne Street. The cornerstone of the Temple was laid in 1953.
An addition to the building, which added three classrooms and enclosing the arcade, were added in 1958. The building, in essence, remains the same today.
Rabbi Joseph Gallinger of Birmingham, came to the Temple in 1957 and stayed for nineteen years, instituting many of the traditions that are still followed by the congregants.
A twelve tribes memorial plaque, an etched glass memorial, and tree of life doors have been added to the interior of the building.
The Temple B’nai Israel hosted a centennial celebration in 2006.
Various rabbis from Birmingham and Huntsville performed wedding ceremonies and funerals until the congregation decided the time had come to build a temple and to hire a Rabbi. The Florence-Standard Journal reported that Rosh Hashanah services had been conducted in the Masonic Hall on Court Street (which, in addition to the homes of various members, would appear to have been the usual meeting place for the group that became Temple B’Nai Israel. Many of the male congregants were Masons.)
The Florence Herald reported in March of 1899 that “there were about twenty-five children who needed instruction in their faith.”
In June of 1900, the Times reported that plans were being made to build a Temple in Florence. Mark Reisman and M. (believed to stand for Mose) Coplan led the building project. The Times reported, “some of our best citizens are Hebrews and they form quite a considerable portion of our community, they are law abiding and prosperous and always found on the right side of every question leading to the upbuilding and prosperity of the city’s growth.”
In July of 1900, The Times reported that $800 had been raised toward the building of a Temple and that, a board of trustees had been elected at a meeting in the home of Morris Coplan: President, Mark Reisman; Vice President, A. E. Bresler; Secretary, H. Weinbaum (of Sheffield); Treasurer, H. Miller. Philip Olim, H. Goldman, A. Kreisman, and Joe P. May were elected as Trustees.
On January 22, 1906, the Congregation incorporated in Colbert County under the name of Congregation B’nai Israel of the Tri-Cities. The first permanent meeting place of Temple B’nai Israel was in Sheffield, Alabama, (from 1906 until 1953) where the congregants were active religiously and socially.
In January 1953, at the annual (business) meeting of the group, Louis Rosenbaum (then president) announced that the purpose of the meeting was to make a final decision on the new building. An architect had estimated that it would cost $3,500 to repair the old building, and an attorney opined that the old building could be sold. The group discussed a sketch of the new building and voted that lots on Hawthorne Street in Florence be purchased. It was agreed that the auditorium and the portion of the building that would house religious school rooms be built immediately with the auditorium serving as the sanctuary until that time. The sum of $10,000 was taken from the surplus Federation funds to place into a building fund. The Lt. Alvin Rosenbaum Foundation conveyed almost all of lots 1, 2, and 3 in Block 427 of the City of Florence to the Congregation B’nai Israel of the Tri-Cities. The Temple still stands at 201 Hawthorne Street. The cornerstone of the Temple was laid in 1953.
An addition to the building, which added three classrooms and enclosing the arcade, were added in 1958. The building, in essence, remains the same today.
Rabbi Joseph Gallinger of Birmingham, came to the Temple in 1957 and stayed for nineteen years, instituting many of the traditions that are still followed by the congregants.
A twelve tribes memorial plaque, an etched glass memorial, and tree of life doors have been added to the interior of the building.
The Temple B’nai Israel hosted a centennial celebration in 2006.
Creator
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Source
Coleman, Edwin M., A History of Temple B'nai Israel, Florence, Alabama, Centennial Celebration, 1906 - 2006. Private Printing. Florence, Alabama. 2006.
Publisher
Alabama Cultural Resource Survey
Date
1953 to the present
Contributor
Pam Kingsbury, University of North Alabama
Type
Still Image