Established in 1839, it is the ninth-oldest active Jewish congregation in the United States. Temple Concord, a member of the Union for Reform Judaism, is the leading Reform synagogue in Central New York, and maintains the largest Jewish religious school in the region.[citation needed] Religious services are held every Friday night and Saturday morning, and on Jewish holidays. Religious school and adult education programs take place twice a week. Temple Concord is also the setting for a wide array of educational, cultural and social events the serve then entire Syracuse-area community.[citation needed]
The synagogue building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009; and in 2019 the congregation announced plans to sell the historical synagogue building, due to financial pressures.
Early history
Temple Concord was founded in 1839 by German immigrants drawn to upstate New York by the new Erie Canal. The small group gathered in a back room of a local store for meetings and worship services. By 1841 they had moved to the second floor of a member's home on Mulberry Street, from where they hired their first religious leader (he was not formally trained or ordained as a rabbi). The group incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on February 24, 1942. and first took the name "Comrades of Peace" and shortly thereafter Keneseth Shalome, which they translated in formal English as Temple Society of Concord. Incorporation papers list Max Thalheimer, Samuel Bernheimer and Joseph Wiseman as trustees.[4]
Religious leaders and rabbis
In its early years the congregation was served by many religious leaders. These men were referred to as "Reverends" and they served as cantors, teachers, Mohelim, and Schochetim. With the exception of Bernard Illowy, it is doubtful that any were formally trained or ordained as rabbis. Rabbi Adolph Guttman, who emigrated to America from Hohenems, Austria, was the first modern Reform rabbi, and he shaped the liturgy and organization for decades to come.[5]: 6
Religious leaders (1841–present)
Abraham Gunzenhauser (1841-1846)
Joseph Goodman
Jacob Levi
Bernard Illowy
Herman Berkenthal
Rev. Deutsch
Rev. Cohen
Rev. Burgheimer
Dr. Adolph Guttman (1883-1918)
Rabbi Benjamin Friedman (1919-1969)
Rabbi Theodore S. Levy (1970-1990)
Rabbi Sheldon Ezring (1990-2009)
Rabbi Daniel Fellman (2009-2021)
Rabbi Ilan Emanuel (2021-present)
Synagogue and related buildings
In 1851, the congregation erected its first purpose-built synagogue building at Harrison and Mulberry Streets. The cost was $10,000, a substantial sum at the time.
The present Neo-classical-style sanctuary at the corner of Madison Street and University Avenue, with an attached social hall, was designed by Syracuse-based architect Alfred Taylor and New York-based consulting architect Arnold W. Brunner.[6] The cornerstone was laid on September 19, 1910[7] and the building was dedicated on September 23, 1911. It was built at a cost of $100,000.[3] The social hall was expanded and a classroom building added in the 1920s. The Hiram and Mabel Weisberg Religious School, designed by Edward C. Roock, was built on the east side of the complex and dedicated on February 12, 1961.[5]: 7
The Benjamin M. Berinstein Memorial Chapel was built in 1997 inside the former 1920s education building. Allen Kosoff, a congregant, was the architect, and John Dobbs designed the stained glass windows.[8]
In July 2019, in light of stagnant membership, a rising deficit, and declining participation,[10] members of the congregation voted to sell the building for $9 million, to be converted into student housing.[11] Initial plans by the developer were scaled back in light of community opposition that claimed the proposed development was "too big and out of character". A revised proposal was submitted to consenting authorities in 2021 that proposed 210 apartments with 599 beds.[12]
