Temple Israel, Formerly Congregation Shaarai Tov, est. 1878
In 1877, the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society was established in St. Paul.
Shaarai Tov was founded in 1878 as an Orthodox congregation.
Twenty three founders rented space at Nicollet and Washington Avenues.
Rabbi Henry Friedman was the first rabbi.
In 1879, Rabbi Schrieber became the rabbi.
In 1880, after Rosh Hashanah, Rabbi Henry Ilowizi became the leader of Shaarai Tov.
He led the congregation to change their Orthodox worship style and developed a “Conservative Reform” style of worship.
Rabbi Ilowizi started the practice of confirmation for teenagers, instead of the bar mitzvah, and officiated at public conversions.
The synagogue’s prayer book included both Hebrew and English.
The First Building
Shaarai Tov’s first building, built in the Moorish revival style, was located at 5th Street and Marquette Avenue.
In 1888, Shaarai Tov moved to Tenth Street and Fifth Avenue South. It burned down in 1902.
In 1902, Rabbi Samuel Deinard became the rabbi of Shaarai Tov.
He founded the American Jewish World, a newsletter for the Twin Cities.
In 1903, Shaarai Tov dedicated a new synagogue building on the old site.
Temple Israel, Minneapolis
Temple Israel
In 1920, Shaarai Tov joined the Reform Movement and the congregation changed its name to Temple Israel.
Rabbi Albert Minda became the new rabbi and served Temple Israel for 43 years.
He led Temple Israel in the construction of a new building.
In 1928, the congregation moved into their new synagogue at 2324 Emerson Avenue. The building was designed by Jack Liebenberg.
Rabbi Minda helped found the Minnesota Urban League and Minneapolis Round Table of Christians and Jews.
Temple Israel, Minneapolis, Minnesota
In 1963, Rabbi Max Shapiro was the next Rabbi of Temple Israel.
In 1985, Temple Israel was the 10th largest Reform synagogue in North America.
Around 1987, Rabbi Marcia Zimmerman became the first woman rabbi on staff at Temple Israel.
In 2001, she became the first woman Senior Rabbi of a congregation of more than 2,000 families.
Sources
- W. Gunther Plaut, The Jews in Minnesota: The First Seventy-Five Years (New York: American Jewish Historical Society, 1959).
- Temple Israel, https://templeisrael.com/history
Samantha Silver is curator for this Shaarai Tov/Temple Israel exhibit.