Erection of 4 New Synagogues, at $840,000, Attests Growth of Minneapolis Jewish Community (By Our Minneapolis Correspondent)
The Jewish cultural, educational and religious life in Minneapolis during the last year has shown an increase greater than at any similar period in the history of the city.
This advancement is attested by the construction of four synagogues at a total cost of $840,000 and an increase in active membership of more than thirty five per cent. All three divisions of Jewry are represented in the increase, the Reform, Conservative and Orthodox branches.
The four new synagogues are the Temple Israel, Reform, erected at a cost of $350,000; Beth E1 Temple, Conservative erected at a cost of $125,000; Adath Yeshurun, Conservative, which cost $225,000 and Mikro Kodesh, Orthodox, erected at a cost of $140,000.
Temple Israel is in the process of construction and will not be ready for occupancy until some time during the spring of 1928. The others are either completed or nearly so and are being used by their congregations.
The four new synagogues have a total seating capacity of 3,800, number on their daily Hebrew school registers, 1,050 children ranging in age from six to sixteen years and their congregations consist of 1,000 families, or approximately 4,000 persons.
However the four congregations may differ on observances of ancient customs and forms of worship they are unanimous in their effor to provide adequate school room facilities and competent teaching staffs for their children. All of the Hebrew schools operated by the congregations are of the supplementary-educational class. None of these is run on a full time basis but ranging from two to ten hours each week, each provides instruction in historical, religious, ethical, cultural and Hebrew language courses. The classes are so arranged that the children are able to attend them with no inconvenience after they are dismissed from their public school classes.
Adult classes, especially for the study of Hebrew, are provided and in some instances special study rooms are available.
Temple Israel, of which Rabbi Albert G. Minda, is rabbi, which was started in April 1927 and the school building which while a part, is yet distinct from the temple itself, will be open in November. This structure in addition to the main auditorium seating 1,200 persons, has twenty school rooms, each a separate and distinct unit to house the 400 pupils. The congregation, which is fifty years old, started with a dozen or more families and now numbers 325 families. The building includes a gymnasium, showers, library, rabbi’s study, social service room, small auditorium seating 700, stage, kitchen and special memorial chapel.
The educational and social activities of the congregation include the woman’s sisterhood, men’s club, junior congregation, Boy Scout troop No. 10 and a normal school for the training of teachers.
Beth El Temple, not fully completed as yet, but occupied since April 1926, houses a congregation of 175 families and although of the conservative element, has a chapel in the basement for strictly orthodox worship by the older members. Dr. David Aronson is rabbi of this temple. The main auditorium seats 750 persons, and there are six school rooms, a club room, smaller auditorium with a stage, a complete kitchen, and arrangements for the staging of dinners. The social and educational activities in addition to the daily school include adult classes in Hebrew and talmud study, junior congregation and women’s classes in Jewish history, current events and literature.
Mikro Kodesh Temple, Rabbi Moses Romm, rabbi, which was formally dedicated in August, houses one of the oldest congregations in the city. The congregation numbers 300 families and in addition to the large auditorium and pastor’s study houses a kitchen, dining room, lecture halls and wedding chapel.
The congregation’s school is housed in a separate building and accommodates 350 pupils. The congregation is planning to erect a new school building as soon as the registration passes the 400 mark. The junior congregation numbers about 300 and is conducting a campaign to bring its membership to 700.
Adath Yeshurun, Rabbi Jesse Schwartz, rabbi, which was recently dedicated, was organized in 1885 and today numbers 225 families in the congregation.
The building seats 1,000 persons in the main auditorium, has seventeen class rooms, a complete kitchen, dining hall, lecture rooms and social hall with stage equipment. The daily school
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