Rodeph Sholom Dedication Services of New Temple to Be Held March 14 to 17

The dedication exercises of the new Temple Rodeph Sholom, located at Eighty-third Street and Central Park West, will commence on Friday evening, March 14, and will last through Monday afternoon, March 17. Among those who are scheduled on the dedicatory program to make addresses are: Rev. Dr. Stephen S. Wise, Rev. Dr. Nathan Krass, Rev. Dr. Louis I. Newman, rabbi-elect of the Temple; Rev. Dr. Jonah B. Wise, Ernest J. Wile, president of the Congregation: Mrs. Rebekah Kohut, and Rev. Dr. Maurice H. Harris. Cantor Nathan G. Meltzoff will conduct the musical program.

The Congregation Rodeph Sholom was started in 1842 by a group of German Jews. The congregation at first met in Houston Street, then moved to Attorney, and subsequently to Clinton Street. Its first rabbi was Leo Merzbacher. In 1874 the orthodox service of the congregation was altered slightly, and in 1875 a new Temple was rededicated. In 1887 the Temple on Clinton Street was almost wholly destroyed by fire, but was rebuilt.

In 1889 the congregation purchased from Temple Beth-El the building at 63rd Street and Lexington Avenue, which it sold in 1927. In 1896, Rabbi Aaron Wise died after being rabbi of the congregation for twenty years, and in his place the Rev. Dr. Rudolph Grossman was appointed. Dr. Grossman served as the rabbi of Rodeph Sholom until his death in 1927. In the fall of 1928, Rabbi Mitchell Salem Fisher became the acting rabbi of the congregation, and recently Rev. Dr. Louis I. Newman of San Francisco has been elected rabbi of the congregation. During the past three years, the congregation, pending the completion of its new building, has been worshipping in Mecca Temple.