Discussion regarding the consolidation of three Reform congregations of St. Louis has been the major interest within recent weeks in the community. The congregations are Temple Israel, whose Rabbi, Leon Harrison, met his untimely death last Summer, Shaare Emeth, led by Rabbi Louis Witt, who resigned his pulpit to go to Dayton, Ohio, and B’nai El, whose spiritual leader is Rabbi Julian Miller. Shaare Emeth has a Rabbi Emeritus, Samuel Sale. There is another Reform congregation in St. Louis, the United Hebrew congregation, whose spiritual advisor is Rabbi Samuel Thurman.
The purpose behind the consolidation would be to provide one large house of worship for the three congregations. At one time announcement was made in the daily press that the consolidation has been effected. However later developments proved that this was erroneous and announcement was recently made that the three congregations would continue as heretofore. President Julian Morgenstern of Hebrew Union College visited St. Louis recently and advised against consolidation, stating that the experiences of other communities did not warrant a merger as contemplated in St. Louis. As a result Shaare Emeth and B’nai El contemplate building new temples and Temple Israel will erect a community house adjacent to its present location.
Mrs. Rachel Stix-Michaels was elected vice-president of the School Board at its regular meeting. This election puts her in line for the presidency of the Board of Education two years hence. In nominating Mrs. Michaels it was stated that no member of the school board had served more indefatigably than she. Mrs. Michael’s late husband was a leading citizen of St. Louis. There is a public school named after him.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
