Cuban Hebrew Congregation

The Cuban Hebrew Congregation, or Temple Beth Shmuel, is a Conservative synagogue used by Ashkenazi Jewish Cuban expatriates, located at 1700 North Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida, in the United States.

Cuban Hebrew Congregation
Temple Beth Shmuel
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
RiteNusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
StatusActive
Location
Location1700 N. Michigan Avenue, Miami Beach, Florida
CountryUnited States
Cuban Hebrew Congregation is located in Central Miami
Cuban Hebrew Congregation
Location within Miami Beach
Geographic coordinates25°47′32.3″N 80°8′22.3″W / 25.792306°N 80.139528°W / 25.792306; -80.139528
Architecture
Architect(s)Oscar Sklar
TypeSynagogue
Date established1961 (as a congregation)
Completed1975; 1982
Website
www.cubanhebrew.com

Overview

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"Approximately 94 percent of Cuba’s Jewish population fled after the [1959] Revolution."[1]

The synagogue was founded in 1961 by Felix Reyler, Oscar White, and Bernardo Benes. Its current location at 1700 North Michigan Avenue opened in 1975, with an expansion in 1982.[2] The congregation is led by Rabbi Stephen Texon and Baal Koreh Jacques Malka. It currently hosts 170 member households and has a Montessori School.

The temple was designed by Oscar Sklar and includes stained glass windows of the Twelve Tribes of Israel designed by Inge Pape Trampler. Mexican artist Naomi Siegman designed the candelabras beside the bimah. The synagogue is named for Shmuel Schacter, father of Jack Chester.

References

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  1. ^ Weiner, Rebecca. "Cuba Virtual Jewish History Tour". Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved March 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "Cuban Hebrew Congregation Timeline". Temple Beth Shumel website. Archived from the original on October 9, 2011. Retrieved August 29, 2011.
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