Sinai Temple (Hebrew: סִינַי) is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 1100 Dickinson Street, in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States.
| Sinai Temple | |
|---|---|
Hebrew: סִינַי | |
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Jeremy Master |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1100 Dickinson Street, Springfield, Massachusetts |
| Country | United States |
  Location in Massachusetts | |
| Geographic coordinates | 42°04′35″N 72°33′46″W / 42.0763834°N 72.562738°W |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Date established | 1931 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1950 |
| Website | |
| sinaitemple | |
| [1] | |
Founded in 1931,[2] Sinai was the first Reform congregation in Springfield. The congregation's first rabbi, David M. Eichhorn, was hired in 1932 and let go just two years later due to financial difficulty brought on by the Great Depression,[3] though he went on to become a prominent American rabbi and authority on interfaith marriage and conversion for the Reform movement.
History
editThe congregation began meeting at a mansion at 188 Sumner Avenue in Springfield in 1932, which was used as a synagogue until the late 1940s.[4] In 1949 Sinai broke ground on a new location at 1100 Dickinson Street, near the Longmeadow border, which was completed in 1950.[1]
Notably, Sinai has had two long-tenured rabbis: Herman E. Snyder (1947–1970) and Mark D. Shapiro (1988–2016). Membership grew from 50 to 500 families under Rabbi Snyder's leadership.[5] An interfaith leader, he created the Sinai Temple Institute for Christian and Muslim Clergy and Educators, an annual learning session that brings together clergy from the three major religions for a seminar at the Temple.[6]
Rabbi Snyder's successor, Bernard Cohen, was the first rabbi to serve on the faculty of a Roman Catholic college (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College). His 1970 installation was attended by 100 Catholic and Protestant clergymen.[7]
Rabbinical leaders
edit| Ordinal | Name | Years | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | David M. Eichhorn | 1932–1934 | |
| 2 | Judah Cohn | 1937-1943 | |
| 3 | Hershel Levin | 1943-1947 | [8] |
| 4 | Herman E. Snyder | 1947–1970 | Emeritus: 1970–1992 |
| − | Bernard M. Cohen | 1970–1971 | interim[7][9] |
| 5 | Stanley Davids | 1971–1977 | |
| 6 | Howard Kaplansky | 1977–1983 | [10] |
| − | Jerome S. Gurland | 1983 | interim[11] |
| 7 | Bernard Bloomstone | 1983–1988 | |
| 8 | Mark D. Shapiro | 1988–2016 | Emeritus: 2016–2020[12][13] |
| − | Howard Kosovske | 2016–2018 | interim |
| 9 | Jeremy Master | 2018–present | [14] |
Notable members
edit- Eric Lesser, Massachusetts State Senator[15][16]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b "History". Sinai Temple website. Retrieved June 14, 2019.[self-published source?]
- ^ United States of America Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 109th Congress Second Session. Vol. 152. p. 6961 – via Google Books.
- ^ "The David Max Eichhorn Papers". Manuscript Collection No. 79, 1955-1974. American Jewish Archive.
- ^ Adams, Abigail (July 25, 2013). "Springfield's Jewish Community: An American Story". Massachusetts Jewish Ledger.
- ^ "The Herman E. Snyder Papers". Manuscript Collection No. 598, 1916-1992. American Jewish Archive.
- ^ Dresner, Stacey (June 9, 2016). "Changing Course – Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro may be retiring from Sinai Temple, but he's not leaving". Massachusetts Jewish Ledger.
- ^ a b "A Rabbi Is Installed Before Three Faiths". The New York Times. November 9, 1970.
- ^ Sinai Temple's Rabbinical Leadership (Plaque inside temple). Springfield: Sinai Temple. 2018.
- ^ Sinai Temple's Spiritual Leaders Through the Year (Poster inside temple atrium). Springfield: Sinai Temple. 2023.
- ^ Bogan, Jesse (June 18, 2011). "Longtime rabbi is lauded as 'invaluable resource'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
- ^ "Retired Rabbi Brings Knowledge to Glenmeadow". Glenmeadow E-Newsletter. August 16, 2016.
- ^ Urban, Cori (October 18, 2013). "Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro to celebrate 25 years at Sinai Temple in Springfield.". The Republican.
- ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard (July 22, 2020). "Rabbi Mark Shapiro of Springfield remembered as man of faith, community". The Republican.
- ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard (February 26, 2018). "Sinai Temple selects South Carolina rabbi as new leader". The Republican.
- ^ Schoenberg, Shira (March 25, 2013). "Longmeadow native Eric Lesser celebrates Passover seders with President Obama". The Republican.
- ^ Adams, Abigail (May 15, 2014). "Eric Lesser makes a run for State Senate". Massachusetts Jewish Ledger.