It took more than a minyan to establish Temple Beth El.

The seeds for the founding of Troy’s Conservative synagogue were sewn in 1928, when observant Jews were gathered for services at Shaaray Tephila to celebrate Yom Kippur. During an interlude in the services, a vision was forged of a congregation that would adhere to the traditions of Judaism yet be modern in spirit. In time, a group of families appointed Morris Simon as the new synagogue’s temporary head with Dr. Julius Selzer as president. On April 23, 1929, fifteen men signed the certificate of incorporation for Temple Beth El.

On the weekend of June 5, synagogue members will celebrate seventy-five years of memories that had their origins in that signed document. The three days of celebration will honor the founding members and the institution that they and their successors have guided through more than seven decades.

As part of the weekend celebration, descendants of the original members will be invited to light candles on a birthday cake. These original members are Paul Berner, Benjamin Chuckrow, Harry Gold, Meyer Gold, Joseph Goodman, Abraham Goldstein, Isadore Kaufman, Morris Rome, Harry Rosenthal, Julius Selzer, Morris Simon, Jacob Weinstein, Morris Weinstein, Max Uzewitz and Michael Lesnick.

Finding a Home

In the early days of Temple Beth El, observances were held wherever appropriate space could be found. Members met for services alternately at Shaaray Tephila on Division Street and Beth Israel Bikur Cholim on River Street, then subsequently at the YMHA (later to become the first Jewish Community Center) at 87 First Street. The High Holy Day services of 1929 and 1930 were held at the Masonic Temple. As the synagogue began to assume its own character, crystallizing into an affiliated Conservative congregation, separate quarters were sought. A former Universalist church on 1713 Fifth Avenue was acquired in October 1930. This became Beth El’s home for thirty-eight years.

Appropriately enough, one of Beth El’s first public events was a Siyum Hasefer, the ceremonial completion and dedication of a Torah scroll. The first took place in June of 1929, followed by ceremonies in September 1930, August 1931, September 1935 and May 1941.

Once the synagogue became established, it was able to support the ceremonial roles appropriate to a functioning Jewish religious institution. Cantors were hired. Benjamin Goldfarb served most often in the early years, and Leo Spangelet served in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Louis Levinson became sexton in 1931, and served for many years until his retirement. Several members served as baal k’riah (Reader of the Torah) and in other capacities on the bimah, including Isaac Levinson, Isadore Pfeffer, Morris Daffner, Abe Gaies, Norman Cohen and Abe Singer, among many others. The shofar sounding of Art Ginsburg thrilled congregants for many years.

In time, the Fifth Avenue building was expanded to accommodate a school at the rear of the synagogue on property acquired in 1937 through an anonymous donation. This endeavor was years in the making. Beth El president Isador Kaufman offered to pay for the erection of a school building in 1941. Finally in 1952, a two-story building was completed. The new building was dedicated at a dinner in honor of Kaufman on March 30 of that year.

Services at Beth El reflected an egalitarian ethos. There was mixed seating in the sanctuary and unassigned pews. One of the most significant changes to the life of the congregation was the introduction of a Bat Mitzvah ceremony, rather than Confirmation, to mark the spiritual milestone for girls. This was proposed in 1959 by Rabbi Hershel Matt and approved by the Board. Thereafter, women had the right to be called to the Torah and be counted in a minyan.

Beth El was a growing synagogue during these years. Membership increased to 125 in 1934, 185 in 1944 and 305 in 1954. The current membership roster is 100 families. A residence for the rabbi was purchased in 1947 at 2117 Burdett Avenue. In later years, 407 Hoosick Street, adjacent to the synagogue’s current building, served in this capacity.

Perhaps the most painful incident in Beth El history was the 1968 fire that destroyed the Fifth Avenue building. With the help of Troy policeman and firemen, members removed the Torah scrolls and these survived unscathed. Not as fortunate was the hand-painted family tree, hung at the top of the stairs to the sanctuary, which illustrated the lineage of Temple members.

Once again, Beth El was forced to conduct its spiritual and institutional life in whatever locations could be found. Services were held at the Jewish Community Center on 21st Street and at various rented spaces. High Holy Day services were held at the United Methodist Church, next door to the former synagogue building.

In May of 1971, ground was broken for a the new synagogue and educational center in the Sycaway section of Troy. The site on Hoosick Street was formerly occupied by a Grand Union Market. The new building would be the first synagogue built in Troy in more than 100 years. The synagogue, designed by the architect Irving Paris, was dedicated on October 15, 1971.

Youth Education and Activities

Educating the children of Beth El members was an early priority. The first Sunday School was taught by volunteers under the guidance of Rabbi Joel Geffen and, after 1940, supervised by a member Board. For more intensive Hebrew and Torah education, children attended the Community Talmud Torah. The independent spirit of Beth El members once again asserted itself in the wish to assume the obligation of conducting their own school in their own way. In 1935, the Beth El Hebrew School was born. Sol Moskowitz was the first professional teacher. The second was Isadore Pfeffer, who came to Troy in 1936 and served as teacher and later principal into the 1950’s. Other teachers included Rachelle Friedman, Cantor Isaac Trager, Mrs. Benjamin Raviv, Bea Lurie and Philip Schimmel.

Many children attended both the Sunday School and the weekday Hebrew School, which entailed two afternoon sessions of two hours each. In the 1950s, the combined enrollment in the Sunday and Hebrew Schools grew to 230. The children were taught by fourteen teachers in sixteen classes. In all of these activities, Beth El was one of the first synagogues in the United States to recognized that one-day-a-week education was inadequate to attend to the spiritual development of its youth.

Synagogue members devised a number of avenues for encouraging the engagement of their children in Jewish worship, study and community. A confirmation ceremony was initiated for those who studied for a year past the Bar Mitzvah age; the age was later increased to fifteen. In addition, high school classes were offered, and a variety of youth clubs were established. The active United Synagogue Youth (USY) hosted region-wide gatherings in the early 1970s for young people from northeastern New York and western Massachusetts. Former USY members still retain fond memories of their many ski trips.

With demographic changes in the population of Troy, the religious school was eventually closed. Children of current members attend the Troy Jewish Community Religious School and Bet Shraga Hebrew Academy of the Capital District.

Adult Education and Activities

From its earliest years, Temple Beth El has fulfilled the mitzvah of study. Adult study groups, classes, forums, invited speakers, films and other educational activities have been integral to the synagogue’s mission. Beth El rabbis have also participated in the educational life of the community, serving as lecturers and instructors in a variety of venues. Aryeh Wineman, Beth El rabbi for nineteen years, is an Adjunct Professor in the Judaic Studies Department at the University at Albany.

Social and civic needs have also been addressed. A Brotherhood was founded in 1929, and engaged in a range of activities for many years. Most notable were its plaque awards, given annually from 1934 to 1940, and again in 1947, to leading citizens of Troy. The Sisterhood, also founded in 1929, is still in active operation. Its roster of presidents is a venerable history of dedication to the life of Beth El.

In the late 1950’s, the Joseph M. Weissblum Memorial Library was established in honor of the only Beth El son lost in World War II. The library was housed in the vestry of the synagogue building on Fifth Avenue, and later in a dedicated room in the Hoosick Street location. In its heyday, two hundred volumes were in circulation at any given time. The library continues to function on an open-stack, free, self-serve basis.

Efficiency in Temple operations owes a great deal to its office staff. These individuals have helped to maintain financial accounts, membership records, mailings and other essential duties. The 75th anniversary celebration will feature a special thanks to Margaret Penders for twenty-five years of service.

In keeping with the times, Temple Beth El maintains a Web site that provides a schedule of services, membership information, and announcements of adult study sessions.

Ten rabbis have guided the spiritual life of Temple Beth El: Joel S. Geffen (1929-1944), Reuben Slonim (1944-1947), George Vida (1947-1950), Hershel Matt (1950-1959), Herman Horowitz (1959-1968), William Marder (1968-1971), Noach Valley (1971-1975), Mordecai Kieffer (1975-1981), Steven Fineblum (1981-1985) and Aryeh Wineman (1985 to the present).

The 75th Anniversary Celebration

The 75th anniversary celebration will take place during the weekend of June 4. Kabbalat Shabbat services will be held on Friday at 5:45 pm. Shabbat Services are scheduled for June 5 at 9:00 am. During the services, former Beth El presidents will be called to the Torah. Following the service, there will be a Kiddush sponsored by the Sisterhood.

The Sunday celebration dinner will begin at 5:00 pm with a cocktail hour. A video of historic photographs of the life of the synagogue will play continuously. The sit-down dinner will be catered by Jane Hanft. Rabbi Aryeh Wineman will entertain the guests with songs from the 1920’s, accompanying himself on guitar. Guests are invited to dress appropriately to the time period of the synagogue’s founding.

Members of the organizing committee for the Shabbat service are Howard Alexander, Gerald Friedman, Sue Friedman, Evelyn Ginsburg, Sarah Goldstein, Michael Kupferschmid, Laurie Massry and Aryeh Wineman. The organizing committee for the gala dinner is Beverly Engle, Leita Marinstein and Reeva Nowitz, with special arrangements by Ruth Baum, Arthur Fleischner, Leah Gaies and Abbey Knapp. Members of the decorating committee are Sandra Beskin, Evelyn Ginsburg, Sarah Goldstein and Leah Marinstein. Invitations and publicity are handled by Miriam Biskin, Emily Cohen, Laura Cohen, Reeva Nowitz, Harriet Posner and Mark Stein.