About the Temple
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Our Mission
Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish Synagogue that welcomes all who choose to worship, study and celebrate within the Jewish community. We believe in:
- Affirming the continuity of Jewish history through positive expressions of Jewish identity and ensuring the cultural, intellectual and spiritual future of the Jewish people;
- Building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive congregation united by its commitment to humanitarian values as expressed in our Jewish religious, educational and social activities;
- Respecting the individual’s struggles with and conceptualizations of a monotheistic God, while honoring, in our services, rituals, and educational activities, the full spectrum of Jewish traditions and teachings;
- Creating, in ideal and practice, a form of Judaism that enriches the lives of our congregants and which responds to the demands of modern life, enabling the congregants to contribute to the secular culture and leading the greater Reform Jewish community to support and promote an evolving, living Judaism.
Our History
From its very founding above a printing shop on East 125th Street, Temple Israel was an eclectic mixture of adherence to principle and reflection of the changing needs of its membership. Its mission: preserving the continuity of Jewish tradition, strengthening the Jewish community, and assisting those in need in the community at large. Remarkably, Temple Israel went through many transformations without varying its purpose. Equally remarkable is that through its long history it was served by only five Rabbis - including our current Rabbi David Gelfand.
Temple Israel was founded in 1870 as Congregation “Hand in Hand” (in the Hebrew, Yod b’Yod) in the then remote Jewish community of Harlem. According to early descriptions, its founders were “people of moderate circumstances, many of them having small stores on Third Avenue and living behind their shops.” The founders, of German origin, were traditionally observant Jews. It took more than a decade before progressive Judaism became the norm of the congregation.
Those who founded Temple Israel took their Jewish responsibilities seriously and understood the broad sweep of Jewish history. They devoted their energies and resources to ensuring that Temple Israel would become an enduring institution. One of their first acts was to establish a religious school called “The Gates of Learning” which grew as rapidly as the congregation. By 1876 the congregation was in its third temporary home on 116th Street between First and Second Avenues. Fund raising efforts such as a grand Chanukah dress ball held at the Harlem Casino in 1887 occupied a great deal of the energies of the leadership of the congregation. It was estimated that 2,000 ladies and gentlemen, elegantly costumed, attended the event. A great deal of money was raised for the Hebrew School of Harlem.
The Columbia College and Emanu-El Theological Seminary student, Maurice H. Harris appointed in 1882 as the congregation’s first permanent Rabbi turned out to be an inspired choice. Dr. Harris, over a 48-year rabbinical career, transformed Temple Israel into a major cultural institution and became one of the most prominent spokesmen of progressive Judaism. During his ministry, Congregation Hand-in-Hand became Temple Israel of Harlem and ultimately, Temple Israel of the City of New York. The dynamism of the rapidly growing community moved them first to a former church at 125th Street and Fifth Avenue, then to their own construction of a grand limestone building which still stands at 120th Street and Lenox Avenue; and, still during the Harris rabbinate to 91st Street and Broadway on the Upper West Side.
Rabbi Harris was highly regarded as a founder of many major reform organizations. A fearless advocate for progressive Jewish ideals he was an early supporter of the Allied side in the First World War, even though most of the congregation consisted of German Jews and whose loyalties were initially divided. Dr. Harris was fortunate in having Mr. Daniel P. Hays as President during his tenure (for 33 years). Mr. Hays became one of the outstanding laymen in American Reform Jewry, President of the YMHA of New York and well-known as the president of the powerful Municipal Service Commission. During their leadership the Temple attracted many prominent members of the Jewish Community and was progressive at every level of its many activities, electing their first woman trustee in 1921.
In 1930, just months before Rabbi Harris’ death, Rabbi William F. Rosenblum was appointed Rabbi to the enormously influential West Side congregation. Although the early years of Rabbi Rosenblum’s rabbinate were in the midst of the Great Depression, such was the prestige of Temple Israel that it continued to thrive. Its many activities provided relief to those who were so unfortunately affected. The next phase of Rabbi Rosenblum’s tenure was even more trying - the Second World War. These years brought into focus the mission of the congregation - to support their Nation loyally as educated, concerned, and informed Jewish Americans.
The establishment of the State of Israel preoccupied the Jewish Diaspora at the end of World War II, but Rabbi Rosenblum held consistently to his world view that Jewish interests were separate from the temporal issues of governing a state. He believed that the Jewish faith transcended national divisions and could never in good conscience advocate the establishment of a Jewish State. His outspoken idealism regularly captured the interest of the New York Times.
In 1963 Rabbi Martin Zion became the third Rabbi of Temple Israel. In the years just prior to his appointment, the Trustees decided to relocate to the Upper East Side and during his first years as Rabbi, the new building was completed. The congregation was faced with the vast cultural and political turmoil of the 1960’s and expended enormous efforts to maintain its relevance with rock & roll services, an innovative nursery school and active youth programs. Most notably, Temple Israel became a welcoming home to those in interfaith marriages, and to the growing population of marginal, alienated Jews. Rabbi Zion established warm ties among clergy of different faiths. During Rabbi Zion’s ministry, concerns for Soviet Jewry, support for the State of Israel during the Six Day War and the Yom Kippur War, the rescue of Ethiopian Jewish population, and other mainstream Jewish issues soon succeeded the urgent national and secular uproar of the Vietnam War and the Civil Rights Movement as priorities of the congregation.
In 1991, Rabbi Judith Lewis became the fourth Rabbi of Temple Israel. The Jewish community was beginning to grapple with the essential character of American Jewish Identity. Jews in America had entered an extraordinary secure and successful period in history and in society. The threats to our existence are no longer external, but internal, as assimilation and secularization reach their ultimate extremes. At the same time, radically conservative forces have been mobilizing, within Judaism as in every other religion.
In 2006 Rabbi David Gelfand became the 5th Rabbi to assume the Senior Rabbi Position and has brought deep spirituality, enhanced programming, increased membership and renewed vitality. He also added a Temple Educator position which is ably filled by Rabbi Alan Londy. Cantor Robert Abelson has led our renowned musical program for over 29 years and has added Assistant Cantor, Sheila Nesis from Argentina. In addition, Rabbi Sara Sapadin joined our Clergy as Assistant Rabbi (part-time) in the summer of 2008.
Temple Israel is continuing its leadership role in defining a modern American Judaism which preserves the integrity and continuity of our tradition even as it addresses the challenges of the next generation. As the programs and committees describe in this membership folio indicate, our congregation is actively pursuing knowledge of our past, and direction for our future. Our leadership is firmly committed to a creative Judaism. We seek innovative rituals and celebration which fulfill the intent of our tradition and heritage, in contemporary expressions - interpretations which are intellectually, as well as spiritually, satisfying, to the modern individual. As a result, we are experiencing robust interest in our events by every age group, and attendance and participation have reached gratifying levels.
Temple Israel has never been afraid to change course, yet has always kept firmly focused on its ultimate goals. Each of our members has helped to shape our collective vision, working “hand-in-hand” with Rabbinic, Cantorial, and Lay leadership to pursue the mission of this venerable institution, preserve and celebrating our past, influencing and serving the needs of the present, and shaping the future.
We encourage you to play a role in determining the direction of Temple Israel of the City of New York, as generations have done before you. At Temple Israel you can make a difference.
