Temple Anshe Amunim (Pittsfield, Massachusetts)
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Coordinates: 42°26′31″N 73°15′15″W / 42.44194°N 73.25417°W
| Temple Anshe Amunim | |
|---|---|
Temple Anshe Amunim |
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| Basic information | |
| Location | 26 Broad Street, Pittsfield, Massachusetts,  United States |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Status | Active |
| Leadership | Rabbi Joshua Breindel Rabbi Emeritus Harold I.Salzmann |
| Website | www.templeansheamunim.org |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Henry Blatner |
| Completed | 1964 |
Temple Anshe Amunim is a Jewish congregation located at 26 Broad Street in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.[1] Since 1904, Anshe Amunim has been affiliated with Reform Judaism. Anshe Amunim is the fourth-oldest Reform congregation in the New England region. In November 2009, Anshe Amunim marked its 140th anniversary of serving the Jewish community of the Berkshires.[1]
[edit] History
Society Anshe Amunim was founded by 25 families in Pittsfield in November 1869. In 1887, the Temple’s Sunday School program was developed, which would evolve into the modern day Religious School program. The Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society was established in 1882, which would later become the Women for Reform Judaism. In 1932, the Temple’s Men’s Club was established. The Temple’s High School students are represented by PFTY, the Pittsfield Federation for Temple Youth.[2]
The rise in population in the Berkshires in the 1950s due to the presence of General Electric and subsequent rise in membership led the Temple to seek new property to construct a new building. In 1959, the England and Blau families donated property to the Temple on the corner of Wendell Avenue and Broad Street in Pittsfield. The new Temple building, designed by Henry Blatner, was dedicated by Rabbi Harold I. Salzmann in August 1964, and it has since won many architectural awards and has been featured in several publications for its unique features, which include a domed synagogue and golden ark.[3]
Anshe Amunim is home to the annual Hilda Vallin Feigenbaum memorial lecture, established by Drs. Armand and Donald Feigenbaum in honor of their mother. The lecture has featured distinguished speakers such as Julian Bond, Steve Emerson, Mara Liasson, and Lawrence O'Donnell.
Anshe Amunim maintains burial space both in Pittsfield Cemetery and the congregation’s property on Churchill Street in Pittsfield.
Rabbi Joshua Breindel, a 2009 graduate of Hebrew College in Newton, Massachusetts, has served as the Temple’s Rabbi since July 2009, and Rabbi Harold I. Salzmann, who led the congregation as senior Rabbi for 30 years from 1954 to 1984, serves as Rabbi Emeritus.[4]
Anshe Amunim is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism and the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires.
[edit] Webpage
[edit] References
- ^ a b Temple Home Page. Accessed September 9, 2009.
- ^ PFTY. Accessed September 9, 2009.
- ^ A Brief Tour. Accessed September 9, 2009.
- ^ Temple Clergy and Staff. Accessed September 9, 2009.
