Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim

Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Rite	Ashkenazic
Leadership	Rabbi: Jonathan L. Cohen President: Marilyn Wellan
Status	Active
Location
Location	2021 Turner Street, Alexandria, Louisiana
Specifications
Capacity	350
Materials	Brick
Website
Gemiluth Chassodim Website

Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim known locally as "The Jewish Temple" is an historic Jewish synagogue located in Alexandria, Louisiana. Founded in 1859, by Jews from the Alsace region of France, it is one of the oldest congregations in Louisiana and one of the original founding members of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now known as the Union for Reform Judaism. As of 2011, the congregation is led by Rabbi Jonathan Cohen.

History

Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim was originally established as the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Rapides in 1852 in order to provide a Jewish Cemetery for burials. Eventually, the congregation evolved into the congregation in 1859 The first President of the Temple was Isaac Levy.

The congregation initially held religious services in various private homes until the first Temple was built at Third and Fisk Streets in 1870. Gemiluth Chassodim became a founding congregation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations on October 14th of 1873.

In 1908, a magnificent Temple was constructed on Fourth and Fisk Streets. It remained the house of worship until 1952, when the present structure was built at Turner and Beech Streets. Shortly after vacating the previous structure, it caught fire and tragically burned to the ground.

The Temple has been served by 32 presidents and 24 rabbis.

Today

Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim remains an active part of the Greater Alexandria community. Its current membership consists of approximately 95 member families with a religious school of 23 students. Its previous two rabbis, Martin Hinchin and Arnold Task served a combined 52 years in their service to the congregation. In 2011, Jonathan Cohen was appointed twenty-fourth rabbi of the congregation.

Rabbis

• Rev. Marx Klein 1873-1879
• Rev. M. Weinstein 1881-1882
• Rev. Abraham Meyer 1882-1884
• Rev. H. Joseph M. Chumaceiro 1884-1885
• Rev. Israel Heinberg 1888-1889
• Rev. Hyman Saft 1889-1891
• Rev. Louis Schreiber 1892-1895
• Rev. Alex Rosenspitz 1895-1901
• Rabbi Emile Ellinger 1901-1905
• Rabbi Herman J. Elkin 1905-1907
• Rabbi Leonard J. Rothstein 1907-1918
• Rabbi Harry Weiss 1919-1920
• Rabbi Myron M. Meyer 1921-1926
• Rabbi H. Cerf Strauss 1927-1930
• Rabbi Albert G. Baum 1930-1942
• Rabbi Abraham Shinedling 1943-1944
• Rabbi H. Bruce Ehrmann 1946-1947
• Rabbi Mordecai M. Thurman 1947-1951
• Rabbi Robert J. Schur 1952-1956
• Rabbi Joel C. Dobin 1957
• Rabbi Martin I. Hinchin 1958-1988
• Rabbi James L. Kessler 1988-1989
• Rabbi Arnold S. Task 1989-2011
• Rabbi Jonathan L. Cohen 2011-

External Links

• Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim Website

References

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