Sinai Temple (Springfield, Massachusetts)
| Sinai Temple סיני | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Leadership | Rabbi Jeremy Master, Cantorial Specialist Wayne Krieger |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1100 Dickinson Street Springfield, Massachusetts  United States |
| Architecture | |
| Groundbreaking | 1949[1] |
| Completed | 1950[1] |
| Website | |
| sinai-temple | |
Sinai Temple (Hebrew: סִינַי) is a medium-sized Reform Jewish synagogue located in Springfield, Massachusetts, New England's fourth largest city (population 153,060).
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
The congregation began meeting at a mansion at 188 Sumner Street 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 leadership
| Name | Years | Emeritus |
|---|---|---|
| David M. Eichhorn | 1932–1934 | |
| Judah Cohn | unknown | |
| Hershel Levin | unknown | |
| Herman E. Snyder | 1947–1970 | 1970–1992 |
| Bernard M. Cohen | 1970–1971[7] | |
| Stanley Davids | 1971–1977 | |
| Howard Kaplansky | 1977–1983[8] | |
| Jerome S. Gurland (interim) | 1983[9] | |
| Bernard Bloomstone | 1983–1988 | |
| Mark D. Shapiro | 1988–2016[10] | 2016– |
| Howard Kosovske (interim) | 2016–2018 | |
| Jeremy Master[11] | 2018– |
Prominent alumni
- Eric Lesser, Massachusetts State Senator[12][13]
References
- ^ a b c History, Sinai Temple website]. Accessed June 14, 2019.
- ^ United States of America Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 109th Congress Second Session Vol. 152 Part 5, page 6961.
- ^ The David Max Eichhorn Papers. Manuscript Collection No. 79, 1955-1974. American Jewish Archive.
- ^ Adams, Abigail. Springfield’s Jewish Community: An American Story. Massachusetts Jewish Ledger, Jul 25 2013.
- ^ The Herman E. Snyder Papers. Manuscript Collection No. 598, 1916-1992. American Jewish Archive.
- ^ Dresner, Stacey. Changing Course – Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro may be retiring from Sinai Temple, but he’s not leaving. Massachusetts Jewish Ledger, Jun 9 2016.
- ^ a b Anonymous. A Rabbi Is Installed Before Three Faiths. The New York Times, Nov 9 1970.
- ^ Bogan, Jesse. Longtime rabbi is lauded as 'invaluable resource'. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jun 18 2011.
- ^ Anonymous. Retired Rabbi Brings Knowledge to Glenmeadow. Glenmeadow E-Newsletter, Aug 16 2016.
- ^ Urban, Cori. Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro to celebrate 25 years at Sinai Temple in Springfield. The Republican, Oct 18 2013.
- ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard. Sinai Temple selects South Carolina rabbi as new leader. The Republican, Feb 26 2018.
- ^ Schoenberg, Shira. Longmeadow native Eric Lesser celebrates Passover seders with President Obama. The Republican, Mar 25 2013.
- ^ Adams, Abigail. Eric Lesser makes a run for State Senate. Massachusetts Jewish Ledger, May 15 2014.