Congregation Beth El (Voorhees, New Jersey)
| Congregation Beth El | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Leadership | Rabbi Aaron Krupnick Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 8000 Main Street, Voorhees, New Jersey, United States |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 2009 |
| Website | |
| bethelsnj | |
Congregation Beth El is a Conservative synagogue located in Voorhees, New Jersey. As of 2014, the clergy includes Rabbi Aaron Krupnick, Hazzan Alisa Pomerantz-Boro and Rabbi Isaac Furman.
Congregation Beth El was founded in 1921, in Parkside, Camden, at Park Boulevard and Belleview, opposite Farnham Park.[1][2][3] It was Camden's first conservative synagogue.[3] The congregation had an annual Chanukah Ball beginning in 1922, a religious school beginning two years later, a Hebrew Free Loan Society, a Hebrew ladies charity society, and in the 1930s hosted sorority and fraternity meetings on Tuesday nights.[2] Its synagogue building was demolished in 2000, and a Boys and Girls Club was built in its location.[1]
Beth El relocated in 1967 to 2901 West Chapel Avenue in suburban Cherry Hill.[1][3] William Zorach's sculpture "Memorial to 6,000,000 Jews" (1949) was located at it.[4] Beth El was the oldest conservative synagogue in Cherry Hill.[5] In 2009, Beth El sold its Chapel Avenue property to a 2500-member Christian congregation based in Philadelphia. On April 5, 2009, members of Beth El walked 6½ miles transporting 10 Torahs to the new synagogue in neighboring Voorhees, within the Main Street Complex.[5] With the sale of the Chapel Avenue property, assessed at $9.9 million, the Voorhees campus consists of a 1,200-seat sanctuary, 500-person social hall, coffee bar and administrative offices. The remainder was raised through congregant donations.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Julian H. Preisler. Historic Synagogues of Philadelphia & the Delaware Valley. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Howard Gillette, Jr. Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c Leonard F. Vernon, Allen Meyers (2007). Jewish South Jersey. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ Meredith Arms Bzdak, Douglas Petersen. Public sculpture in New Jersey: monuments to collective identity. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Cynthia Henry (April 6, 2009). "A moving day For synagogue, a new home". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
- ^ Cynthia Henry (January 24, 2009). "Church to buy Beth El property The synagogue will leave Chapel Avenue. It will sell the site to a charismatic Christian congregation". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
