Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco)

For other places with the same name, see Emanu-El (disambiguation).
Temple Emanu-El
Basic information
Location 2 Lake Street, San Francisco,
California, United States
Geographic coordinates 37°47′14″N 122°27′35″W / 37.7872°N 122.4597°W / 37.7872; -122.4597Coordinates: 37°47′14″N 122°27′35″W / 37.7872°N 122.4597°W / 37.7872; -122.4597
Affiliation Reform Judaism
Status Active
Website http://www.emanuelsf.org
Architectural description
Architect(s) Arthur Brown Jr.
Architectural style Byzantine Revival
Completed 1926
Specifications
Dome(s) 1
Dome height (outer) 150 feet

Congregation Emanu-El of San Francisco, California, is one of the two oldest Jewish congregations in California.

During the Gold Rush in 1849, a small group of Jews held the first High Holy Days services on the west coast of the United States in San Francisco. This group of traders and merchants founded Congregation Emanu-El sometime in 1850, and its charter was issued in April, 1851. The 16 signatories were mostly German Jews from Bavaria.

In 1884 Julie Rosewald became America's first female cantor when she began serving in Emanu-El, although she was not ordained.[1][1][2] She served as a cantor there until 1893.[1][1][2]

As the Reform Movement in Judaism spread in the United States during the early Twentieth Century, the synagogue became affiliated with this framework. Among its major programs today, the synagogue includes strong support for Israel, with a number of trips and related activities. There is also a major emphasis on social justice, including the Tikkun Tikvah effort to reform California's criminal justice system.[3]

Early Temple Emanu-El. Sutter Street, San Francisco, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views

Clergy

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Julie Rosewald: America's first woman cantor". jwa.org.
  2. 1 2 "The Forgotten Woman Cantor: Julie Rosewald Now Getting Her Due - The Jewish Week". The Jewish Week.
  3. "Tikkun Tikvah - Working to Reform California's Criminal Justice System - Congregation Emanu-El". Congregation Emanu-El. Retrieved 2016-10-18.
  4. Kirschner, Robert (1991). "A Singular Elegance". In Rischin, Moses; Asher, Raphael. The Jewish legacy and the German conscience. Berkeley, CA: The Judah L. Magnes Museum. p. 47.

Further reading

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