Look around you. The Temple of Israel Church stands as a testament to Atlanta’s rich Jewish history. Founded in 1867, The Temple is the city’s oldest and most diverse synagogue. It began as the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation. This grew from the Hebrew Benevolent Society. The Society organized in 1860 to obtain a burial ground. It also provided relief for the Jewish poor.
Jews have been in Atlanta since its beginnings. They were integral to the city’s commercial life. However, they were a small minority. In 1850, only twenty-six Jews lived in Atlanta. That was just one percent of the population. Their numbers doubled by the Civil War. This prompted the community to create the Hebrew Benevolent Society in 1860.
It wasn’t until two years after the Civil War that The Temple was founded. The community was rebuilding a decimated Atlanta. Reverend Isaac Leeser of Philadelphia presided over Atlanta’s first Jewish wedding in 1867. It was between Emilie Baer and Abraham Rosenfeld. Rabbi Leeser encouraged those present to create a formal congregation. The Hebrew Benevolent Congregation received a charter four months later. They built the first permanent worship hall downtown in 1875.
Initially, The Temple shifted between Reform Judaism and traditional observance. Several rabbis were hired and fired. This depended on which faction was stronger. The arrival of Rabbi David Marx in 1895 brought stability. He served for 51 years. Rabbi Marx pushed The Temple further into classical Reform Judaism. This solidified its place in the Union for Reform Judaism. He balanced Atlanta’s Jewish and gentile communities.
Rabbi Jacob Rothschild succeeded Rabbi Marx in 1946. He rolled back some reforms. He continued outreach to Atlanta’s Christian community. Rabbi Rothschild spoke out for social justice. This angered some people. In 1958, white supremacists bombed The Temple. They were angered by its support of civil rights. Fifty sticks of dynamite were placed by the north entrance.
Despite the bombing, The Temple continued its work. Rabbi Alvin Sugarman succeeded Rabbi Rothschild in 1973. He served for over three decades. His tenure saw growth for Atlanta’s Jewish community. It grew from 28,000 in 1980 to over 120,000 by 2006. Jewish business leaders and Temple members helped build Atlanta. They made it a corporate center of the South.
The Temple also grew. The Temple Zaban Paradies Center opened in 1985. It provides shelter for homeless couples. The center operates from October through May. This extends The Temple’s commitment to social justice.
In 2004, The Temple completed a major renovation. The main sanctuary was restored. Other facilities were renovated and expanded. The Weinberg Early Learning Center also launched. It is Atlanta’s premiere Jewish center-based school.
The Temple houses a Torah scroll from Prague’s Pinkas Synagogue. The Nazis looted it from Jewish communities in Bohemia, Moravia, and Slovakia.
Under Rabbi Peter S. Berg, The Temple continues its growth. It also continues its history of social justice and Jewish leadership. The Temple is committed to broadening access to Jewish life. It has built a tradition of social justice work for over 150 years. The Temple has over 4,000 members. It hosts a vibrant education program. It also has one of Atlanta’s most respected early learning centers. The Temple is an inclusive and welcoming Jewish community. It is a place to call home. Now, as always, The Temple is your temple.