Temple Israel of West Bloomfield, Michigan
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Year consecrated1941
Location
StateMichigan
Architecture
FounderRabbi Leon Fram
Completed1941, Manderson campus; 1980, West Bloomfield campus (current location)
Website
www.temple-israel.org


Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield, Michigan.

Temple Israel is among the largest Reform congregations in the country.[1] As of 2012 its website states that it is the largest in North America,[2] and the official database of the Union for Reform Judaism confirms this, reporting a membership of 3,383.[3]

History

The congregation was founded in 1941 in Detroit.[4]

The Temple itself was organized in 60 days back in 1941 just before World War II. From our initial meeting to the first High Holiday services led by founder Rabbi Leon Fram just two months later, approximately 600 members chose to join our new congregation.

For nearly a decade, Temple Israel met in the auditorium of the Detroit Institute of Arts.

In 1949 the congregation erected an Art Deco temple designed by architect William Kapp that officially opened in 1950 in the Palmer Park area of Detroit and remained the congregation's home for 30 years. Cantor Tullman was Temple Israel's first cantor until his death in 1960. Rabbi M. Robert Syme joined the Temple in 1953 to help meet the demands of the steadily growing congregation.

The Temple moved to West Bloomfield in 1980;[5] the original temple is now the Word of Power Church and is included in the National Register of Historic Places as part of Detroit's Palmer Park Apartment Building Historic District.

The move to West Bloomfield brought about a lot of growth and positive change. The Early Childhood Center (now named the Susan & Rabbi Harold Loss Early Childhood Center) and Tyner Religious schools were established, and the congregation grew.

In West Bloomfield, Temple Israel introduced new programs, which helped strengthen the bonds of Jewish community building. In 1995, we were the first Reform congregation to open a mikveh. [6]

To modernize and address the needs of our ever-growing congregation, Temple Israel completed additional renovations to our Sanctuary in 2017. Temple Israel has since added a host of new technological advancements to make Temple easily accessible in the virtual world - including streaming services so members can participate in our services no matter where they are.

The current building on Walnut Lake Road was designed by Detroit architectural firm of Smith, Hinchman & Grylls who assigned William Kapp as chief architect.[7]

Current Leadership

Temple Israel has a unique leadership model with no 'Senior Rabbi' atop the hierarchy as most traditional multi-clergy synagogues operate. Each member of the clergy team is considered an equal.

Rabbi Harold Loss is the longest-serving active member of the clergy team, joining Temple Israel in 1971. He was joined by Rabbi Paul Yedwab in 1986 and Rabbi Josh Bennett in 1995.

Rabbi Marla Hornsten became the Temple's first female Rabbi in 2000 with Cantor Neil Michaels joining the clergy in 2002.

Rabbi Jennifer Kaluzny and Cantor Michael Smolash came on board in the summer of 2004 with Rabbi Jennifer Lader's arrival in 2012 rounding out the current clergy team.

The executive director of Temple Israel is Jason Plotkin. Plotkin arrived at Temple in June 2022.

References

  1. ↑ Alexander J. Drukas, "An interview with Paul M. Yedwab, Rabbi, Temple Israel, West Bloomfield", Mlive.com, April 10, 2008.
  2. ↑ "I'm New Here" Archived 2012-09-15 at archive.today at Temple Israel official website (accessed February 13, 2012).
  3. ↑ Congregational Profile of Temple Israel Archived 2013-04-16 at archive.today, Union for Reform Judaism (accessed February 20, 2012).
  4. ↑ Olitzky, Kerry M.; Raphael, Marc Lee. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook, Greenwood Press, 1996, pp. 177-8.
  5. ↑ "Our History | Temple Israel - Temple Israel". www.temple-israel.org. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  6. ↑ Sue Fishkoff, "Reimagining the Mikveh" Archived 2012-11-22 at the Wayback Machine, Reform Judaism, Fall 2008.
  7. ↑ Witsil, Frank (June 15, 2021). "Downton Abbey fame leads to Meadow Brook Hall architect getting credit he deserves". Detroit Free Press. (subscription required)

42°33′20″N 83°23′47″W / 42.55556°N 83.39639°W / 42.55556; -83.39639


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