Adereth El
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Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El, or Adereth El for short, is the oldest synagogue in the same location in New York City. This Orthodox Jewish synagogue is located at 135 East 29th Street.
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[edit] History
The Adereth El synagogue was founded by German Jewish immigrants in the fall of 1857. The synagogue opened its current building on 29th Street in 1863, having purchased the lot for $5000 (1).
[edit] 1850 - 1860
1857 was a year of a great depression. Business was paralyzed, thousands were thrown out of work and more than 900 merchants failed, and riots and disturbances of all kind took place. The expense of living in 1857 was 20% higher that it was three years before.
It was in the midst of the depression year on the sixth day of Sivan on the holiday of Shavous that a small group of German Jews met on 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue and founded Congregation M'Adereth El. The early minutes of the Congregation refers to the name as Congregation M'Adereth El (not Congregation Adereth El). The original seal of the congregation reads in English, "80 years of the Indep." This seal appears later in a document in the hall of Records, October 31, Chamber Street, 7th floor (SP19100), N.Y.C. The document is a petition to the Supreme Court of the State of New York dated July 23, 1869, asking for an order authorizing the Congregation to mortgage the property to the Mutual Life Insurance Co. The document is signed by the President, Morris Leon and Samuel Sulke, Vice-president. The document also gives a detailed description of the exact location and boundaries of the building on 29th Street.
We do not know exactly how many met for the first time to organize the Congregation because there are no minutes of the Congregation for the years 1857 and 1858. The first minutes begin with the date October 18, 1859 and are written in German. However, in as much as the date of the first gathering for religious services is given as Shavous, then we may readily assume there was at least a Minyan or ten people (ten men is the minimum quorum necessary according to Jewish law for religious services.)
The first minutes dated October 18, 1859 inform us that the President was Mr. Mode, the Vice-president was Mr. Sulke, the Trustees were Mr. Gluck, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Cattlow, Mr. Littman, and Mr. T. Cohn was Secretary. Their income from October 1858 to October 1859 was $361.31 and their disbursements were $315.67, leaving a balance of $45.64. The Congregation decided to celebrate the evening of Hoshana Rabah by learning and serving refreshments during the night. On April 16, Mr. Mode was reelected President by 18 votes. On August 5, 1860 it is recorded that the Congregation rented a hall in College House for the High Holy Days. This College House may have had some connection with the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1859 was located on 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue. Trow's New York City Directory for the year ending May 1859, street directory, page 53 and regular appendix, page 43, indicated that the address of the College of Physicians and Surgeons would be at 53 West 23rd Street, which would be the Northeast corner of 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue. John Shrady in his book, "History of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 1, 1903, on pages 106 and 107 writes that this was the only college in the neighborhood and was surrounded by vacant lots with wooden and low brick houses and the ground floor was fitted and rented for mercantile purposes.
In a letter sent by Abraham L. Danish, an attorney, to the Congregation, there is the following statement of the record of Conveyance of the Congregation: "The Congregation was incorporated May 15, 1863. The trustees who were elected by the majority vote for the purpose of incorporating the religious society were as follows: Louis Silver, Joseph Unger and Solomon Frederick. The place of worship where whey worshipped then, was at Number 106 East 23rd Street, N.Y.C. (now occupied by Roth Brothers, watchmakers). The first meeting was held on April 5th, 1863. The certificate of incorporation as a religious society was filed in New York County on May 15th, 1863. The certificate was drawn on April 6th, 1863."
[edit] 1860 - 1901
In 1860 the Congregation decided to acquire a second Sefer Torah to be purchased by Mr. Frederick who would write to Germany for that purpose. The words Sefer Torah in the minutes is written in Hebrew Script. On March 1861 the assets of the Congregation were insured with a "good" insurance company, for $200. A committee of six was appointed to purchase burial ground from Congregation Shaare Tzedek (now located on 212 West 93rd Street, N.Y.C.). The President, Mr. Gluck and the Vice-president, Sam Sulke, were thanked for their loan to the Congregation to help pay for the purchase of the burial ground. On August 1861 a constitution was written. The Congregation agreed to buy two Esrogin costing no more that $2.50. On April 1862 it was resolved to obtain a charter, and this required a modification of the original Constitution.
The winter of 1862 must have been a very cold one, for a motion was made to buy a stove to cost no more than $10 so that the Synagogue should be heated and the cost of the heating should not exceed "two shillings." The finance committee in these early days of the Congregation was called Cheshbon Tzedek.
In February 1863, a motion was made to seek new quarters to build a new Synagogue. On May 1, 1864 at the inauguration of the new President, Charles Misch, the old President, Mr. Gluck turned over to the incoming President the following: 1 Bank Book $567, 2nd Bank Book $300, Synagogue contract with a M. Miller (Mr. Miller was the landlord of the old Synagogue), contract of the cemetery, permit book of the funerals, seal of the Congregation, Yad (pointer used in the reading of the Torah on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays, and holidays) Synagogue charter, President's chair and a tenth item which is not readable. On June 12, 1864 Mr. Gluck reported that the Congregation bought a lot 25 x 95 for $5000. The lot was purchased from Elizabeth E. Sandes and Joshua C. Sandes, June 17, 1864. Recorded on July 14th, 1864 in New York County, liber 905, page 378 of Conveyances, Section 3, Block 885, Lot 32. The deed for the property was to be given only after the erection of the synagogue building. Script was printed and issued to the members to help defray the cost of the lot and construction of the Synagogue. A great deal of discussion took place as to the exact location of the Holy Ark. The new synagogue had 16 windows and it was decided to build a gallery on three sides for the women. Mr. Wolf Lippman gave a mortgage of $7500, the interest to as a donation of the congregation. This mortgage was later transferred to the Mutual Life Insurance Company which we have previously mentioned in a document as a petition to the Supreme Court of the State of N.Y. Appeals were made to various societies to help the Congregation carry the financial burden of the project. A donation of $50 was received from Achim Rahammim Society and other societies. Congregation B'Nai Joshuran expressed an interest to buy the equipment of the old synagogue. The Chinuch or dedication committee consisted of Mr. S. Gluck, chairman, S. Sulke, J. Kaufmann, Mr. Leyziger, Leo Lippman, R.J. Cohn, Silberstein and Silber. At this time the Congregation printed 500 tickets for the High Holy Days, 300 men and 200 women.
The Congregation at this time made a contribution of $30 for the construction of the Chapel at the Sharare Tzedek Cemetery. Mr. S. Louis and Charles Misch were appointed as delegates to the Board of Delegates of American Israelite. This Board was organized in 1859 in New York City and was modeled after the board of Deputies of the British Jews founded in 1760 so that the Jews could speak as a united body for the redress of grievances.
A donation of $200 was made to the Relief Fund of Eretz Israel. In November 1866 Chevra Adereth el Bikur Cholim was organized. On June 1867 the name of the Congregation was changed to Congregation Adereth El. The Congregation decided to conduct the services in the new Synagogue with dignity, solemnity and order. On Sept. 1867 $165 was raised by the members and donated to the widows and orphans of New Orleans and Galveston who were stricken at that time with an epidemic.
On June 9. 1899 there is recorded the death of the Vice-president L. Cohen. A discussion took place as to whether it would be appropriate to drape his seat in the synagogue with black cloth for 30 days. This request however, was denied because it was not in accordance with the Jewish law. However, when the hearse passed the Synagogue, the doors of the Synagogue were opened. On Nov. 14, 1899 it was decided that the prayer of Hanosen Teshua (prayer for the welfare of the Government) at Saturday Services was to be read in Hebrew instead of German. On November 27, 1892, the Chevrar Kadisha of Adereth El was founded by Mr. Meyer. On November 1893 there were 37 members. On February 1894 there were 35 members. On February 10, 1895 a Bar Mitzvah certificate was issued for the first time. A woman recently came to our office (in 1957) with a document by which she wished to substantiate her husband's age so that he could collect social security. The document was a Bar Mitzvah certificate issued by the Congregation dated 10th day July 5067-1907 with the signatures of Rev. Dr. Max Fried, Julius Meyer, President and David Pollack, Secretary. On May 20 it was noted that tickets were received to help build Lebanon Hospital. On May 6, 1901 the by-laws were printed in German and in English.
[edit] 1901 - 1938
In 1902 the Congregation was renovated. The officers were listed then as follows:
RAPHAEL ISAAC COWEN Organizer
IGNATZ LUFF President
JOSEPH REDLER Vice-president
JULIUS MEYER Secretary
HENRY MONDAY Treasurer
On January 3, 1905 the minutes of the Congregation were written for the first time in English
On March 3, 1915 the Talmud Torah was organized and on September 15, the Talmud Torah was built. The officers of the Congregation at that time were as follows:
S. SUMBERG President
T. RUBINSTEIN Vice-president
U. GULTMAN Treasurer
V. ALBAUM Secretary
At about this time, to be exact on October 4, 1913, the Zion Talmud Torah was organized. Their first Talmud Torah was at 621 Second Avenue. On July 25, 1918, the Zion Talmud Torah resolved to merge with the Congregation Adereth El. The Committee of the Zion Talmud Torah who negotiated the merger consisted of Rabbi Goldstein, Mr. Abramson, Mr. Benus, Mr. Siskind, Mr. Litowitzer and Mr. Feinberg. In 1919 Rabbi Klein and Cantor Rubin were the Meshysim Bakodesh for the Congregation. In April, 1920 the Congregation purchased the building on 133 East 29th Street, New York City, at the cost of $19,250.00. The Talmud Torah lot was bought in the name of Adereth El, from E.J. De Long, Mortgage $14,000.
Rev. Abraham Seidel was engaged as cantor and principal on September 21, 1921.
On May 19, 1926 a party was held to celebrate the paying of the mortgage on the Talmud Torah building, 133 East 29th Street, New York City.
On June 1, 1926 Cantor Nathan was engaged for one year.
On September 8, 1927 Rev. Javne was engaged as cantor for one year.
Rabbi I. Molotin was engaged as Rabbi for one year on September 20, 1927.
A $4500 part payment was made on October 25, 1927 on the mortgage held by the Mutual Life Insurance co.
Rev. Abraham Guzik was engaged as cantor and sexton of the Congregation on June 18, 1928.
On August 28, 1928 Mr. Morris Seigel, treasurer of the Congregation presented the Congregation with a $1000 Liberty Bond.
Rabbi David Rubinstein became the Rabbi of the congregation on October 2, 1928.
On September 17, 1929 a contract to install steam in the building of the Congregation was signed.
On October 22, 1929 a Sefer Torah was presented by Mr. Wolf Metsch.
On May 26, 1930 Mr. Adoph Klein contributed the bulletin board on the front wall of the building.
On October 13, 1931 permission was given to Mr. Martin Feinstein to organize the Young Folks league. Their activities began with a dance. However, after all expenses were paid there remained a net profit of $0.05 (five cents).
Martin Feinstein was not only active in various capacities as an officer and member of different committees but through his personal services in the electrical work done for the Congregation, he donated thousands of dollars to the Congregation.
On February 12, 1932, Philip Tanner was honored on his 60th birthday with a dinner held at the Astoria Mansion, East Broadway and Jefferson Street.
On April 12, 1932 at the suggestion of Cantor Abraham Guzik, a Community Seder was initiated on the second night of Passover. This Seder has been conducted with great success to the present time.
On April 5, 1933, Mr. Philip Tanner, the President, reported that a protest meeting was held on March 27 to raise our voice in protest against Hitler's persecution of the Jews in Germany.
On the second day of Adar 1934, Philip Tanner, the President, was brought to his eternal resting home after serving as President of the Zion Talmud Torah for many years and President of the Congregation from 1923 to 1934.
On April 2. 1935 a microphone system was installed. The Young Folks League contributed $60.00 towards the purchase.
In July 1935, cemetery plots were purchased on the grounds of the Degel Harabunim, in Deans, New Jersey. On September 1935, uniform prayer books were instituted.
On September 3, 1935, it was recorded that Sam Rosen, President of the Congregation, was brought to his eternal resting place.
In 1935 the Congregation resolved to have the sermons delivered in English.
Recent Friday evening late lectures have been conducted by Rabbi Sidney Kleiman and Cantor Rev. Abraham Guzik. From time to time guest speakers are invited to speak on topics of general interest to the public. Outstanding among our speakers have been Mr. Aaron Benenson, Dr. Nathan Blechman, Dr. Leonard Isaac Ehrlich, Dr. Maxwell L. Gelfand, Mr. Moses Golsman, Mr. Harry Grossman, Mr. Louis Grossman, Supreme Court Judge Arthur G. Klein, Supreme Court Judge Irving L. Levey, Dr. Murray K. Marin, Dr. David L. Mirow, Mr. Lous J. Naftalson, Mr. Julius Paull, Mr. Seymour N. Siegel, and Mr. Peter Stowe.
In March 1936 the throwing of bags of candy on the pulpit was discontinued at the celebration a of a Bar Mitzvah (….. as I still see it done today…. I guess it has since been re-instituted!) In December 1936, new seats were installed at the cost of $2,250.00. The 80th Anniversary was celebrated with a dinner held at the Broadway Central.
On March 1938, Rabbi Ephraim Shimoff was engaged to fill a temporary vacancy until September 1, 1938. On July 1938, Rabbi Ascher Yager was engaged for one year. On August 9, 1938, Mr. Max Sikora was elected for life membership.
[edit] Rabbis
Rabbi Sidney Kleiman is both the longest-serving and oldest active congregational rabbi in the United States. The 94-year old, now Adereth El’s rabbi emeritus, has served the congregation since 1939. In 1996, rabbi Gideon Shloush joined rabbi Kleiman in leading the congregation.
[edit] Congregation
Adereth El's current membership reflects the diversity of its neighborhood, Murray Hill. During the work week, many Jewish businessmen with nearby offices pray at the synagogue. The congregation now includes a number of young, single members due to the growing popularity of Murray Hill with this population. Of note, many Adereth El members are students and faculty at the nearby New York University (NYU) medical center. The synagogue’s proximity to the hospital also brings in many hospital patients’ visitors as guests at Adereth El services. In fact, the synagogue typically has multiple weekly baby-naming ceremonies due to the large number of labor and delivery visitors. Additionally, due to Adereth El’s location near Yeshiva University’s Stern College for Women, many Stern students regularly attend the synagogue’s services.
In 2007, the congregation will mark its 150th anniversary with a series of celebrations. A lecture series will highlight the history of Jews in New York City. A gala dinner will be held at the Battery Gardens Restaurant in Battery Park in March.
[edit] References
1. Kleiman, Rabbi Sidney. "Adereth El History: 100th Anniversary Celebration." October 1957.
