Sinai Temple (Springfield, Massachusetts)

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Coordinates: 42°04′35″N 72°33′46″W / 42.0763834°N 72.562738°W / 42.0763834; -72.562738
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For similarly named synagogues, see Temple Sinai.
Sinai Temple
Hebrew: סִינַי
Sinai Temple
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
LeadershipRabbi Jeremy Master
StatusActive
Location
Location1100 Dickinson Street, Springfield, Massachusetts
CountryUnited States
Sinai Temple (Springfield, Massachusetts) is located in Massachusetts
Sinai Temple (Springfield, Massachusetts)
Location in Massachusetts
Geographic coordinates42°04′35″N 72°33′46″W / 42.0763834°N 72.562738°W / 42.0763834; -72.562738
Architecture
TypeSynagogue
Date established1931 (as a congregation)
Completed1950
Website
sinaitemple.shulcloud.com
[1]

Sinai Temple (Hebrew: סִינַי) is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 1100 Dickinson Street, in Springfield, Massachusetts, in the United States.

Founded in 1931,[2] Sinai was the first Reform congregation in Springfield. The congregation's first rabbi, David M. Eichhorn, was hired in 1932 and let go just two years later due to financial difficulty brought on by the Great Depression,[3] though he went on to become a prominent American rabbi and authority on interfaith marriage and conversion for the Reform movement.

History[edit]

The congregation began meeting at a mansion at 188 Sumner Avenue in Springfield in 1932, which was used as a synagogue until the late 1940s.[4] In 1949 Sinai broke ground on a new location at 1100 Dickinson Street, near the Longmeadow border, which was completed in 1950.[1]

Notably, Sinai has had two long-tenured rabbis: Herman E. Snyder (1947–1970) and Mark D. Shapiro (1988–2016). Membership grew from 50 to 500 families under Rabbi Snyder's leadership.[5] An interfaith leader, he created the Sinai Temple Institute for Christian and Muslim Clergy and Educators, an annual learning session that brings together clergy from the three major religions for a seminar at the Temple.[6]

Rabbi Snyder's successor, Bernard Cohen, was the first rabbi to serve on the faculty of a Roman Catholic college (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College). His 1970 installation was attended by 100 Catholic and Protestant clergymen.[7]

Rabbinical leaders[edit]

Ordinal Name Years Notes
1 David M. Eichhorn 1932–1934
2 Judah Cohn 1937-1943
3 Hershel Levin 1943-1947 [8]
4 Herman E. Snyder 1947–1970 Emeritus: 1970–1992
− Bernard M. Cohen 1970–1971 interim[7][9]
5 Stanley Davids 1971–1977
6 Howard Kaplansky 1977–1983 [10]
− Jerome S. Gurland 1983 interim[11]
7 Bernard Bloomstone 1983–1988
8 Mark D. Shapiro 1988–2016 Emeritus: 2016–2020[12][13]
− Howard Kosovske 2016–2018 interim
9 Jeremy Master 2018–present [14]

Notable members[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "History". Sinai Temple website. Retrieved June 14, 2019.[self-published source?]
  2. ^ United States of America Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 109th Congress Second Session. Vol. 152. p. 6961 – via Google Books.
  3. ^ "The David Max Eichhorn Papers". Manuscript Collection No. 79, 1955-1974. American Jewish Archive.
  4. ^ Adams, Abigail (July 25, 2013). "Springfield's Jewish Community: An American Story". Massachusetts Jewish Ledger.
  5. ^ "The Herman E. Snyder Papers". Manuscript Collection No. 598, 1916-1992. American Jewish Archive.
  6. ^ Dresner, Stacey (June 9, 2016). "Changing Course – Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro may be retiring from Sinai Temple, but he's not leaving". Massachusetts Jewish Ledger.
  7. ^ a b "A Rabbi Is Installed Before Three Faiths". The New York Times. November 9, 1970.
  8. ^ Sinai Temple's Rabbinical Leadership (Plaque inside temple). Springfield: Sinai Temple. 2018.
  9. ^ Sinai Temple's Spiritual Leaders Through the Year (Poster inside temple atrium). Springfield: Sinai Temple. 2023.
  10. ^ Bogan, Jesse (June 18, 2011). "Longtime rabbi is lauded as 'invaluable resource'". St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
  11. ^ "Retired Rabbi Brings Knowledge to Glenmeadow". Glenmeadow E-Newsletter. August 16, 2016.
  12. ^ Urban, Cori (October 18, 2013). "Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro to celebrate 25 years at Sinai Temple in Springfield.". The Republican.
  13. ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard (July 22, 2020). "Rabbi Mark Shapiro of Springfield remembered as man of faith, community". The Republican.
  14. ^ Flynn, Anne-Gerard (February 26, 2018). "Sinai Temple selects South Carolina rabbi as new leader". The Republican.
  15. ^ Schoenberg, Shira (March 25, 2013). "Longmeadow native Eric Lesser celebrates Passover seders with President Obama". The Republican.
  16. ^ Adams, Abigail (May 15, 2014). "Eric Lesser makes a run for State Senate". Massachusetts Jewish Ledger.

External links[edit]

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