| United Hebrew Congregation | |
|---|---|
| Basic information | |
| Location | 13788 Conway Road, St. Louis, Missouri, United States |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Status | Active |
| Leadership | Rabbi: Brigitte S Rosenberg |
| Website | www.unitedhebrew.org |
The United Hebrew Congregation (or Congregation Achdut Yisroel) at 13788 Conway Road in St. Louis, Missouri is a Reform Jewish synagogue. It is the first Jewish Congregation established west of the Mississippi River.[1]
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The United Hebrew Congregation formed on Rosh Hashannah, 1837 in St. Louis, MO when ten members rented a room for services. There is a debate among historians regarding the exact year this minyan was organized.[2]
Abraham Weigel, who was to become UHC’s first president, and Nathan Abeles, the first secretary, rented a room over a grocery and held the first minyan in St. Louis.[3] Louis Bomeisler, a German from Philadelphia, probably conducted the first service in St. Louis for Rosh HaShanah on September 29. He proceeded to order a Torah, prayer books, and Taleisim for the new group.[4]
Twelve men met four years later at the Oracle Coffee House at 2nd and Locust to write the constitution for Achdut Yisrael, the United Hebrew Congregation. In 1841, a constitution was adopted and United Hebrew was formally founded, the first Jewish congregation west of the Mississippi.[5]
United Hebrew established its first home in 1848 in the former North Baptist Church on Fifth Street near Green Street (now Broadway) between Washington and Lucas.
In 1854, United Hebrew Congregation hired the first documented rabbi to serve in St. Louis, Rabbi Bernard Illowy. His term of service lasted about one year, and in 1856, he left for Syracuse.[6]
In 1857, the congregation moved to a new building next to the Benton Public School on Sixth Street between Locust and St. Charles. The building was consecrated on June 17, 1859, with Rabbi M. J. Raphall of New York officiating.
United Hebrew moved steadily westward, next to Twenty-first and Olive Streets in 1879, and then in 1903 into a remodeled Mount Cabanne Church at the southwest corner of Kingshighway and Von Versen (after 1917, Enright).[7]
In 1927, the United Hebrew Congregation dedicated a new home at 225 S. Skinker. Designed by the architectural firm of Maritz and Young with consulting architect Gabriel Ferrand, the notable, Byzantine revival structure was said to be one of the three largest synagogues in the nation. The United Hebrew Congregation worshiped there for sixty-two years until 1989. An educational building, also designed by Maritz and Young, was added in the early 1950s.[8] The Missouri Historical Society purchased the historic Skinker building in early 1989. It is now the Society's library and research center.
As its membership continued to move to the suburbs, United Hebrew Congregation purchased land at Conway and Woods Mill Roads in the west St. Louis County suburb of Chesterfield. The Religious and Hebrew schools began operating there in 1977. The administration and sanctuary moved to the Conway site after the construction (1986–1989) of a notable Pietro Belluschi building.[9]
The United Hebrew Congregation is currently a member of the Union for Reform Judaism. It is the furthest west large reform congregation in the greater St. Louis, Missouri area. The congregation contains a Religious School, Hebrew School, Early Childhood Center, and Summer Camp. Programs include Youth (including a NFTY group called UHTYG, Adult Education, and Bible Study. The congregation is a member of the Synaplex initiative, an innovative way to enrich Jewish life and strengthen community through prayer, study, social and cultural programs all taking place in the synagogue throughout Shabbat.[10]
The Senior Rabbi is Rabbi Brigitte Rosenberg. Cantor Ronald Eichaker and Rabbi - Educator Roxanne Shapiro make up the rest of the clergy team. Rick Recht is the artist in residence. The Rabbi Emeritus is Howard Kaplansky. The Cantor Emeritus is Murray Hochberg.
In 2006, United Hebrew Congregation commissioned a Torah to be written by a woman soferet. On September 9, 2007, the Torah was dedicated and Jen Taylor Friedman became the first woman known to have written a complete Torah scroll.[11]
| Name | Years |
|---|---|
| Rabbi Bernard Illowy | 1854–1856 |
| Rabbi Isaac Ritterman | 1860; 1864–1865; 1869–1870 |
| Rabbi Henry Kuttner | 1857; 1870–1875 |
| Rabbi Henry J. Messing | 1878–1911 |
| Dr. Goodman Lipkind | 1912–1914 |
| Rabbi Samuel Thurman | 1914–1958 |
| Rabbi Jerome W. Grollman | 1958–1990 |
| Rabbi Howard G. Kaplansky | 1990–2011 |
| Rabbi Brigitte S Rosenberg | 2011- |