Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel

Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron Ezras Israel
Basic information
Location 2015 S 4th Street,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,
Geographic coordinates 39°55′23″N 75°09′12″W / 39.923055°N 75.153276°WCoordinates: 39°55′23″N 75°09′12″W / 39.923055°N 75.153276°W
Affiliation Jewish
Rite Ashkenaz
Status Active
Leadership Rich Sisman, President
Website thelittleshul.org
Capacity 100

Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron Ezras Israel (קאנגרעגיישאן שבטי ישורון עזרת ישראל) is a historic synagogue located in the Pennsport neighborhood of South Philadelphia. As of 2015, congregational services are lay-led. Shivtei Yeshuron moved to its current location in 1909 and purchased the building in 1917. It is South Philadelphia's last active pre-World War I rowhouse synagogue.

Congregation History

The congregation first organized itself in 1876 at 322 Bainbridge Street and chartered in 1892 as Shivtei Yeshurun.[1] Many congregants and immigrants moved further south, as the area grew with Jewish life. The synagogue followed in 1909, moving to its current location at 2015 South 4th Street. The interior was built by craft community members and the building became a meeting place for several local beneficial societies.

Hazzan Max Karafin arrived in Philadelphia from Odessa in the 1920s and conducted services at the congregation. His wife Baila Karafin helped start the Ladies Auxiliary during the Depression to support community members in need.[2]

September 5, 2014

The congregation survived by virtue of several mergers. In 1961, Shivtei Yeshuron combined with Mishkan Israel and Raim Ahuvim (Anshe Kalker, who held Nusach Sefard) to become Shivtei Yeshurun. In 1968, Shivtei Yeshuron welcomed the merger of Heisner, and of Congregation Ezras Israel, formerly of Sixth and Cantrell Streets, to become Shivtei Yeshurun - Heisner Ezras Israel, and later, Shivtei Yeshurun Ezras Israel, as it is in the present day. Shivtei Yeshuron Ezras Israel absorbed the members of six other synagogues that closed between 1970 and 1983.[3]

It is South Philadelphia's oldest active synagogue, and last orthodox synagogue.[4] The congregation is lay led. Rabbi Wilner led High Holiday services from the 1970s until 2005. Rabbi Yadidya Dagovitz led Sabbath services at the synagogue from the 1980s until his death in 2004,[5] and joined R. Wilner for Holidays.[6] The Congregation in 2015 meets for Shabbos services and kiddush the first Saturday of the month; conducts High Holiday services; presents speakers, music, and community events; and is a member of the Kehillah of Center City.

Building

The congregation originally rented the South 4th Street property in 1909, and purchased the building outright in 1917. Previously a store (built some time between 1886 and 1895) with a horse stable at its rear on Moyamensing Avenue, members did extensive renovations to the space in the early years of their occupancy. Many of them were skilled craftsmen, trained as tinsmen, carpenters and electricians. They built the heavy Ark, which in keeping with Jewish tradition was installed at the front of the East-West facing synagogue in order to point towards Jerusalem. They also installed the exterior columns that distinguished it from the other stores and homes along the street and still identify it to passersby today. The sanctuary walls and ceilings are made of tin. Tin ceilings originated in the 1880s as an affordable way for people to decorate the ceiling. Tin was an aesthetic meant to emulate high-end decorative plaster, and provided some fire protection. Philadelphia city maps show the building's transformation from a store and dwelling, to synagogue and dwelling, was recognized between 1914 and 1919.[7] The three story structure itself dates to 1886-1895.

The rear building had been converted from stable to caretaker building. In 2007, the rear wall of this building was collapsing and the city condemned the entire property. It was initially thought the rear wall could be torn down and rebuilt. It was determined that the entire rear building would have to be torn down.[8] The rear building was rebuilt in 2009 into the synagogue building. Councilman-at-large James F. Kenney, who grew up in the neighborhood, offered to help preserve this historic community site.[9]

Revitalization

The 2007 to 2009 renovations enabled the congregation to retain its building, begin renovation, and rebuild the synagogue as a Jewish and Philadelphia community destination.

The synagogue raised funds and repaired its primary Torah scroll in 2010.[10]

The synagogue hosted a Hanukah party in December 2011 and arts event, "Studio Aggada: New Ideas Lab" in January 2012 with Jewish Art Now.[11]

Shivtei Yeshuron was a host site for the Hidden City Philadelphia 2013 Festival which highlighted its history in South Philadelphia and standing as one of the last pre-WWI synagogues. Shivtei Yeshuron hosted an interactive knitting laboratory led by knitting machine techs. The shul hosted the “Radical Jewish Music: A Concert Series” featuring Masada Book Two – The Book of Angels, by composer John Zorn, as performed by Shanir Ezra Blumenkranz leading Abraxas: Book of Angels Volume 19, Erik Friedlander playing Volac: Book of Angels Volume 8, and Uri Caine playing Moloch: Book of Angels Volume 6; screened the film Punk Jews; and together with Hidden City presented a speaker series on topics including the South Philadelphia Jewish origins of the Clarion, Utah colony and the Jewish Back-to-the-Land Movement, and the Philadelphia Sphas.[12]

Jeffrey Stanley presented a theatrical production in the synagogue's 1890s basement during the 2013 Philadelphia Fringe Festival. The Andy Statman Trio performed in concert at Shivtei Yeshuron in March 2014. Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron marked Holocaust Remembrance Day with a talk in April 2014.[13] Former-Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell cited a speaking commitment at Shivtei on June 1, 2014 that prevented him from being a passenger on a private Gulfstream IV business jet that had crashed the previous night, killing all on board.[14]

Name

The English spelling of the congregation's name has evolved through its history. The congregation in 2014 refers to itself officially as Congregation Shivtei Yeshuron-Ezras Israel. The 1901 American Jewish Year Book identifies the congregation as Shifte Yeshurun Anshe Philadelphia.[15] The 1954 Philadelphia Directory of Streets and Information identifies the synagogue as Shivtai Jeshurun.[16]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Meyers, Allen (1998). The Jewish Community of South Philadelphia. p. 121. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  2. ↑ Meyers, Allen. The Jewish Community of South Philadelphia. p. 118.
  3. ↑ Meyers. The Jewish Community of South Philadelphia. p. 126.
  4. ↑ Bill Ordine (May 28, 2000). "Sentiment holds sway". Philadelphia Inquirer.
  5. ↑ "Other places of worship". South Philly Review. March 17, 2005. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  6. ↑ Lorraine, Gennaro (August 7, 2008). "Preserving the past The area's only Orthodox Jewish synagogue has been ordered by the Department of Licenses and Inspections to make repairs.". South Philly Review. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  7. ↑ Brin, Joseph G. (March 9, 2012). "Lifeboat For The Ages". hiddencityphila.org. Hidden City Philadelphia. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  8. ↑ Shaffer, Cheyenne (April 29, 2013). "Hidden City Festival gives new life to forgotten places". The Temple News. Retrieved April 30, 2013.
  9. ↑ Gennaro, Lorraine (September 25, 2008). "L'Chayim: An Orthodox synagogue in need of repairs and under scrutiny from The Department of Licenses and Inspections will open for the High Holidays.". South Philly Review. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  10. ↑ O'Reilly, David (January 18, 2010). "Restoring Jewish law to the letter: Many hands complete S. Phila. Torah". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2014-09-29.
  11. ↑ Shinefield, Mordechai (January 19, 2012). "South Philly Synagogue Opens Doors to Cutting-Edge Contemporary Art". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  12. ↑ Salisbury, Greg (May 31, 2013). "Hidden City Festival Reveals Revitalization of 'Little Shul'". Jewish Exponent. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Around South Philly 5-1-2014". South Philly Review. May 1, 2014. Retrieved May 5, 2014.
  14. ↑ Conlon, Kevin; Levs, Josh (June 2, 2014). "Philly newspaper owner Lewis Katz among dead in private plane crash". cnn.com. Retrieved June 2, 2014.
  15. ↑ American Jewish Year Book (PDF). Philadelphia: Jewish Publication Society. 1900–1901. p. 443. Retrieved 2013.
  16. ↑ Philadelphia Directory of Streets and Information. Everett, Massachusetts: Interstate Publishing Company., Inc. 1954. p. 169.

External links