The record-union., 1895-04-15
EMANU-RLS FIFTY YEARS.
Golden Jubilee of Reformed Juda-
ism in America.
History of the Reform Movement
Temple Emanu-El to Celebrate Its
Fiftteth Anniversary-The Most
Progressive Jewish Congregation
In the World.

The Temple Emanuel will celebrate
the fiftieth anniversary of its organiza-
tion on the 18th, 18th and 18th of next
month. Elaborate preparations are under
way to make this the most memorable
occasion in the history of the congrega-
tion, the career of which is replete with
interesting events. The different COM
mittees are busy formulating the plans
for the festivities and completing the
programme, which will abound in novel
features.
This congregation, which is probably
the richest Jewish church organization in
the world, is the outgrowth of a very
small society which had hard struggle
during the early years of its existence.
Its history is the embodiment of the rise
and progress of Reform Judaism in
America. 1t is the pioneer OF modern
Hebrew congregations, and is the model
after which all of the numerous progress
sive Jewish churches on the continent
have been patterned. There are many
older congregations in the United States,
but there is none that has advanced so
rapidly.
The Congregation Emanu- Ell is of Ger
man-AmeIican origin, and was nour-
lshed and raised at the fountain-well of
Jewish theological science, according to
German Interpretation. In the fourth
decade of the present century there came
to this country from Germany number
of lsraelites who seem TO have been
drawn together here by the liberal views
which they held concerning religious
affairs. They did not connect them
selves with any Of the then-existlng con-
gregatlons, for in their homes IN Europe
they had acquired broader view of the
requirements of their religion than then
prevailed among their co-religionists on
this continent. They also took a deep
interest in the doings OF their brethren
who had not been blessed with the same
liberal education as they had received,
and they conceived 1t TO be their duty to
lift their less cultivated brethren to
higher intellectual plane.
This enlightened little band of German
Israelites formed a society in September,
lS43, which they called the Culture So
cIety, ana began holding frequent meet
ings, at which intellectual advancement
was the principal topic of discussion.
This plan finally adopted as the best to
carry out its purposes was the formation
OF an organization in which Jews of all
opinions could be brought together to
labor for the common good, questions OF
ritual being entirely taDooed.
The innovation received the jeers and
Tidicule of the orthodox Hebrews and
every obstacle possible was placed In its
path, but in spite OF the many difficulties
encountered the Culture Society worked
earnestly and faithfully. on April g.
1915, with membership of thirty three,
a regular congregation was organized
under the name OF Emanuel, the He
Drew for God With U.s." Arrange
ments were made for the holding of de-
vine vices at once, the ritual being
altered to meet the views of the congrega-
tlon. a room was rented In private
dwelling at the corner OF Grand and Clin-
ton streets, which was converted into a
synagogue. IN which the front seats were
SET apart for the men and those in the
rear Tor the women. A choir was estab-
lshed OF which James Seligman was
ChlTman and one of the leading singers.
The first rabbi was the Rev. DIR. Leo
MerZbacher, whose salary was $500 per
year. q. NJ. Cohen was the cantor, and
he also received a salary of $500 per an
mum. w. Reuau was the Secretary and
sexton at an annual salary OF $50.
The little congregation continued TO
grow so that In lS47 il was enabled to buy
a church in Christie street for Sl2, 600,
which was converted into a synagogue
and consecrated in lS4S, the Sabbath be-
fore the Feast of the Passover. This, with
the four lots on Grand street and Bush
wien avenue, Williamsburg, which was
its burial ground, comprised the entire
possessions Of the organization. In 1851
the synagogue was sold, and larger one
erected in East Twelfth street. Here the
congregation remained until 1868, when it
removed to where it now worships at
the corner Of Fifth avenue and Forty
third street. In 1866 the cornerstone of
the present magnificent temple was laid
and in 1868 the temple was consecrated.
The cost Of the building was $500, 600, and
when IL was finished the congregation
had an indebtedness of $3.50, 600, secured
by hve-year mortgage on the edifice.
The building was turned over to the
congregation on September 1st, and the
following day the pews were sold by
auction, Myer Stern acting as auctioneer.
The sale netted the enormous sum of
S755, 900, which unexpected amount placed
in the Ireasurers hands more funds
than the entire Indebtedness. In conse-
Quence, the Treasurer had the mortgage
Cancelled within six weeks after it had
been made, and paid The trust company
holding il 500 for it's release. From that
time on the church has grown so rapidly
that at the present Ii is probably the larg-
est and wealthiest Jewish congregation
in the world.
The founders of this reformed syna-
Rogue were looked upon almost as apos-
tates by their brethren of other congrega-
tions, and each innovation in the ritual
called forth the earnest condemnation of
the other synRgogues. But the reformers
were not 10 be thwarted in their work,
and made such radical changes in the
manner of worship from the very outset
as to make the orthodox Israelites hold
up their hands in horror.
The first week OF DR.. Merzbaohsr' s
career as a rabbi he, with committee,
began the work OF compiling new ritual.
In this many prayers considered insult
able for the age and superiluous were
eliminated, which was considered deed
Of sacrilege by the rest OF the Hebrew
colony. Shortly afterward the male and
female hers of the cOQQrepatiGn
occupied the family pews in common,
and later the men removed their hats dur
ing service. This undermining process
was so rapid that in a very brief period
very little OF the old ritual remained, and
this reformed Jewish church worshipped
the Father OF Israel in a manner only to
be found within its tabernacle on this
continent.
With the influx of German Jews into
this country new congregations were
formed, which adopted the Temple
Emanuel-El Prayer Book, SO that before
the year 1860 many churches of modern
Judaism thrived in all sections of the
Union, particularly in the Western
States. at present the reform syn
sgoRues far outnumber those OF the ortho-
dox churches in the cities of the United
States.
AS a record of the coming fiftieth ami
yersary Myer Stern, the Secretary of the
congregation, has been intrusted with
the compilation OF the history of the
Temple Emanu-El and the rise and pro-
gress OF Judaism in America This will
be souvenir of the celebration. Mr..
Stern, who has been the Secretary of the
congregation for many years. and who
has given the subject much thought,
promises to make this work one of much
value from historical standpoint. In
the preparation of this souvenir he is
aided TO the fullest extent by the officers
af fba Tot1ar1lQ f,Fnanu-