Los Angeles herald., 1909-09-06
SYNAGOGUE OF
CONGREGATION
SINAI IS OPENED
RABBI MYERS DELEGATES NEW
BUILDING
ELABORATE cEREM oNlEs LAST
SEVERAL HOURS
House of Worship Built by conserva-
tive Jewish Community, Between
Strictly Orthodox and Mod
ern Judaism

With elaborate ceremonies lasting
several hours, the synagogue of the
Congregation Sinai was dedicated yes
terday afternoon at the corner of
Twelfth and Valencia streets. Rabbi
Isadore Myers, who organized the con-
gregation three years ago, had charge
of the services.
Sinai congregation is a conservative
Jewish community between the strictly
orthodox and the more modern Juda-
ism.
D. A. Hamburger acted as chairman
of the afternoon. The service was
opened by an organ prelude by Theo-
dore j. Irwin, which was followed by
the 'Pi-s'chu Lee" by Rabbi Myers and
the opening of the doors by Mines. M.
S. Kornblum and D. Hirsch.
Mr.. Hamburger made an eloquent
opening address, in which he spoke of
the large work accomplished by the
congregation since it's establishment.
He said:
Door Ever to Be Open
"This building stands as a credit to
the 2 al of the president of the congre-
cation and his co-laborers. Their work
has borne fruit in the house of God.
So even in the days when the children
of Israel crossed the Red sea and be-
came wanderers, the first work was the
erection of house of prayer following
the precepts of the three great men,
Moses David and Solomon. The chill
dren of today are the men and women
of tomorrow to go forth under the law
to dispel the biased opinions and the
prejudice of the uneducated. The love
of home is attested in the synogague,
for as the poet has said, BE it ever so
humble, there is no place like home
sweet home.'
-"These men can point the finger Of
pride at this synagogue They have
gone out in the wilderness of the char
liable and brought back mama. They
have asked and been refused, but they
have gone on. This synagogue shall
breathe forth the lesson of truth and
make of all men, regardless Of re-
ligion, brothers. This synagogue is to
be cog in the wheel that will annihi-
late prejudice. The doors will always
be open to all who believe in God, the
efficacy of prayer and good over evil"
Little Girl Presents Key
Following the opening address, DR. S.
Hecht. rabbi of Temple B'nai Birth, Of
fered the opening prayer. This was fol-
lowed by the presentation of the key
by little Edith Jonas, after which M.
S. Kornblum formally presented the
building. ]. L. Jonas, as president OF
the congregation, accepted the building
with a fitting address
The ceremony of turning on the lights
was performed by Mines. DR.. I. MYERS,
J. 3. Mayer I. Kafka, Max Cohn Ellis
Cohn, j. Laventhal and e. Brokaw.
Mrs. A. Granas lighted the perpetual
lamp and Mines Esther Isaacs and M.
Laventhal lighted the Memorials. Felix
j. Jonas read the Torah, which was
fra e. of Nv n
DR.. Myers offered a special prayer for
the government. followed by several
selections by Cantor Alter and the
choir. Mrs. L. D. Wise sang a solo,
after which DIR. Myers preached the
dedicatory sermon.
DIR. Myers outlined the work of the
synagogue and spoke of the attitude
it took with regard to the more ortho-
dox tenets of Judaism.
Dedicates Building
"Rabbinical judaism is what I be.
lieve this congregation stands for"
said DIR. Myers. What can the Jew
hear in his synagogue? He hears the
voice of the Torah speaking to him
through all the ages; he hears the voice
of the commandments which says thou
shalt and thou shalt not;' draw
nigh and near the voice of those great
preachers, the prophets, who preached
thousands of years ago and to millions
of men of Justice and righteousness.
He hears the songs of our psamist that
have been borrowed by our brothers Of
the Christian world who love them as
we do
DR.. Myers then dedicated the build
ing and offered the dedicatory prayer.
Miss Annie Hirsh read a dedicatory
ode composed for the occasion by John
S. McGroarty. Mr.. Hamburger read a
Ia
able to be present which was followed
by an address by Rabbi Hecht
every part of this ediffce has been
assigned with touching words to their
respective functions" said DIR. Hecht
"All that could be done and said has
been done and said, and yet I feel a
distinct pride to be privileged to adj
dress this congregation on day so
great a joy as this one is to you.
Power to Develop Gifts
''You have a historic name. You are
the descendants of that people that
stood on Sinai. and you will take on
yourselves the duties and responsible
ties of the Israel that once before stood
on Sinai and said they would faithfully
perform their duties
1--WE repeat the words of the old
song DO not look at me for I am
black That might have been possible
under Russian persecution tnat Ildue
the Jew bow down under the yoke. To-
day. thank God. we are living under
conditions favorable, We have the
power to develop our gifts under the
domain of the Stars and Stripes. and
there is no excuse for anyone to allow
his name, and the name Of the Jew, to
be smirched."
Rev. Sigmund Frey and Victor Har
ris gave Solomon's PRAYER. which was
fra nSIated hv George N BLACK Harry
Hursch gave a violin solo. The pro-
gram of thirty-four numbers closed by
the singing of America" by the con-
prePa tiOn