The Washington herald., 1920-12-11
CREDIT TEMPLES
SUCCESS TO RABBI
Hebrew House of Worship Has
Become Famous Under
Lead of DR.. Simon.

Having rendered nearly half a
century of service to the followers
of the Jewish religion in Washing
ton, the temple of the Washington
Hebrew Congregation, on Eighth
street, near X street, stands as n
landmark OF which followers Of
ancient Judaism may be proud.
Built by loyal worshippers in '73.
just a short while after the heavy
influx of Hebrew immigration hadbe-
come noticeable, this house of God
has ever been the seat Of the life
and activities of the true sons of
Abraham.
1t is q temple of beauty-within
and without. Since its renovation.
and refurnishing shortly after the
arrival of its present head, DIR.
Abram Simon, in 1905. a complete
ness of rest pervades. The religious
and aesthetic senslbilities of those
| who worship within its walls are
| ever appeased.
The building is OF gray stone. and
the seating capacity Is nearly 1000.
/
act sense of the famous temples
which please the eyes of the Jews
of the days of Solomon. yet there is
within a grasping and holding power
which at once welcomes the visitor,
and pleases the consistent church.
goer.
Struggle at the Start.
| But the likeable edifice wherein
Washingtonians of the Jewish faith
adore God was not always as those
of this generation see 1t.
| The first attempt was made al
most fifty years ago. when a sum
sufficient to guarantee the mere
erection of the structure was do
mated. For years the congregation
| struggled under a heavy yoke of
debt. which, while gradually on the
decline with the passing years, still
seemed to linger.
While the members were still
paying heavily for a large loan on
mortgage, there was in Nebraska a
young man, preaching the doctrine
of his fathers to the Jews of
Omaha. Although but a few years
graduated from his preliminary
training for a rabbi, he had been
noted as an orator a thinker, and
as a man of action.
There were no little number OF
persuasive notes of invitation sent
to this young doctor OF divinity,
Abram Simon, who wished to re-
main in Omaha's Temple Israel.
He yielded. however. and his first
sermon, after acceptance, was de-
livered to a Washington assembly
on February 5, 1904. 1t was entitled
ssrho Valley of RnOeS"
The late DR.. Louis Stern, who had
been rabbi for the preceding thirty
years. delivered his last sermon al
this service.
DIR. Simen's Efforts Win.
Today the local Hebrew congre-
cation is one of the noted of the
faith. Attendance at the Friday
evening service averages 500, and
the congregation Is considered Z
rival of any of the Jewish houses
of worship in America.
Singularly true and attested to BY
every member of the church Is thu
fact that most of the success Of th'
congregation is due to the untirine
1 labors of DR.. Simon.
Always broad-minded and kindly
wise, with the foresight and abil
Il
H and have it done. DR.. Simon has en-
deared himself to his Pensioners a.
well as to the Washington public
His live interest in the welfare o
the Capital City has led to his sue
cess in many things.
H Noted Men a. Speakers.
Only half a year ago DR.. Simo,
n was elected president of the Boar
of Education. While DR.. Simon
II duties in this capacity require grea
II attention, he has in no way neg
Il lected the religious work of hi
II church.
II Instead, he has, to a degree
II welded one with the other, and hi
II success has been twofold.
II DR.. Simon has presented to tn
members of his synagogue some @
the greatest speakers and brainies
II men of his faith. Men prominent i
this nations civil and religious lif
have come before the Jews of Wash
ington, and have taught the prac
tical as well as the symbolic valu
of the religion.
ii One of the recent speakers wa
n Daniel P. Hays, prominent Ne'
York attorney and president of tn
III Harlem Congregation. Musical a,
II fractions have also been Introduce,