The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-01-26
RELIGIOUS
CENTER
AIM
Auditorium, Swimming Pool,
and Gymnasium Among
Facilities Planned.
By GEORGE FRANKLIN.

By GEORGE FRANKLIN.
Surprising in proportions and
classic design the most magnifi-
cent of Americas religious edi-
fees, the Washington Hebrew
Congregation will erect within a
year a new temple on site to
be selected at Washington Heights.
Completed, the temple will cost
approximately half million
dollars. Of this sum $4,000 has
already been subscribed. Another
$4,000 it is declared, will be
secured during the drive for the
temple fund commencing next
week. With 100000 available,
building of the temple will COM
mence at once.
Holds Need Imperative.
Such was the statement made to-
day by Lee Baumgarten, president
of the congregation, which includes
among it's officers r. B. H. Lyon
vice president; Joseph Abel, secre-
tary. and J. Eisenmann. treasurer.
while the final plans have not
been drawn, it can be said the new
temple will be the latest word IN
church architecture" said Baum
garten.
ct will be located at Washing
ton Heights, on a plat of ground
200 by $50 feet, although the site
has not been definitely fixed"
The need for the new temple is
imperative, according to Baumgar-
ten. For more than year the
facilities of the present temple on
Eighth street, between III and
streets, have been entirely made
quate to meet the needs of the con-
<. alton, which within a period OF
foI.- years has grown from 237
members to sos members, each
membership representing q family,
this bringing the total membership
to approximately 1000 individual
Worshipers.
To Be Community Center.
Although the plans for the new
temple have not been completed IL
will contain an auditorium having
a seating capacity OF $500 persons"
said Bumgarten. Across the rear
of the auditorium a small gallery
viii be constructed. The temple will
be provided with a gymnasium.
tiers for housing all of the temple
activities. In other words, it will
become a community center in
every sense of the word.
I'VE live in a time when the
young people must be attracted, and
to make place of worship popular
among them it must provide fea-
lures unnecessary in past times. To
illustrate, we now have in the con-
gregation debating societies, singing
clubs and dramatic clubs, with other
organizations of a social character.
They all tend to center the activi-
ties of the younger members of the
congregation around the temple"
Speaking Of the factors responsible
Tor the rapid growth of the congre-
CATION Baumgarten cited the sister,
hood4of the temple. This organiZa-
ton was founded twelve years ago
by Mrs. Carry Simon, wife of DR..
Abram Simon, rabbi of the Wash
fngton congregation. Branching out
from the National Capital il has
spread until it's membership extends
to all of the leading Jewish congre-
cations of America.
Work Is Effective.
Indicating the importance of the
g1sterhood as a constructive factor,
Baumgarten stated that recently IL
had turned over in cash $3.50 900 to
be used in erecting dormitory at
the Hebrew College, at Cincinnati.
Ohio, for the accommodation of the
young students studying to become
rabbis, a course requiring nine
years collegiate residence. The six
beautiful marble memorial tablets
at the Eighth Street Temple were
presented TO the temple by the sis
terhood, as were also the altar
cloths.
Among the active factors of the
congregation said Baumgarten.
must be included the Alumni Asso
citation, with a membership of ap-
proximately $50 young men and
young women. They affiliated with
the association following their con-
firmation. Two members Of the as
ISOLATION are on the board of mana
gers. The organization publishes
the Scroll, monthly magazine de-