Evening star., 1926-04-11
SYNAGOGUE GOLDEN
JUBILEE IS TONIGHT
Celebration at Community
Center Recalls Impressive
Services in 1876.


Jewish Community Center tonight at
o'clock.
Attendance at the dinner Of Mai
q. S. Grant, Sd, director of the office
of public buildings and public
parks Of the National Capital, will
recall the honor paid the Adath
Israel Congregation so years ago by
his grandfather, President Grant, in
attending the dedication services for
the old synagogue on June 10, 1876.
The new synagogue which replaced
this structure was dedicated Janu-
ary 6, 1908.
Others who will attend the dinner
tonight as guests of honor are Rep
resentattve Sol Bloom of New York,
n member of the congregation, who
viii address the gathering, and Isaac
Cans OF this city, whose parents
were among the leaders in the organ
ization Of the synagogue.
DIR. Louis j. Schwefel, rabbi of the
congregation. has received messages
of congratulation on the occasion of
its tiftieth anniversary celebration
from Vice President Dawes, Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover. Attorney
General Sargent, Secretary of the In
terror Work, Secretary of Labor.
Davis, Secretary of State Kellogg,
and Postmaster General New.
Many Guests to Attend.
Other officials of the congregation to
attend the dinner with Rabbi Schwefel,
who will act as POSTMASTER, include
Simon Oppenheimer, who was presi-
dent of the synagogue for 3S years
and now is honorary president; Louis
Rosenberg, president of the syna-
gogue, who will be rendered ''bon
voyage" for his forthcoming departure
for tour Of Europe and Palestine,
and Rev. L. Novick, cantor, who will
lead the choir in appropriate musical
numbers. Prayers will be offered by
DR.. Abram Simon and Rabbi j. T.
Leob. Rabbi Samuel Cohen Of New
York also is included among the
speakers for the occasion. Morris
Stein is chairman CT the arrange
mentS committee for the dinner.
The Adath Israel Congregation was
founded by an orthodox group who
separated from Washington Hebrew
Congregation during the form move
ment in the church, and at first held
services in a small room above store
on Pennsylvania avenue near Four
and-a-half street. After several moves
to other places Of worship, the congre-
cation purchased the property at
Sixth and G. streets, which, after re-
modelling, was dedicated as the Sixth
Street Synagogue so years ago.
1t is recorded in the columns of
the Daily Critic of Washington of
June 10, 1876, that these dedication
services were attended by President
Grant, his son, Ulysses, jr.; Vice
President Ferry, Rev. DIR. J. p. New
man, Richard Bahle, esq, and other
prominent personages."
First Services Impressive.
In it's story of the impressive dedica-
tory ceremonies, the Dailry Critic re-
cords how the synagogue was ''filled
in every portion, the male members
of the congregation being seated in
the lower portion of the house and the
ladies in the gallery, according to
the custom prevailing with orthodox
Hebrew congre CATIONS" The keys
OF the synagogue We're presented to
John Boyer, the president, by S. Gold
stein, chairman of the building COM
mittee.
Those officiating at the dedication
entered the synagogue as follows:
Rev. George Jacobs, minister Of the
Beth Ell Emeth Congregation of Phila-
delphia, and Rev. NJ. Janover of New
York, who was selected for the occa-
sion as chazan or reader. Then fol-
lowed the other officers of the congre-
Peyser, vice president; Morris Cohen,
honorary secretary; Raphael Sanger,
treasurer: Sorach Hartong, Isaac Levy,
Morris Cohen, trustees: NJ. Open
heimer, Philip Cohen, members of the
board of management.
Building committees. Goldstein,
chairman; Jacob Rich and William Dan.
nenberg. The rear being brought up
by number Of prominent gentlemen.
among whom were Messrs liable, A.
$. Solomons and Simon Wolf The
doors We're then closed, and the keys
OF the synagogue We're presented to
the president, Mr.. Boyer, with a brief
address by S. Goldstein, chairman Of
the building committee. Mr.. Boyer
responded, and at the conclusion of
his remarks the ministers and others
designated proceeded to the vestry and
returned with the scrolls.
The service lasted for over two
hours and was one of the most i'm
pressive ever witnessed in this city.
Congregation Has Expanded.
During the 3S years in which he
held the office of president of the
congregation, to which he was
elected 40 years ago. Mr.. Open
heimer assisted largely in the devol- |
ODment and expansion Of the con-
Sregation. In arousing the congre-
cation to q realization of the need
of new and larger synagogue as
its membership grew, Mr.. Open
heimer was given great assistance
by the Ladies' Auxiliary Society of
the congregation, which was organ
lied 80 years ago. This society is
still actively engaged in all matters
pertaining to the welfare of the con-
Gregation.
The hopes of the president and his
faithful workers in the auxiliary
society and the building committee
for the erection Of a larger syna-
Gogue were realized on January 6,
1903, when the present structure was
dedicated with services that included
all the ancient and sacred rites of
such occasions. The new synagogue,
the corner stone of which was laid
on November %. 1905, was desig-
mated by Louis Levi, architect Of
Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The Sixth Street Synagogue is
the largest orthodox congregation in
Washington, and it's development and
progress during the last few years
has been particularly gratifying to
it's leaders. 1t conducts a religious
school attended by some ESQ children
and the young peoples services held
each Friday night also are largely
attended. DIR. Schwaefel has been
rabbi of the congregation for the
past two years.
Five States, Florida, Alabama, In
diana, West Virginia and Iowa, have
placed no legal limitation on the hours
of labor of women in industry.