Evening star., 1952-11-16
D. {. Congregation
To Lay Cornerstone
For Temple Today

For Temple Today
Many outstanding achievements
mark the 100-year history Of the
Washington Hebrew Congregation,
which today is laying the corner
stone for great new temple.
Participation by President Tru-
man in the ceremony today fol-
lows precedent established be-
fore the Civil War. Almost every
President in the past century has
taken part, in one way or another,
in the congregations calendar of
events.
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfield,
spiritual leader of the congrega-
ton, recalls with pride that the
Nations leaders as well as the
people of Washington have long
found many common interests
with the members of his group.
Rabbi Gerstenf1eld declared
that the new temple to rise at
Massachusetts, avenue and Ma
comb street NV. will be a re-
ligious center where the men
and women of many creeds will
find something in which they can
take part"
Oldest in Washington.
The rabbi feels that community
as well as religious affairs should
be discussed at the temple, where
meeting places can be provided
for civic groups and the like. The
leader also hopes that q school
can be established at the temple.
The Hebrew Congregation is
the oldest in Washington.
It is the only one in the United
States to be founded by q charter
issued by Congress.
The congregations spiritual
leaders for generations past have
also been community leaders and
spokesman for tolerance and CO.
operation between all creeds.
Today's ceremonies at 3 pm.
on the new site will be addressed
by President Truman, District
Commissioners F. Joseph Donohue
and Renah F. Camalier, and by
spokesmen for various civic and
religious groups.
The modern new building will
be air conditioned throughout.
The main auditorium is to have a
seating capacity Of 2,290. The
temple is scheduled for compile
ton in the fall, to replace the old
temple at 816 Eighth street NV.
Faces Problems of Future.
Although the Conversations
traditions are deeply rooted in the
past, Rabbi Gerstenfeld feels it
faces the problems of the younger
generation with liberalism and
understanding.
The new temple, with its
open-air places of worship, spa
ciouS accommodations and modern
equipment, Symbolizes the hope of
the congregations leaders that it
will have strong appeal for the
new generation, Rabbi Gersten-
field said.
The temple will be surrounded
by four and one-half acres, about
three acres of which will be de-
voted to parking.
Terraces for outdoor services
are to be handicapped, and steps in
the building will be eliminated
largely with the use of ramps.
The congregation was formed
100 years ago by II men who met
for that purpose in the home of
w. jacob on Pennsylvania ave-
hue near Nineteenth street NV. |
Thereafter the congregation as
sembled for worship in private
homes or rented rooms.
Special Charter Issued.
In 1855 a special charter for the
Reform Hebrew Congregation in
Washington was issued by Con-
gress and signed by President
Franklin Pierce. It extended "the
rights, privileges and immunities
heretofore granted by law to the
Christian churches in the city" to
the new group.
One Of those instrumental in
obtaining the historic charter was
Capt. Uriah P. Levy, highest rank
ing officer of the United States
Navy at the time in question. The
charter now hangs on the wall of
the library at the old temple.
Just before the Civil War. the
congregation adopted a new and
more liberal constitution which
provided. among other things, for
the establishment of a choir and
q school.
At first arithmetic, English and
German were taught, as we'll as
religious subjects. Later the school
was limited to a religious program.
By 1870 a rift had developedI
between liberal and conservative
members of the congregation, re-
sulting in the withdrawal of ISL
orthodox believers. This opened
the way for the liberal policy of
Reform Judaism which since has
been followed by the congrega-
ton.
The temple became firmly es-
tablished in the community dur
ing the half a century of service
OF Rabbi Louis Stern, beginning
in 1872.
Mckinley Attended.
The present temple on Eighth
street was erected in the COS.
President Mckinley and his cabi-
net attended the laying of the
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