160 Years Serving New York City
The history of Congregation Adereth El is quite colorful and gives us an opportunity to look at the life and times of a Congregation as it struggles and grows in the most exciting city in the world. It is a reflection of the progress and accomplishments of New York Jews for 160 years. It is also an opportunity to look at and remember the names of men and women who have come and gone and yet whose mark lives on in the energies they gave to the Synagogue they loved.
The Text was written by Rabbi Sidney Kleiman and Andre S. Marx to be included in the 100th Anniversary Journal that was distributed at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on October 27, 1957. Not only did the authors undertake the massive job of reviewing the records and minutes of a century’s worth of meetings, but it is obvious that they also did extensive field investigation in the community and at the records offices of New York City.
Adereth El Through the Years
Jewish People come to New York (1600-1850)
To begin to write the story of the Congregation Talmud Torah Adereth El, it is necessary to bear in mind the aims and the purposes which brought it into being. The ideals which inspire a nation or an organization are its source of strength and motivation. The religious idealism of the Congregation is the thread which holds together the main theme of the story. The men, the events and the details are the titles which divide the story into chapters. Judaism and the Torah is the main theme, and the religious spirit of the people in the Bes Hashem, the house of God, is the servant of it s instrumentality. Judaism to grow must have Jews and Jews to survive must have Judaism. Furthermore, to fully understand and appreciate the history of the Congregation, unique for its existence of over 140 years in the heart of the most important city in the western hemisphere in east midtown New York, in the shadows of the tallest buildings in the world and for 135 years on the same location, we realize that the story still must be related to the life of the City itself in the pattern of the general growth of the American Jewish community and also to the life of the generations which preceded the founders of the Congregation.
There are two main reasons why the early immigrants risked their lives to cross the stormy and dangerous Atlantic Ocean with their small ships to come to this unknown land. Religious persecution was one of the prime causes for the early settlement of this continent. The Pilgrims and the Puritans landed on the Coast of New England to seek religious freedom. Many others left the familiar scenes of their European homes not only to flee from oppression but also to free themselves from the slavery of poverty. How well, Emma Lazarus, the Jewish poetess expressed it with her immortal words written on the base of the Statue of Liberty:
Give me your tired, your poor
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free
Send these, the homeless, tempest-lost to me.
If we unveil the curtain concealing the drama and adventure of human achievement, we shall note that no people has suffered from this double curse of religious intolerance and denial of elementary human rights as much as the Jewish people have in the course of their long history. But it was also this double misery which spurred the people to set sail for this new country to build a new world based on the principles of friendship, brotherhood, liberty, justice and religious tolerance. Religious tolerance gradually led to the principle of religious freedom which is guaranteed in the United States by the establishment of the doctrine of the separation of Religion and the State.
When George Washington was inaugurated as the first President of the United States, the congregations sent him letters of congratulations. George Washington acknowledged these letters and in his reply used these noble words. “All possess alike liberty of conscience and immunities of citizenship…May the children of the stock of Abraham who dwell in this land continue to merit and enjoy the good will of other inhabitants, while every one shall sit in safety under his own vine and fig tree, and there shall be none to make him afraid!” Article VI of the Federal Constitution states, “no religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office or public trust under the United States.” The First Amendment prohibits any established religion. The Amendment reads, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” This policy and Amendment protects our country from any religious sect becoming the dominant faith or religion of the Government. The First Amendment went even further on the issue of religion by stating that, “congress shall make no law prohibiting the free exercise thereof.”
The high place that freedom of conscience and religion holds in our society today was indicated by the recent report of the President’s committee on Civil Rights (page 9) which states, “Our forefathers fought bloody wars and suffered torture and death for the right to worship God according to the varied dictates of conscience.”
There is no state imposed religion in the U.S. which all people must accept as the answer to the deep and ultimate mysteries of life. All religion in the U.S. is thus accorded equal respect, dignity, honor and trust. Each person serves God in his own way and according to his own conscience and is respected for his loyalty to his faith and country. Indeed the one and only difference in our society which America respects and will zealously and firmly uphold is this important principle of freedom and respect for all religions. Nothing has contributed to the growth and strength of America as its spirit of freedom and brotherhood and the integration of all groups. Because of the these principle plus its great natural resources and the equal opportunities to develop these resources, America has blessed all people who have come here. America thus has equally blessed the Jewish people.
What is the unique contribution that the Jewish people gave to America?
The influence of the Jew upon American life has been direct and indirect. In the early days of the colonies there were very few Jews, perhaps a few hundred. They engaged primarily in trading, buying and selling. Up to the eve of the American Revolution in 1776 there were two to three thousand Jews in a total population of about 3 million, less than 1/10 of 1%. Hence their direct influence could not be great. But considering their small numbers their indirect influence was tremendous and far beyond their proportionate numbers.
The early colonists and Puritans were great student s of the Bible. The early founders of the Republic were men of genius in the field of political science and were greatly inspired by the Democratic ideals found in the Bible. And even though the early colonists may have not recognized that the Jewish people living in their midst were the direct descendants of the great Biblical characters of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Gideon, Samuel, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Amos, Hosea, nevertheless the influence of the Jewish ideas found in the Bible were deep and abiding.
The Sermon and the pulpit were the principal sources of education and inspiration in the early days of American history. The arguments for the Revolution itself were largely drawn from the story of the struggle of the children of Israel for freedom. Thomas Paine in his famous Common Sense put it this way, “that the Almighty hath entered his protest against monarchical government is true or the Scriptures are false.” Not only did the Scriptures wean the Americans away from their monarchical affiliation and not only did the Scriptures place the diving mark upon the popular form of government but they also supplied the model for the creation of that form of government best calculated to secure the principles of civil liberties. It is not surprising therefore that at the very same day that the Declaration of Independence was adopted that a committee consisting of Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson prepared a seal for the U.S. which showed Pharaoh in pursuit of the Israelites in the Red Sea with Moses standing on the shore with his hands outstretched. The motto the seal is “Rebellion to Tyrants is obedience to God.” Mr. Oscar S. Strauss in his book, “Origin of Republic Form of Governments”, sums it up beautifully with the words, “If the U.S. has become Republican, it is due to the fact that the Hebrew Commonwealth present to the pastors the model of Democratic Republic.”
In the year 1492, on August 2, the Jewish people were expelled by the bloody inquisition from Spain. The Jews fled everywhere. On August 3 of the same year Columbus set sail in search of a new route to India and instead discovered America. There is a great deal of evidence which indicates that Columbus probably was a Jew. “His father’s name was originally Colon, a common Spanish Jewish name which means “colonist.” His mother had a Jewish name, Susanna Fontanaross”! Many of the crew on the ship were Jewish. Luis Torres, the interpreter on the ship and first white man to set foot on the soil of America, was Jewish.
In 1954 the American Jewish Community celebrated the tercentenary of Jewish life in America. In 1654 twenty-three Sephardic Refugees fleeing persecution from Brazil landed in New Netherlands then held by the liberal Dutch. A few weeks before, a Jew by the name of Jacob Barsimson arrived from Holland with a passport. He probably was the first Jew to settle in the new World.
The Jews were at first denied many natural rights. They for example could not engage in retail trade, they could now own real estate, they could only worship at religious services in their own homes. Most of them of necessity turned to trading with the Indians and the colonists. Asser Levy became the leader of the Jewish group, and it seems that he and Jacob Barsimson battled for the human rights of the new settlers. They won the right of citizenship. An appeal to the Dutch West India Company in Holland granted the Jews the right to purchase property, and they gained many rights and prospered. The answer which Dutch West India Company gave to the intolerant Governor Stuyvesant is worthy of being remembered for it emphasized the two ideals of religious tolerance and freedom from discrimination. “The consciences of men ought to be free and unshackled, so long as they continue peaceable, inoffensive and not hostile to the government, the oppressed and persecuted of every country have found among us an asylum from distress. Follow in the same footsteps as we.”
The early settlers (here in New Amsterdam) received permission to have a public place of worship in 1682 and rented a house for that purpose. In 1728 the first Synagogue was built on Mill Street. The synagogue was dedicated in 1730. It was called Shearis Israel and is today referred to as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. It is now located on West 70th Street and Central Park West, N.Y.C. The oldest Synagogue still in existence (in the New World) is in Newport, Rhode Island. It was built in 1763 and is today a national shrine.
Jewish immigration to America is usually divided into 3 parts. The first settlers were mostly of Spanish and Portuguese descent. They were few in number. Up to the American Revolution there were about 400 Jews in N.Y.C. In 1815 Napoleon was defeated on the European continent. There followed a period of great suffering in Central Europe. In 1848 a revolution was plotted against the German government. The revolution was crushed. A large number of people, Jews as well as non-Jews fled to America, to seek an opportunity to eat their bread and freedom. Soon the German Jews outnumbered the Spanish Jews.
New York City in the 1850’s (1850-1860)
What was New York City like in 1857?
The Encyclopedia Britannica described the city at the turn of the middle of the 19th century as follows: “In 1851 business was rapidly spreading uptown. Union Square was the residential center. Beyond Union Square there was little but open fields in the middle of the city.” The population of the city was about 8000 as against today it is about 8,000,000. Transportation was primarily by horseback and stagecoach. Wall Street was as it is today, the financial center. On Wall Street were located the main banks, the brokers, and insurance companies. Houses were one, two, three and four stories high. The area around 23rd Street was mostly woods. Castle Garden was at the Battery. Gas lighting was a new invention and the production and distribution of electricity was unknown to man. In 1842-1845 Mayor Harper of New York City defined the boundaries of Madison Square Park and had it cleared and set aside as a park to be called, “Madison Square Park” in which trees were planted and improvements made both in the park and along the Avenue. This impetus made the area one of the finest residential districts in the city at that time. In 1857 Central Park was purchased. Harpers Weekly Journal of Civilization of that year states, “Talking about Central Park it should be of such residences as adorn the Avenue (Fifth) above 14th Street and continue to 106th Street. It will be the finest street in the world. If the large beer dealers are allowed then it will soon be undistinguished from the slums.”
1857 was a year of a great depression. Business was paralyzed, thousands were thrown out of work and more than 900 merchants failed, and riots and disturbances of all kind took place. The expense of living in 1857 was 20% higher that it was three years before.
It was in the midst of the depression year on the sixth day of Sivan on the holiday of Shavous that a small group of German Jews met on 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue and founded Congregation M’Adereth El. The early minutes of the Congregation refers to the name as Congregation M’Adereth El (not Congregation Adereth El). The original seal of the congregation reads in English, “80 years of the Indep.” This seal appears later in a document in the hall of Records, October 31, Chamber Street, 7th floor (SP19100), N.Y.C. The document is a petition to the Supreme Court of the State of New York dated July 23, 1869, asking for an order authorizing the Congregation to mortgage the property to the Mutual Life Insurance Co. The document is signed by the President, Morris Leon and Samuel Sulke, Vice-president. The document also gives a detailed description of the exact location and boundaries of the building on 29th Street.
We do not know exactly how many met for the first time to organize the Congregation because there are no minutes of the Congregation for the years 1857 and 1858. The first minutes begin with the date October 18, 1859 and are written in German. However, in as much as the date of the first gathering for religious services is given as Shavous, then we may readily assume there was at least a Minyan or ten people (ten men is the minimum quorum necessary according to Jewish law for religious services.)
The first minutes dated October 18, 1859 inform us that the President was Mr. Mode, the Vice-president was Mr. Sulke, the Trustees were Mr. Gluck, Mr. Abraham, Mr. Cattlow, Mr. Littman, and Mr. T. Cohn was Secretary. Their income from October 1858 to October 1859 was $361.31 and their disbursements were $315.67, leaving a balance of $45.64. The Congregation decided to celebrate the evening of Hoshana Rabah by learning and serving refreshments during the night. On April 16, Mr. Mode was reelected President by 18 votes. On August 5, 1860 it is recorded that the Congregation rented a hall in College House for the High Holy Days. This College House may have had some connection with the College of Physicians and Surgeons.
The College of Physicians and Surgeons in 1859 was located on 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue. Trow’s New York City Directory for the year ending May 1859, street directory, page 53 and regular appendix, page 43, indicated that the address of the College of Physicians and Surgeons would be at 53 West 23rd Street, which would be the Northeast corner of 23rd Street and Fourth Avenue. John Shrady in his book, “History of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Volume 1, 1903, on pages 106 and 107 writes that this was the only college in the neighborhood and was surrounded by vacant lots with wooden and low brick houses and the ground floor was fitted and rented for mercantile purposes.
In a letter sent by Abraham L. Danish, an attorney, to the Congregation, there is the following statement of the record of Conveyance of the Congregation: “The Congregation was incorporated May 15, 1863. The trustees who were elected by the majority vote for the purpose of incorporating the religious society were as follows: Louis Silver, Joseph Unger and Solomon Frederick. The place of worship where whey worshipped then, was at Number 106 East 23rd Street, N.Y.C. (now occupied by Roth Brothers, watchmakers). The first meeting was held on April 5th, 1863. The certificate of incorporation as a religious society was filed in New York County on May 15th, 1863. The certificate was drawn on April 6th, 1863.”
(1860 – 1901)
In 1860 the Congregation decided to acquire a second Sefer Torah to be purchased by Mr. Frederick who would write to Germany for that purpose. The words Sefer Torah in the minutes is written in Hebrew Script. On March 1861 the assets of the Congregation were insured with a “good” insurance company, for $200. A committee of six was appointed to purchase burial ground from Congregation Shaare Tzedek (now located on 212 West 93rd Street, N.Y.C.). The President, Mr. Gluck and the Vice-president, Sam Sulke, were thanked for their loan to the Congregation to help pay for the purchase of the burial ground. On August 1861 a constitution was written. The Congregation agreed to buy two Esrogin costing no more that $2.50. On April 1862 it was resolved to obtain a charter, and this required a modification of the original Constitution.
The winter of 1862 must have been a very cold one, for a motion was made to buy a stove to cost no more than $10 so that the Synagogue should be heated and the cost of the heating should not exceed “two shillings.” The finance committee in these early days of the Congregation was called Cheshbon Tzedek.
In February 1863, a motion was made to seek new quarters to build a new Synagogue. On May 1, 1864 at the inauguration of the new President, Charles Misch, the old President, Mr. Gluck turned over to the incoming President the following: 1 Bank Book $567, 2nd Bank Book $300, Synagogue contract with a M. Miller (Mr. Miller was the landlord of the old Synagogue), contract of the cemetery, permit book of the funerals, seal of the Congregation, Yad (pointer used in the reading of the Torah on Saturdays, Mondays and Thursdays, and holidays) Synagogue charter, President’s chair and a tenth item which is not readable.
On June 12, 1864 Mr. Gluck reported that the Congregation bought a lot 25 x 95 for $5000. The lot was purchased from Elizabeth E. Sandes and Joshua C. Sandes, June 17, 1864. Recorded on July 14th, 1864 in New York County, liber 905, page 378 of Conveyances, Section 3, Block 885, Lot 32. The deed for the property was to be given only after the erection of the synagogue building. Script was printed and issued to the members to help defray the cost of the lot and construction of the Synagogue. A great deal of discussion took place as to the exact location of the Holy Ark. The new synagogue had 16 windows and it was decided to build a gallery on three sides for the women. Mr. Wolf Lippman gave a mortgage of $7500, the interest to as a donation of the congregation. This mortgage was later transferred to the Mutual Life Insurance Company which we have previously mentioned in a document as a petition to the Supreme Court of the State of N.Y. Appeals were made to various societies to help the Congregation carry the financial burden of the project. A donation of $50 was received from Achim Rahammim Society and other societies. Congregation B’Nai Joshuran expressed an interest to buy the equipment of the old synagogue. The Chinuch or dedication committee consisted of Mr. S. Gluck, chairman, S. Sulke, J. Kaufmann, Mr. Leyziger, Leo Lippman, R.J. Cohn, Silberstein and Silber. At this time the Congregation printed 500 tickets for the High Holy Days, 300 men and 200 women.
The Congregation at this time made a contribution of $30 for the construction of the Chapel at the Sharare Tzedek Cemetery. Mr. S. Louis and Charles Misch were appointed as delegates to the Board of Delegates of American Israelite. This Board was organized in 1859 in New York City and was modeled after the board of Deputies of the British Jews founded in 1760 so that the Jews could speak as a united body for the redress of grievances.
A donation of $200 was made to the Relief Fund of Eretz Israel. In November 1866 Chevra Adereth el Biku Cholim was organized. On June 1867 the name of the Congregation was changed to Congregation Adereth El. The Congregation decided to conduct the services in the new Synagogue with dignity, solemnity and order. On Sept. 1867 $165 was raised by the members and donated to the widows and orphans of New Orleans and Galveston who were stricken at that time with an epidemic.
On June 9. 1899 there is recorded the death of the Vice-president L. Cohen. A discussion took place as to whether it would be appropriate to drape his seat in the synagogue with black cloth for 30 days. This request however, was denied because it was not in accordance with the Jewish law. However, when the hearse passed the Synagogue, the doors of the Synagogue were opened.
On Nov. 14, 1899 it was decided that the prayer of Hanosen Teshua (prayer for the welfare of the Government) at Saturday Services was to be read in Hebrew instead of German. On November 27, 1892, the Chevrar Kadisha of Adereth El was founded by Mr. Meyer. On November 1893 there were 37 members. On February 1894 there were 35 members. On February 10, 1895 a Bar Mitzvah certificate was issued for the first time. A woman recently came to our office (in 1957) with a document by which she wished to substantiate her husband’s age so that he could collect social security. The document was a Bar Mitzvah certificate issued by the Congregation dated 10th day July 5067-1907 with the signatures of Rev. Dr. Max Fried, Julius Meyer, President and David Pollack, Secretary. On May 20 it was noted that tickets were received to help build Lebanon Hospital. On May 6, 1901 the by-laws were printed in German and in English.
(1901 – 1938)
In 1902 the Congregation was renovated. The officers were listed then as follows:
RAPHAEL ISAAC COWEN Organizer
IGNATZ LUFF President
JOSEPH REDLER Vice-president
JULIUS MEYER Secretary
HENRY MONDAY Treasurer
On January 3, 1905 the minutes of the Congregation were written for the first time in English.
On March 3, 1915 the Talmud Torah was organized and on September 15, the Talmud Torah was built. The officers of the Congregation at that time were as follows:
SUMBERG President
RUBINSTEIN Vice-president
GULTMAN Treasurer
ALBAUM Secretary
HENRY MONDAY Treasurer
On January 3, 1905 the minutes of the Congregation were written for the first time in English.
On March 3, 1915 the Talmud Torah was organized and on September 15, the Talmud Torah was built. The officers of the Congregation at that time were as follows:
SUMBERG President
RUBINSTEIN Vice-president
GULTMAN Treasurer
ALBAUM Secretary
At about this time, to be exact on October 4, 1913, the Zion Talmud Torah was organized. Their first Talmud Torah was at 621 Second Avenue. On July 25, 1918, the Zion Talmud Torah resolved to merge with the Congregation Adereth El. The Committee of the Zion Talmud Torah who negotiated the merger consisted of Rabbi Goldstein, Mr. Abramson, Mr. Benus, Mr. Siskind, Mr. Litowitzer and Mr. Feinberg.
In 1919 Rabbi Klein and Cantor Rubin were the Meshysim Bakodesh for the Congregation.
In April, 1920 the Congregation purchased the building on 133 East 29th Street, New York City, at the cost of $19,250.00. The Talmud Torah lot was bought in the name of Adereth El, from E.J. De Long, Mortgage $14,000. Dated June 14, 1920 recorded in Liber 3171, page 425 of Conveyance, Section 3, block 885, lot 31. Searched by Lawyers Title and Trust company.
Rev. Abraham Seidel was engaged as cantor and principal on September 21, 1921.
On May 19, 1926 a party was held to celebrate the paying of the mortgage on the Talmud Torah building, 133 East 29th Street, New York City.
On June 1, 1926 Cantor Nathan was engaged for one year.
On September 8, 1927 Rev. Javne was engaged as cantor for one year.
Rabbi I. Molotin was engaged as Rabbi for one year on September 20, 1927.
A $4500 part payment was made on October 25, 1927 on the mortgage held by the Mutual Life Insurance co.
Rev. Abraham Guzik was engaged as cantor and sexton of the Congregation on June 18, 1928.
On August 28, 1928 Mr. Morris Seigel, treasurer of the Congregation presented the Congregation with a $1000 Liberty Bond.
Rabbi David Rubinstein became the Rabbi of the congregation on October 2, 1928.
On September 17, 1929 a contract to install steam in the building of the Congregation was signed.
On October 22, 1929 a Sefer Torah was presented by Mr. Wolf Metsch.
On May 26, 1930 Mr. Adoph Klein contributed the bulletin board on the front wall of the building.
On October 13, 1931 permission was given to Mr. Martin Feinstein to organize the Young Folks league. Their activities began with a dance. However, after all expenses were paid there remained a net profit of $0.05 (five cents).
Martin Feinstein has not only been active in various capacities as an officer and member of different committees but through his personal services in the electrical work done for the Congregation, he has donated thousands and thousands of dollars to the Congregation.
On February 12, 1932, Philip Tanner was honored on his 60th birthday with a dinner held at the Astoria Mansion, East Broadway and Jefferson Street.
On April 12, 1932 at the suggestion of Cantor Abraham Guzik, a Community Seder was initiated on the second night of Passover. This Seder has been conducted with great success to the present time. (written in 1957)
On April 5, 1933, Mr. Philip Tanner, the President, reported that a protest meeting was held on March 27 to raise our voice in protest against Hitler’s persecution of the Jews in Germany. On the second day of Adar 1934, Philip Tanner, the President, was brought to his eternal resting home after serving as President of the Zion Talmud Torah for many years and President of the Congregation from 1923 to 1934.
On April 2. 1935 a microphone system was installed. The Young Folks League contributed $60.00 towards the purchase.
In July 1935, cemetery plots were purchased on the grounds of the Degel Harabunim, in Deans, New Jersey. On September 1935, uniform prayer books were instituted.
On September 3, 1935, it was recorded that Sam Rosen, President of the Congregation, was brought to his eternal resting place.
In 1935 the Congregation resolved to have the sermons delivered in English.
The first late Friday evening Lecture was instituted on December 6, 1935. Mr. Sam Plumer was the guest lecturer.
Recent Friday evening late lectures have been conducted by Rabbi Sidney Kleiman and Cantor Rev. Abraham Guzik. From time to time guest speakers are invited to speak on topics of general interest to the public. Outstanding among our speakers have been Mr. Aaron Benenson, Dr. Nathan Blechman, Dr. Leonard Isaac Ehrlich, Dr. Maxwell L. Gelfand, Mr. Moses Golsman, Mr. Harry Grossman, Mr. Louis Grossman, Supreme Court Judge Arthur G. Klein, Supreme Court Judge Irving L. Levey, Dr. Murray K. Marin, Dr. David L. Mirow, Mr. Lous J. Naftalson, Mr. Julius Paull, Mr. Seymour N. Siegel, and Mr. Peter Stowe.
In March 1936 the throwing of bags of candy on the pulpit was discontinued at the celebration a of a Bar Mitzvah (….. as I still see it done today…. I guess it has since been re-instituted!)
In December 1936, new seats were installed at the cost of $2,250.00. The 80th Anniversary was celebrated with a dinner held at the Broadway Central.
On Sunday, January 30, 1938, a dinner was held at the Broadway Mansion.
On March 1938, Rabbi Ephraim Shimoff was engaged to fill a temporary vacancy until September 1, 1938.
On July 1938, Rabbi Ascher Yager was engaged for one year.
On August 9, 1938, Mr. Max Sikora was elected for life membership.
On September 1938, the Congregation received a proposal to sell the building for $80,000.
(1938 – 1957)
RAPHAEL ISAAC COWEN Organizer
Rabbi Sidney Kleiman was engaged as Rabbi of the Congregation in August 1939.
On September 1939, loans were made by the following: Sidney Albaum, Max Bobker, Irving Blum, Morris Blum, Sam Ehrlich, Martin Feinstein, Rev. Abraham Guzik, Samuel Barber, Victor Milstein, Barnett M. Schapiro, and Leo Weinberg.
On December 10, 1940 a resolution was passed honoring the memory of Dr. Bernard Revel, found and president of Yeshiva University.
In 1940, Mr. Abraham Freeda was appointed chairman of the Board of Education. Mr. Freeda was a very generous contributor to the Synagogue. He presented the children with parties and kiddushim from time to time and was very active in the plans for the alteration of the building.
Mr. Bernard Aromour was also a very generous contributor to the 1947 construction. In the last days of his life he donated the flaxwood to decorate the gallery and Aron Kodosh.
On December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl harbor and the United States became involved in te Second World War. A large number of the sons and daughters of the members of the Congregation entered the services of our country. To our sorrow several paid with their lives for the Republic in its life and death struggle for freedom. Hundreds of gift packages were sent to our young people during the Second World War and the Korean War, on the appropriate holiday seasons.
On April 26, 1942, the balance of the existing mortgage was paid. The following officers and members participated in redeeming this mortgage.
RABBI SIDNEY KLEIMAN
CANTOR ABRAHAM GUZIK
SAMUEL GARBER President
NATHAN HALPERIN ex-President
MAX BOBKER Vice-president
SAMUEL EHRLICH Treasurer
IRVING M. BLUM Financial Secretary
NATHAN ALBAUM Recording Secretary
ADOLPH KLEIN Chairman of Building
In May of 1944, Rev. Guzik succeeded to have a meeting at the office of the late Harry A. Cohen. It was decided that a committee should be organized for the alteration of the building. At this meeting Mr. Herman B. Levy raised $2200 and personally contributed $1000. Mr. Harry and Jack Cohen donated $1000 and Mr. Sam Holland gave $1500. Mr. Herman B. Levy, during his lifetime made it a practice to present each child who was in the Synagogue on Simchas Torah with a box of candy. This noble tradition has been carried on by his wife, Mrs. Beatrice. Levy.
On June 6, 1944, D-Day, special prayers and services were conducted by Rabbi Sidney Kleiman and Cantor Rev. Abraham Guzik for the safety and success of our people upon the invasion of the European continent.
On May 21, 1946 a contract was signed with the Marshall Construction
On July 2, 1946, a dinner was held at Shaw’s Restaurant, 123 Second Avenue, New York City, in honor of Rev. Abraham Guzik’s 18 years of service. At this dinner the whole committee was present. An appeal was made by Sam Holland, the chairman of the building fund, to raise more funds for the alteration. Mr. Hollland pledged himself to raise the necessary sum.
In 1947 Harry A. Cohen, Jack Cohen and Sam Holland donated $2000 to furnish the chapel for daily prayer.
In 1947, after payments amounting to $78,447.90 for the alteration, the building became free and clear of all indebtedness.
In December 1947, Mr. Levy installed a TV set for the benefit of the children. In his will he left the Congregation $2500.
In 1947, the Congregation completed the alteration of the Synagogue.
A part of the renovation of the buildings was the addition of a gymnasium for sports and recreational activities for our Young Folks League, and a stage for the performance of dramatic plays. One of the activities of the Congregation is the Afternoon Hebrew Religious School. Through our Religious Schools the children learn to love the beautiful traditions and rituals of our faith and achieve a loyalty and a solidarity with Jewry everywhere. Our children are trained for good citizenship and helped to feel at home and integrated with the ideals of Democratic American life.
The renovation was celebrated in conjunction with our 90th Anniversary Rededication. Mr. Harry Grossman was the chairman of this significant occasion and prepared the Rededication Scroll. The officers of the Congregation then were as follows:
RABBI SIDNEY KLEIMAN
CANTOR ABRAHAM GUZIK
MAX BOBKER Honorary President
JACOB METSCH President
VICTOR MILSTEIN Vice-president
NATHAN HALPERIN Treasurer
MARTIN FEINSTEIN Financial Secretary
IRVING M. BLUM Honorary Secretary
LEONARD WAGNER Recording Secreatry
ADOLPH KLEIN Chairman of Building
MEYER GROBARD Chairman of Journal
JACK COHEN Chariman of Membership Drive
JOSEPH GOODSTADT Chairman of Dedication
BARNETT M. SHAPIRO Honorary Trustee
On June 30, 1948, a dinner was given to honor Rev. Abraham Guzik for 20 years of service.
In August of 1953, the gymnasium was converted to an auditorium and social hall. This change was necessitated because many of our young folks moved to the suburbs.
On December 1953, a testimonial dinner was given to honor our Cantor, Rev. Abraham Guzik for 25 years of service to the Congregation.
In January of 1955, a testimonial dinner was held in honor of Barnett M. Shapiro and Abraham Gottlieb, the two oldest members of the congregation.
In September of 1957, Mr. William Danker presented a Sefer Torah with a Silver crown and adornments.
(This marks the conclusion of the original text which appeared in the 1957, 100th Anniversary Journal. The following Appendix was made by the authors referring to the original documentation made by the Board of Directors of Congregation Adereth El in its preceding 100 years).