History of Temple Israel

1975-PRESENT

WRITTEN BY LUD STERN

During this period we had 5 rabbis and 3 cantors leading us. Rabbi Morton Applebaum had been with us since 1952 and was nearing the end of his tenure. He retired in 1979. Rabbi Mark Golub was here from 1979 to 1983; Rabbi David Horowitz, 1983 to 2001; Rabbi David Lipper started in 2001 and is our present Rabbi. In addition we now have as Associate,  Rabbi Lauren Werber.

Cantor Gedaliah (Gus) Gertz started with us in 1967 and died (alav shalom) suddenly and tragically in 1995.  Cantor Sam Berman came in 1995 and resigned in 2001 to be followed by Rory Sanders who does not officially hold the title of Cantor but acts under that of Cantorial Soloist.

The Temple had begun holding High Holyday services at the State Theater on State Road in 1974 and although this isn't official, it is said that we had 1500 at Kol Nidre one year around this time. The New Union Haggadah with Leonard Baskin's lovely floral illustrations was published at this time and Rabbi Applebaum made the suggestion that we add The Matzoh of Hope at Seder to remind ourselves of the plight of the Jews of the Soviet Union then agitating for permission to leave that country for the U.S. or Israel. In 1975 Leona Sacks became the first woman to be president of our congregation.

In 1976 the Ritual and Worship Committee began consideration of The Gates of Prayer (Shaarei Tefillah) as replacement for the old Union Prayerbook.  At the same time Cantor Gertz examined the new book in Adult Education classes. Gates of Prayer  was later adopted as Temple Israel's prayer book.

Hebrew Union College at the age of 100 this year is the world's oldest Rabbinical seminary, all the old ones of Europe having been destroyed by the Nazis.

President Jerry Holub reported that 1979 Religious School enrollment was down to 200--a drop of 50% from 10 years ago.

In 1979 Rabbi Applebaum retired with great acclaim from both the Jewish and general community to which he had been a fine ambassador. The remodelled chapel was named in his and Eleanor's honor.

The "Boat People" family, sponsored by the Temple Israel Social Action Committee, were self supporting since three months after their arrival here. They sponsored other members of their family themselves.

In 1982, five people took part in an Adult Bar/Bat Mitzvah.In a Bulletin article, the Rabbi called attention to a growing dichotomy between "Classical Reform" practices and the more "Traditional" practices coming into use. The new prayer book was an example of a change to more traditional forms of ritual.

In February 1983, the Board announced the formation of a Rabbinical search committee. In June 1983 Rabbi Golub announced his resignation and moved to a congregation in Naples, Florida.

Rabbi David Horowitz was installed in 1983. As with Rabbi Applebaum his tenure began following a tense period at Temple Israel. In both cases the new rabbi made a fine start.

Some of the highlights of Rabbi Horowitz's first years at T.I.
    Goes to the Soviet Union to visit with "refusenik" families. These are people who want to leave the Soviet Union for Israel or the U.S. and have been refused permission. The U.S. government gets deeply involved with the effort to "free" them.
    The Home Start program is begun to acquaint pre-schoolers and their families with Jewish practices.
    A number of our Torah scrolls are in need of repair, some so badly that they are ritually unfit for use. Providing for such repair is known as "The Third Mitzvah," the first two being actually writing one or repairing it oneself. The "Third Mitzvah Project" is inaugurated with donors paying various amounts for the honor of all the repairs in a Parshah, a verse, a word, etc.
    The spacecraft Challenger with Astronaut Judy Resnik, daughter of Temple Israel member Michael Resnik, aboard is lost with all the crew. A nationally televised memorial service is held at Temple.
    President Irwin Weiner announces the results of a study of our building needs by the Future Development Committee. This forms the basis of a preliminary architectural study for "Renaissance '87." Judy Isroff forms a committee to raise funds for the project.
    In 1987 Cantor Gertz has a design made for a new stage set for E.J. Thomas so that our High Holydays services will take place in a warmer, more authentic atmosphere. A group of men from Brotherhood spends the summer building it in a classroom at Temple. It is a big hit and is used for the rest of our stay at E.J. Thomas.
    In Septempber 1987, ground is broken for "Renaissance '87" in which we add an entire classroom wing, an office suite, a new enlarged kitchen and change the social hall from a basement room to its present form.

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Temple Israel is a member congregation of URJ the Union for Reform Judaism: Serving Reform Congregations in North America, and is located in the URJ Northeast Lakes Region serving OH, MI and parts of NY, PA, & IN.