----------------------- Message requiring your approval ----------------------
From: "Ann Abrams" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [ha-Safran]: Authors program in Boston Dec 11
Dear Safranim in New England and beyond,
I thought this program might interest you.
Ann Abrams, Librarian
Temple Israel
477 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02215
617-566-3960 x116
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.tisrael.org
JOY UNGERLEIDER JEWISH BOOK MONTH PROGRAM,
SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005:
BOOK PARTY AND PANEL DISCUSSION.
Come and celebrate the publication of: Becoming
American Jews: Temple Israel of Boston,
1854-2004, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2005, from 10:00 12:00.
The authors, Lisa Fagin Davis, a member of the Archives
Committee, Meaghan Dwyer, Temple Israels Archivist,
and Susan L. Porter, Chair of the Archives Committee,
will reflect on the insights and understanding they
have gained about Temple Israel as they discuss the
process of writing this wonderful addition to Temple
Israels documented history. They will share little
known insights about our community as well as the
difficult decisions they had to make while writing the
book.
The book will be available for perusal; and, at a
later date, will be presented as gifts to all
members of our congregation, courtesy of temple
members Justin and Genevieve Wyner.
The Joy Ungerleider Jewish Book Month Program is
an endowed lecture series established in memory
of curator, Joy Ungerleider by the Dorot
Foundation, and is under the auspices of the
Temple Israel Library Committee.RSVP by December
8 to Ann Abrams, Librarian, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Below is an excerpt from the book.
EXCERPT FROM Becoming American Jews: Temple Israel of Boston, 1854-2004
Excerpt from Chapter One: Congregation Adath
Israel, 1854-1874 (footnotes withdrawn in this selection)
By the end of the Civil War, Boston Jews who had
observed Reform temples in other American cities
began to feel that they had remained behind the
time, and that something ought to be done to
catch up. While the immigrant generation had
only business associations with non-Jews, their
American-born children, especially those who
became financially successful, began a
co-mingling of the Jewish and non-Jewish world.
As Solomon Schindler, who would become Adath
Israels rabbi in 1874, later observed, the
influx of younger members led to the confused
idea that what they wanted was what was called reform.
In 1863, the congregation initiated a pattern
of gradual reform when the board formed a
committee to study the financial and liturgical
implications of adding music to services (in
response to a suggestion by Rabbi Shoninger). For
Jews who were used to praying out loud at their
own pace, a choir that formalized the tempo of
prayer and set standards of musicality was a
radical step. While some members were
enthusiastic about such reforms, others resisted,
and it took several years to institute this
change. John Bendix, a fancy-goods wholesaler,
accepted the office of temple president in 1866
on the condition that members support an orderly
bearing of the worshippers during the hours of
divine service. But, as Schindler later observed
in a timeless comment, older members of Temple
Israel resented attempts to wean them from usages
to which they were accustomed since childhood.
The board had its first formal discussion about
affiliating with the Reform movement in
1872-1873, voting to introduce an appropriate
moderate reform fitting the spirit of the time.
The proposed changes included adopting Protestant
terms (such as sexton instead of shamas and
minister instead of rabbi or hazan) and
hiring a preacher at a fixed salary. The
congregation also gradually began to introduce
family, or mixed, seating in pews, and a chorus
and organthat most visible symbol of the reform
movementat services. Mixed seating would
emphasize the concept of the synagogue as a
family space to be shared by men and women,
especially as women often outnumbered men at services.
Finally, instead of a leader davening in the
midst of a noisy sanctuary, the congregation
hoped to find a preacher who would lead orderly
prayers and deliver sermons from the front of a
quiet room. With the unanimous election of Reform
advocate Rabbi Solomon Schindler as Reader,
Preacher, and Teacher in 1874, Adath Israel
began its transformation into a Jewish church
complete with pastor and pulpit.
Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author
and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL)
===========================================================
Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu
Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu
Ha-Safran Archives:
Current:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html
History:
http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html
AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
