Congregation Emanu-El (San Francisco)

Congregation Emanu-El is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 2 Lake Street, in San Francisco, California, in the United States. Founded in 1850, the congregation is one of the two oldest Jewish congregations in California, and one of the largest Jewish congregations in the United States. A member of the Union for Reform Judaism, Congregation Emanu-El is a significant gathering place for the Bay Area Jewish community.

Temple Emanu-El
The synagogue building, in 1999
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Beth Singer
  • Rabbi Jonathan Singer
  • Rabbi Sydney Mintz (Associate)
  • Rabbi Ryan Bauer (Associate)
  • Rabbi Leo Fuchs (Educator)
  • Rabbi Sarah Joselow Parris
  • Rabbi Noah Westreich
  • Rabbi Dr. Stephen S. Pearce (Emeritus)
StatusActive
Location
Location2 Lake Street, San Francisco, California 94118
CountryUnited States
Geographic coordinates37°47′14″N 122°27′35″W
Architecture
Architect(s)Arthur Brown Jr.
TypeSynagogue architecture
StyleByzantine Revival
Date established1851 (as a congregation)
Completed1926
Specifications
Dome(s)One
Dome height (outer)150 feet (46 m)
Website
emanuelsf.org

History
Early Temple Emanu-El. Sutter Street, San Francisco, from Robert N. Dennis collection of stereoscopic views
Stained glass window at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco
Mosaic at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco
Pews at Temple Emanu-El in San Francisco

During the Gold Rush in 1849, a small group of Jews held the first High Holy Days services in a tent in San Francisco; it was the first Jewish service on the West Coast of the United States.[1] This group of traders and merchants founded Congregation Emanu-El sometime in 1850, and its charter was issued in April, 1851. The 16 signatories were mostly German Jews from Bavaria.

In 1860, Reform rabbi Elkan Cohn joined the Emanu-El congregation; in 1877, he led the congregation as the first in the West to join the Reform movement.[1] As the Reform movement spread in the United States during the early twentieth century, the synagogue became affiliated with this framework.

In 1884 Julie Rosewald became America's first female cantor when she began serving in Emanu-El, although she was not ordained; and served as cantor until 1893.[2][3]

Among its major programs today, the congregation includes worship, youth and adult education programs, and also a major emphasis on social justice.[4]

Rabbinical leaders

The following individuals have served as senior rabbi of Congregation Emanu-El:

OrdinalOfficeholderTerm startTerm endTime in officeNotes
1Julius Eckman185418550–1 years
2Elkan Cohn1860188928–29 years[1]
3Jacob Voorsanger1889190818–19 years
4Martin A. Meyer1910192312–13 years
5Louis Israel Newman192419305–6 years
6Irving Reichert1930194817–18 years
7Alvin Fine1948196415–16 years
8Meyer Heller1950196312–13 years
9Irving Hausman196419672–3 years
10Joseph Asher1967198618–19 years[5]
11Robert Kirschner1981199210–11 yearsSenior rabbi from 1986
12Dr. Stephen Pearce1992201320–21 yearsSenior Rabbi Emeritus since 2013
13Beth Singer2013incumbent10–11 yearsSpouses
Jonathan Singer

In addition, the following rabbis currently serve in supporting roles in the congregation: Sydney Mintz (Associate, since 1997), Lawrence Kushner (Scholar in Residence, since 2002), Ryan Bauer (Associate, since 2007), Jason Rodich, (since 2015), and Sarah Joselow Parris (since 2019). The following rabbis have served in supporting roles, yet are no longer in current roles in the congregation: Mark Schiftan (from 1987 until 1994), Peretz Wolf-Prusan (from 1990 until 2010), Helen Cohn (from 1993 until 205), Jonathan Jaffe (from 2007 until 2014), and Carla Fenves (from 2011 until 2020).

Notable members

References
  1. "Emanu-El's pedigree: a towering presence". J. October 8, 1999. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
  2. "Julie Rosewald: America's first woman cantor". jwa.org.
  3. "The Forgotten Woman Cantor: Julie Rosewald Now Getting Her Due". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on May 14, 2016. Retrieved September 15, 2014.
  4. "Tikkun Tikvah - Working to Reform California's Criminal Justice System". Congregation Emanu-El. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  5. Kirschner, Robert (1991). "A Singular Elegance". In Rischin, Moses; Asher, Raphael (eds.). The Jewish legacy and the German conscience. Berkeley, CA: The Judah L. Magnes Museum. p. 47.

Further reading
  • Rosenbaum, Fred (2000). Visions of Reform : Congregation Emanu-El and the Jews of San Francisco 1849–1999. Judah L. Magnes Museum. ISBN 978-0-943376-69-1.
  • Rosenbaum, Fred (1980). Architects of reform: congregational and community leadership Emanu-El of San Francisco, 1849–1980. Western Jewish History Center, Judah L. Magnes Memorial Museum.
  • Voorsanger, Jacob (1900). The Chronicles of Emanu-El. Spaulding Press.
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