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Temple Beth Israel ((ヘブライ語:בית ישראל)) is a Reconstructionist synagogue located at 1175 East 29th Avenue in Eugene, Oregon. Founded in the early 1930s as a Conservative congregation, Beth Israel was for many decades the only synagogue in Eugene. The congregation initially worshipped in a converted house on West Eighth Street. It constructed its first building on Portland Street in 1952, and occupied its current LEED-compliant facilities in 2008. In the early 1990s conflict between feminist and traditional members led to the latter leaving Beth Israel, and forming the Orthodox Congregation Ahavas Torah. Beth Israel came under attack from neo-Nazi members of the Volksfront twice, in 1994 and again in 2002. In both cases the perpetrators were caught and convicted. Services were lay-led for decades. Marcus Simmons was hired as the congregation's first rabbi in 1959, but left in 1961. After a gap of two years, Louis Neimand became rabbi in 1963, and served until his death in 1976. He was followed by Myron Kinberg, who served from 1977 to 1994, and Kinberg in turn was succeeded by Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin. Maurice Harris joined Husbands-Hankin as associate rabbi in 2003, and served until 2011, when he was succeeded by Boris Dolin. , led by Husbands-Hankin and Dolin, Beth Israel had approximately 400 member households, and was the largest synagogue in Eugene. ==Early history== Small numbers of German Jews began settling in Eugene in the late 19th century, but most moved on. In the early 20th century the first Eastern European Jews settled there, and by the 1920s Eugene's Jewish community began gathering prayer quorums for holding Friday night and Jewish holiday services in individuals' homes. Historian Steven Lowenstein writes that "()fter Hymen Rubenstein's death in 1933, his home at 231 West Eighth Street was remodeled and named Temple Beth Israel".〔According to Haist (2008), in 2008 the congregation was 87 years old, indicating a founding year of around 1921. According to the KVAL-TV Web Staff (June 11, 2008), "The Temple Beth Israel congregation has been in the Eugene community since 1927." According to Lowenstein (1987), p. 191, it was founded after Hymen Rubenstein's death in 1933. According to Wright & Pinyerd (2003), p. 12.1. and the Temple Beth Israel website, it was founded in 1934. According to Wright (1996), it was founded after World War II.〕 It was a traditional Conservative synagogue,〔Zuckerman (2003), p. 89.〕 and from that time until the 1990s it was the only synagogue in Eugene.〔Zuckerman (2003), p. 87.〕〔Reichman (2007).〕 In 1952, the congregation constructed a one-story synagogue building on an almost property at 2550 Portland Street.〔Haist (2008).〕〔Lowenstein (1987), p. 191.〕〔Bjornstad (2009).〕 Designed by architect and Holocaust-survivor Heinrich Hormuth (H.H.) Waechter, the building featured an interior courtyard that provided natural lighting, and "a network of ceiling beams painted with symbols and shapes" by Waechter.〔〔Wright & Pinyerd (2003), p. 12.1.〕〔American Architects Directory (1970), p. 955.〕 Temple Beth Israel's services and religious functions were lay-led for decades.〔Tepfer (2010).〕 Its first rabbi was Marcus Simmons.〔〔''The Register-Guard'' (May 20, 1961).〕 Originally from England, he was a graduate of University of London and Oxford University, and was ordained at the Hebrew Theological Seminary. He emigrated to the United States in 1957, and joined Beth Israel in 1959.〔''The Register-Guard'' (January 28, 1961).〕 The members were not, however, agreed that a full-time rabbi was required,〔 and in 1961, he accepted a rabbinical position in Downey, California.〔 Following a hiatus of two years, Louis Neimand was hired as rabbi in 1963.〔〔''The Register-Guard'' (August 6, 1976).〕 Born in New York City in 1912 to immigrant parents, he was a graduate of City University of New York and was ordained at the Jewish Institute of New York.〔 He had previously worked for the United Jewish Appeal, and from 1959 to 1963 was the first Hillel rabbi at Syracuse University.〔〔Greene & Baron (1996), p. 160.〕 There was some concern about Neimand's hiring, as he had a police record as a result of his involvement in freedom marches in the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1955–1968). He served until his death in 1976.〔 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Temple Beth Israel (Eugene, Oregon)」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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