Beth Sholom Congregation (Elkins Park, Pennsylvania) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Religion

Affiliation	Conservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi David Glanzberg-Krainin
Status	Active
Location
Location	8231 Old York Road, Elkins Park, Cheltenham Township, Pennsylvania
Country	United States
Location in Philadelphia
Architecture
Architect(s)	Frank Lloyd Wright
Architectural type	Synagogue architecture
Architectural style	Modernist Mayan Revival
Date established	1919 (as a congregation)
Completed	1959
Specifications
Capacity	1,270 worshippers
Height (max)	110 feet (34 m)
Materials	Corrugated wire glass; fiberglass

Beth Sholom Congregation is a Jewish place of worship, also known as a synagogue. Its name comes from Hebrew and means "House of Peace." This synagogue follows Conservative Judaism, a branch of Judaism. You can find it in Elkins Park, a suburb near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

What makes Beth Sholom special is that it's the only synagogue ever designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. He finished designing it in 1959. People describe the building as a "startling, translucent, modernist evocation of an ancient temple." Because of its unique design, the synagogue was named a National Historic Landmark in 2007. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States.

A Brief History of Beth Sholom
Leaders of the Congregation
- Rabbis
- Cantors
The Unique Synagogue Building
Famous People Connected to Beth Sholom
Gallery
See also

A Brief History of Beth Sholom

The Beth Sholom Congregation started a long time ago, in 1919. Their first synagogue was in the Logan area of Philadelphia. In the 1950s, the congregation decided to move. They were one of the first Jewish groups to move their synagogue from the city to the suburbs. This is how they ended up in their current home in Elkins Park.

Leaders of the Congregation

A synagogue has leaders who guide the community. These leaders include Rabbis and Cantors.

Rabbis

Rabbis are like spiritual teachers and guides for the congregation. They lead services and teach about Jewish law and traditions.

The current Rabbi is David Glanzberg-Krainin. He has been serving the congregation since 2004.
Many other rabbis have led Beth Sholom since it began in 1919.

Cantors

Cantors lead the musical parts of the services. They have beautiful singing voices and help the congregation pray through song.

The current Cantor is Jacob Agar, who started in 2020.
Before him, many talented cantors helped lead the music at Beth Sholom.

The Unique Synagogue Building

The Beth Sholom building is truly one-of-a-kind. Frank Lloyd Wright started designing it in 1953, and it was finished in 1959.

Design and Materials

Wright wanted the building to look like a "luminous Mount Sinai." Mount Sinai is a holy mountain mentioned in the Bible. The synagogue's walls are made of special translucent corrugated wire glass. This material lets light shine through. The roof is made of fiberglass. These materials help the building glow, especially at night.

Inside the Synagogue

During the day, the inside of the synagogue is filled with natural light. This light comes through the special translucent walls. At night, the building glows from the lights inside.

Right in front of the synagogue, there's a fountain. This fountain is like a modern version of an ancient laver. In old times, people would wash their hands in a laver before worship. The fountain at Beth Sholom symbolizes purity before entering to pray.

The main worship area, called the sanctuary, is very large. It can hold about 1020 people. There's also a second, smaller sanctuary on the first floor. The main sanctuary is on the second floor, just as Rabbi Mortimer Cohen wanted, so it could be lit by natural light. The ceiling is very high, about 110 feet (34 meters) from the floor. This height makes it feel like the building is reaching up towards the sky.

Visitor Center and Recognition

In 2009, Beth Sholom opened a visitor center. You can take tours there and learn more about the building. In 2015, an elevator was added to make the building more accessible.

Many experts believe this synagogue is one of Frank Lloyd Wright's most amazing designs for a religious building. In 1960, the American Institute of Architects listed it as one of 17 important American buildings. They said it showed Wright's great impact on American architecture.

Famous People Connected to Beth Sholom

Some notable people have been members of the Beth Sholom Congregation. One example is Bernard Wolfman. He was the Dean of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.