Congregation Beth Israel (Portland, Oregon) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Congregation Beth Israel |
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Temple Beth Israel
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1931 NW Flanders Street, Portland, Oregon |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Portland, Oregon
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| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) |
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| Architectural type | Synagogue |
| Architectural style | Neo-Byzantine |
| Date established | 1858 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
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Congregation Beth Israel is a special place for Jewish people in Portland, Oregon. It's a synagogue, which is a building where Jewish communities gather to worship, learn, and celebrate. This congregation follows the Reform branch of Judaism. You can find it at 1931 NW Flanders Street.
Contents
A Look Back: The History of Beth Israel
The Congregation Beth Israel community started a long time ago, in 1858. Back then, Oregon was still a territory, not yet a state! They built their very first synagogue building in 1859.
The First Synagogue Building
Their first building was simple and made of wood. It had a sloped roof and cool, pointed-arch windows, a style often called Gothic.
The Second Synagogue Building
This early wooden building was later replaced. A new, bigger synagogue was built in 1889. Sadly, this second building was destroyed by a fire in December 1923.
The architect for this building was Warren H. Williams from Portland. Some people described its style as Moorish Revival. Others said it was a mix of different styles, including Gothic Revival. It had two tall towers with round, bulb-shaped domes on top.
This synagogue was located in downtown Portland, at S.W. 12th and Main Streets. Its two towers were about 50 meters (165 feet) tall! The main room inside was about 25 meters (82 feet) long and 17 meters (56 feet) wide. It had a high, arched ceiling that reached about 16 meters (52 feet) up.
The Current Synagogue Building
The synagogue you see today was built in 1928. It's a beautiful building at N.W. 19th and Flanders. This building is still used by the congregation. It's famous for its Neo-Byzantine style. Many people think it's one of the best examples of this style on the west coast.
In 1979, this building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site. The design of this synagogue was inspired by the Old Synagogue (Steelerstrasse Synagogue) in Essen, Germany. That German synagogue was known for its beautiful interior. Sadly, that beautiful building was later destroyed.
More to Explore
- Beth Israel Cemetery
- History of the Jews in Oregon
- Oregon Jewish Museum
