Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid (Milwaukee) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Beth Israel Ner Tamid |
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Hebrew: בית ישראל
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
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| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 6880 North Green Bay Avenue, Glendale, Milwaukee |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Wisconsin
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| Administration | United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism |
| Architecture | |
| Date established |
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| Groundbreaking | 1959 |
| Completed |
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Temple Beth Israel (former)
(now Greater Galilee Baptist Church) |
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Former synagogue, in use from 1925 to 1960
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| Location | 2432 North Teutonia Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
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| Architect | Bruns, Herman H. |
| Architectural style | Byzantine Revival influences |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000107 |
| Added to NRHP | March 5, 1992 |
Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid is a Jewish community in Glendale, Wisconsin. It is a synagogue that follows Conservative Judaism. This means it blends traditional Jewish practices with modern ideas. The synagogue is located north of Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The congregation started in 1884 as Congregation B'ne Jacob. Over the years, it went through changes, including splitting and rejoining. It became Beth Israel in 1901. The building they used from 1925 to 1959 is now a historic place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. The current synagogue building was built in three stages, finished in 1962, 1966, and 1980.
Many important rabbis have led the congregation. Solomon Scheinfeld was the first permanent rabbi, serving from 1902 until 1943. Herbert Panitch was rabbi from 1970 to 1995. Jacob Herber became rabbi in 2003, and Joel Alter in 2018. As of 2011, Beth Israel was the only synagogue in Milwaukee connected to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Later, it joined with Temple Beth El Ner Tamid to form Congregation Beth Israel Ner Tamid.
Contents
How the Synagogue Started
Early Days in Milwaukee
In 1884, a Jewish group called Congregation B'ne Jacob began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. By 1886, this group split into two smaller ones. But in 1891, they came back together. They formed Beth Hamedrash Hagadol. The next year, they hired their first permanent rabbi, Solomon Isaac Scheinfeld. He was born in Lithuania in 1860.
The congregation built a new synagogue on Fifth Street in 1893. However, they could not pay for it. In 1900, they lost the building. The next year, the group reorganized as Congregation Beth Israel. They bought back their synagogue building on Fifth Street. In 1902, Rabbi Scheinfeld returned to lead the congregation. By 1918, the synagogue had 108 families.
Rabbi Scheinfeld's Legacy
Rabbi Scheinfeld served Beth Israel until he passed away in 1943. He started a special fund called maot chitim. This fund helped Jewish people in Milwaukee who could not afford food for the Passover Seder. This fund continued after his death. In 2003, it gave $20,000 worth of food to 600 families.
The Teutonia Avenue Building
A New Home for the Community
In 1924, Beth Israel sold its Fifth Street building. For a year, they met in temporary places. Then, in 1925, they built a new synagogue at 2432 North Teutonia Avenue. This new building had brown brick walls. It had two square towers with copper domes. These domes looked like the Byzantine style. The windows had the six-pointed Star of David.
Inside, the main prayer area had a wooden ark. This ark held the holy scrolls. It also had special chairs and tablets showing the Ten Commandments. All these important items were later moved to the new synagogue.
Moving to Glendale
In the 1940s and 1950s, many Jewish families moved north. They went to suburbs outside Milwaukee. This made the Teutonia Avenue location less convenient. So, in 1957, the synagogue bought a large piece of land. It was 15 acres in Glendale, Wisconsin. This is a suburb north of Milwaukee.
Construction on the new facilities began in 1959. The Teutonia Avenue building was sold in 1959. The congregation moved out in 1960. On March 5, 1992, this old building became a historic landmark. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Since 1961, the Greater Galilee Baptist Church has used the building for its services.
Changes in Jewish Practice
Beth Israel started as an Orthodox synagogue. Orthodox Judaism follows Jewish law very strictly. Rabbi Solomon Scheinfeld was also the chief rabbi for other Orthodox groups in Milwaukee. However, Beth Israel began to change. In the 1920s or 1930s, they stopped having separate seating for men and women. They also started having sermons in English language.
The congregation then joined the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. This group is part of Conservative Judaism. Eventually, Beth Israel became fully egalitarian. This means men and women have equal roles in services.
Modern Era of the Synagogue
New Buildings and Leaders
Beth Israel's current buildings were built in three stages. In 1962, a new school building was finished. The congregation started holding services there. In 1966, the main prayer area and social hall were completed. They were officially opened. In 1980, the work on the main prayer area was fully finished.
In 1970, Herbert Panitch became the rabbi. He came from another congregation in Altoona, Pennsylvania. He served as rabbi until he retired in 1995.
Cantors and Rabbis in the 2000s
In 2002, Mitchell Joshua Martin joined as the cantor. A cantor leads the congregation in prayer and song. In 2008, Fortunée Belilos was an interim cantor. The next year, Jeremy Stein became the new cantor. He had just finished his studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary of America (JTSA).
Jacob Herber became rabbi of Beth Israel in August 2003. He studied at the University of California, Davis. He became a rabbi in 1996. Before coming to Beth Israel, he was a rabbi in Philadelphia. In 2008, Rabbi Herber traveled to Uganda. He helped the Abayudaya people in their process of converting to Judaism. At that time, the congregation had 700 families.
Rabbi Joel Alter has led CBINT since 2018. He also became a rabbi in 1996. Before coming to Milwaukee, he taught and worked in Jewish schools. He also helped recruit new rabbis and cantors for JTS. Rabbi Alter moved to Milwaukee with his twin daughters.
As of 2011, Beth Israel Ner Tamid was the only synagogue in Milwaukee connected to the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. Today, Rabbi Joel Alter is the rabbi. Jeremy Stein is the cantor. Menachem Graupe is the president.
