Congregation Sherith Israel (San Francisco) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Temple Sherith Israel
The synagogue main sanctuary, gallery and dome (SE aspect), in 2011
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Governing body	Union for Reform Judaism
Status	Active
Location
Location	2266 California Street, San Francisco, California 94115
Country	United States
Location in San Francisco Bay Area
Architecture
Architect(s)	Albert Pissis
Architectural type	Synagogue architecture
Architectural style	Beaux-Arts Byzantine Revival Romanesque Revival
Date established	1851 (as a congregation)
Groundbreaking	October 8, 1903
Completed	1905
Construction cost	$250,000
Specifications
Direction of façade	South
Capacity	1,385 worshipers
Length	128 feet (39 m)
Width	100 feet (30 m)
Interior area	20,000 square feet (1,900 m2)
Height (max)	140 feet (43 m)
Dome(s)	One
Dome height (outer)	50 feet (15 m)
Dome dia. (outer)	60 feet (18 m)
Materials	Brick, Colusa sandstone, steel, wood, lath, plaster, stained glass, slate

Congregation Sherith Israel is a Reform Jewish community and synagogue in San Francisco, California. Its name comes from Hebrew and means "loyal remnant of Israel".

This synagogue was started in 1851 during the California Gold Rush. It is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. The beautiful building you see today was finished in 1905. It is a famous landmark in San Francisco and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History of the Congregation

Gold Rush and Early Jewish Settlers

The story of Congregation Sherith Israel is closely linked to the history of San Francisco itself. It includes big events like the Gold Rush, fires, earthquakes, and other important moments.

In 1848, San Francisco was a small town. Then, gold was discovered about 140 miles away at Sutter's Mill. At the same time, many Jewish people in Central Europe faced tough rules. These rules made it hard to find jobs, forced them into the military, and limited who they could marry.

Because of this, many young Jewish people looked for a better future. They were drawn to California by the promise of wealth, freedom, and new chances. California became like a new "Promised Land" for them.

How Sherith Israel Began

In September 1849, even before California became a state, a small group of Jewish pioneers met. They gathered in a simple wooden tent. They did not have a rabbi or Torah scrolls, but they wanted to celebrate Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

These young Jewish settlers came from places like Prussia, Bavaria, England, France, and the eastern United States. They continued to worship together in 1850. They also formed two groups to help people in need and bought land for a cemetery.

In April 1851, the Jewish community in San Francisco decided to create a permanent congregation. They elected leaders, but they quickly split into two groups. Congregation Sherith Israel followed the minhag Polen, which were the traditions of Jews from Posen in Prussia. The other group, Congregation Emanu-El, followed German Jewish traditions from Bavaria. These two synagogues have been friendly neighbors ever since.

Becoming a Reform Jewish Synagogue

As San Francisco grew very fast, finding a permanent home for Sherith Israel was a challenge. The congregation's first meeting place was destroyed in the "Great Fire" of 1851. This fire, like many others, swept through the city in those early years.

After losing another home to fire, the members built their first proper synagogue in 1854. It was on Stockton Street and cost $10,000.

So many Jewish people moved to San Francisco that by the late 1850s, about six percent of the city's population was Jewish. This was a higher percentage than in New York for a short time. After the American Civil War, more people came to California.

In 1870, Congregation Sherith Israel moved to a new building on Post and Taylor Streets. This building was in the Gothic-style. The congregation stayed there for 34 years.

At first, Sherith Israel followed Orthodox traditions. But during this time, it started to become a Reform congregation. For example, the Post Street building allowed men and women to sit together. Slowly, with much discussion, wearing a kippah (a head covering) became optional. Friday evening services were started, a choir was added, and a new prayer book was chosen.

Two important rabbis helped with this change: Rabbi Henry Vidaver (1873–1882) and Rabbi Jacob Nieto (1893–1930). In 1903, when construction began for the current building, Congregation Sherith Israel officially joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. This group is now known as the Union for Reform Judaism.

The Synagogue Building

In the 1890s, Congregation Sherith Israel realized its 1870 Gothic Revival-style synagogue was becoming too small. So, the leaders bought land on California and Webster Streets in 1902. They hired Albert Pissis, a famous architect, to design a new temple.

Construction began on October 8, 1903. The first stone was laid on February 22, 1904. The new synagogue was officially opened on September 24, 1905. Over the years, some improvements have been made, but the building still looks much like it did when it was first built.

Temple Sherith Israel combines two styles of architecture: Byzantine and Romanesque. It cost $250,000 to build between 1904 and 1905. The building stands 140 feet (43 m) tall above California Street.

Its most famous feature is its large dome, which is 60 feet (18 m) wide. You can see this dome from many places in San Francisco. Inside, the synagogue has 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) of space. It has 3,500 organ pipes, almost 1,400 seats, and more than 1,100 decorative light bulbs. There are also over 89 beautiful stained-glass windows and 32 clear glass windows.

During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the building was only slightly damaged. These small damages were quickly fixed. It was also not damaged during the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake.

However, California law now requires older buildings like Temple Sherith Israel to be very strong against earthquakes. In 2017, the congregation finished a special project to make the building even safer. This project was paid for by donations.

Rabbinical Leaders

Here are the rabbis who have led Congregation Sherith Israel:

Gallery

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  Southwest corner

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  West façade

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  Northwest corner

See also

• Hills of Eternity Memorial Park
• History of the Jews in San Francisco
• National Register of Historic Places listings in San Francisco