Congregation Sherith Israel (San Francisco, California) 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 located in San Francisco, California, in the United States. Its name comes from Hebrew and means "loyal remnant of Israel". It was started in 1851 during the California Gold Rush and is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States. Today, it is known for its new ways of celebrating Jewish life. The main building, finished in 1905, is a famous landmark in San Francisco. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The synagogue was an important place for some big legal cases in San Francisco between 1905 and 1908.

A Look at Sherith Israel's History

Gold Rush and Early Jewish Settlers

The story of Congregation Sherith Israel is closely linked to the history of San Francisco itself. It includes events like the Gold Rush, big fires, earthquakes, and important moments in the city's past. In 1848, San Francisco was a small village. Then, gold was found about 140 miles away at Sutter's Mill.

At the same time, many Jewish people in Central Europe faced difficult rules. These rules made it hard to find jobs, forced young men into the army, and limited who they could marry. Because of this, many young, adventurous 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, a small group of Jewish pioneers met in a simple wooden tent. This was before California even became a state. They wanted to celebrate important Jewish holidays like Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, even though they didn't have a rabbi or Torah scrolls.

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

In April 1851, the Jewish community in San Francisco decided to create a lasting congregation and choose leaders. They soon split into two groups. Congregation Sherith Israel followed the traditions of Jews from Posen in Prussia. The other group, Congregation Emanu-El, followed the traditions of Jews from Bavaria. These two synagogues have been friendly neighbors ever since.

Becoming a Reform Jewish Community

As San Francisco grew quickly, finding a permanent home for Sherith Israel was a challenge. The congregation's first meeting place was destroyed in the "Great Fire" of 1851, just like much of the city. After losing another home to a fire, the members built their first proper synagogue on Stockton Street in 1854. It cost $10,000 to build.

So many Jewish people moved from Europe 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 seeking their fortune. In 1870, Congregation Sherith Israel moved to a new building on Post and Taylor Streets. It stayed there for 34 years.

At first, Sherith Israel followed a more traditional Jewish style. But during this time, it started to become a Reform congregation. For example, the new building allowed men and women to sit together, which was a big change. Over time, with much discussion, wearing a kippah (a small cap) became optional. They also started Friday evening services and added a choir. Two influential rabbis, Rabbi Henry Vidaver (1873–1882) and Rabbi Jacob Nieto (1893–1930), helped guide these changes. In 1903, as they began building the current synagogue on California Street, Congregation Sherith Israel officially joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now called the Union for Reform Judaism.

The Main Synagogue Building

By the 1890s, Congregation Sherith Israel realized its 1870 synagogue was becoming too small. So, its leaders bought land on California and Webster Streets in 1902. They hired Albert Pissis, a skilled architect, to design a new temple. Construction began on October 8, 1903, and the first stone was laid on February 22, 1904. The 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.

The Temple Sherith Israel building combines two styles: Byzantine and Romanesque. It cost $250,000 to build between 1904 and 1905. The building stands about 140 feet (43 m) tall above California Street. Its famous dome, which you can see from many parts of San Francisco, is 60 feet (18 m) wide. Inside, the main worship area has 20,000 square feet (1,900 m²) of space. It also features 3,500 organ pipes, nearly 1,400 seats, over 1,100 decorative light bulbs, more than 89 beautiful stained glass windows, and 32 clear glass windows around its dome.

During the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the building was only slightly damaged and was quickly fixed. It also survived the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake without harm. However, California law now requires older buildings like Temple Sherith Israel to be made stronger against earthquakes. In 2017, the congregation completed a project to make the synagogue more earthquake-safe. This project was paid for by a special fundraising effort.

Rabbis of Sherith Israel

Here are the people who have served as the main rabbi of 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