Temple Beth-El (Hornell, New York) facts for kids
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Quick facts for kids Religion |
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| Affiliation | Orthodox Judaism (former) |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Status | Closed (c. 2014) |
| Location | |
| Location | 12 Church Street, Hornell, New York |
| Country | United States |
 Location in New York
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| Architecture | |
| Date established | 1946 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1946 |
Temple Beth-El is a former Jewish synagogue located in Hornell, New York. It was built in 1946. It started as an Orthodox Jewish place of worship. Later, in the 1960s, it briefly operated as a Conservative congregation.
In February 2016, the synagogue building was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it is recognized as an important historical site.
Building History and Design
The building shows how Jewish communities settled in small towns across New York. It highlights the important impact this group had on the local community. Before this synagogue, the Jewish community worshipped in people's homes. Later, they used the Erlich Hebrew Center, which was a Jewish center in a downtown building.
After World War II, the Erlich Hebrew Center was not big enough. The community gathered their money and resources. They renamed their group Temple Beth-El. They were able to build their own synagogue near the center of Hornell. Other churches were also located in this area.
A special committee helped design and build the synagogue. It was officially opened in 1947. The only change to the building since then was a new roof and ceiling in 1976. The synagogue showed that the Jewish community was an important part of Hornell.
Temple Beth-El's Story
In 1950, the Rabbi was Harry Zwick. The leaders of the congregation included Isadore Spitulnik, Louis Eisenberg, Joseph Cropp, Edward Schulimson, and Hyman Jacobsen.
Temple Beth-El faced challenges after 1960. The main industry in Hornell, the Erie Railroad's repair shops, closed down. This caused the town's economy and population to shrink. Because of this, Temple Beth-El could no longer afford a full-time rabbi. It briefly changed to a Conservative congregation. By 2014, the synagogue was no longer active.
In 2010, the synagogue was vandalized with graffiti. In July 2022, some people spread pamphlets with symbols of hate near the synagogue and other places of worship. They were held responsible for their actions. A jury found one person guilty of causing damage and spreading hate. The other two people admitted their guilt.
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