Temple Jacob facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Temple Jacob |
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Temple Jacob, in 2021
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Status | Active (seasonal) |
| Location | |
| Location | 301 Front Street, Hancock, Michigan 49930 |
| Country | United States |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Maass Brothers |
| Architectural type | Synagogue architecture |
| Date established | 1889 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1912 |
| Materials | Jacobsville sandstone |
Temple Jacob, also known as the Congregation of Israel, is an important Jewish building in Hancock, Michigan. It is a synagogue, which is a special place of worship for people who follow Judaism. This temple practices Reform Judaism, a modern type of Jewish faith.
The temple is located at 301 Front Street in Hancock, a town in the Upper Peninsula region of Michigan. It is close to a lift bridge that connects Hancock with another town called Houghton.
This synagogue has a rich history. It was built during a time when many people came to the Keweenaw Peninsula because of a "copper boom." This meant there was a lot of copper mining happening. Temple Jacob was the very first Jewish synagogue in this "Copper Country" area. It is also the oldest Jewish place of worship in the Upper Peninsula that is still active today.
The building is special because it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States. The land for the synagogue was bought from the Quincy Mining Company. The temple was officially opened in September 1912. A special stone in the building remembers Jacob, son of Israel Gartner, who gave a lot of money and helped raise funds for the temple. He passed away just before the building was finished.
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Building the Temple
The design for Temple Jacob was created by architects called Maass Brothers. The foundation of the temple was built by J. J. Kelly. This strong base is made from a local stone called Jacobsville sandstone. After the foundation, A. J. Verville finished the main part of the building. The walls are made of a special type of glazed brick.
The temple has a unique shape with a hip roof, which means all sides slope downwards. The building is about 40 feet long and 40 feet wide. On top of the roof, there is a shiny copper dome.
Temple Windows and Inside Look
The windows in Temple Jacob are rounded at the top. They have beautiful stained glass that tells stories and shows important symbols from Jewish faith. These symbols include:
- A dove with an olive branch, which represents peace.
- A shofar, which is a ram's horn used as a musical instrument.
- A burning bush, a symbol from the Bible.
- Noah's ark.
- Hands in blessing.
- The Star of David, a common symbol of Judaism.
- An eternal light, which is always lit in a synagogue.
- The tablets of the Ten Commandments.
Inside the temple, everything is set up according to traditional Jewish customs. The most important part is the Torah ark, which is a special cabinet that holds the sacred Torah scrolls. This ark is placed on the east wall. There used to be a balcony inside where men and women would sit separately during prayers.
Temple Jacob's History
The Jewish community that formed Temple Jacob was officially started in 1889. At that time, more and more Jewish families were moving to the Copper Country. By 1910, when the copper mining was at its busiest, there were about 100 Jewish families living in the area.
However, by the time the synagogue was finished in 1912, the demand for copper began to slow down. This meant fewer people lived in the area, and the Jewish population also started to decrease.
From Orthodox to Reform
Even though the Congregation of Israel first began as an Orthodox group, it later changed to become a Reform synagogue. Many smaller synagogues across the United States made this same change.
In the 1930s, a local businessman named Norbert Kahn helped many of his relatives come to the Upper Peninsula from Germany. He wanted them to escape the difficult situation in Germany before World War II.
Recent Times at Temple Jacob
The number of Jewish people in the area, like the general population, continued to get smaller through most of the 1900s. However, new families still arrived in small numbers.
In recent years, a small but active group of people has helped keep the synagogue going. This group includes:
- Professionals and teachers from Michigan Technological University.
- New visitors who come for the summer.
- A small number of Jewish people who still live in the area.
- Many generous friends who support the temple.
Thanks to these people, Jewish life continues in the Copper Country. The temple holds special services during the High Holy Days with a visiting student rabbi. They also celebrate Passover Seders, have Torah study sessions, and celebrate Sukkot and Tu BiShvat. They even offer scholarships for Jewish summer camps.
Temple Jacob is now one of only two active Jewish congregations in the Upper Peninsula. The other is Temple Beth Sholom in Marquette. Another synagogue in Iron Mountain closed in 2020.
