| Temple Adas Israel | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Lay led |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | Washington and College Streets,Brownsville,Tennessee |
| Country | United States |
  Location inTennessee | |
| Coordinates | 35°35′44″N89°15′45″W / 35.59556°N 89.26250°W /35.59556; -89.26250 |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Style | Gothic Revival |
| Established | 1867(as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1882 |
| Website | |
| brownsvilletemple | |
Temple Adas Israel | |
| NRHP reference No. | 79002445 |
| Added to NRHP | January 19, 1979 |
| [1] | |
Temple Adas Israel is an historicReformJewishsynagogue located at the intersection of Washington and College streets inBrownsville,West Tennessee. Built in 1882 by German Jewish immigrants and descendants, it is theoldest synagogue building in Tennessee and one of fewer than one hundred surviving 19th-century synagogues in the country. On January 19, 1979, Temple Adas Israel was added to theNational Register of Historic Places.[1][2][3]
Brownsville's Jewish community began when twoGermanAshkenazim immigrants, brothers Joseph and Solomon Sternberger, founded theAdas Israel Congregation in 1867. As immigrants to the United States, the Sternbergers had brought aTorah written onsheepskin. Led by lay-rabbi Isaac Levi, theOrthodox community first met for prayers in the home of Jacob and Karoline Felsenthal. Over the next fifteen years, members of Adas Israel moved toward Reform Judaism and membership grew to 25 families.[2][4]
In 1878, the congregation founded Adas Israel Cemetery, aJewish burial ground still in use today.[5] In 1879, the congregation adopted the reform mode of worship.[6] The congregation became too large to continue meeting in local homes. They built a 200-seat wooden synagogue in 1882. A large ceremony took place on March 2, 1882 for the synagogue's dedication. Attendees included many of the city'snon-Jews as well as members of the congregation. Emil Tamm became the firstlay leader of the congregation in its newtemple until his death in 1907.
The Adas Israel congregation has never had a full-timerabbi. Lay leaders have included Joseph Sternberger's grandson Abe Sternberger from 1909-1931, Morton Felsenthal from 1936-1983, Emil Tamm's great-grandson Fred Silverstein Sr., and Fred Silverstein Jr. from 1988 to present.[5][7] In the late 1970s, Carolyn Celia Key Raney, great-great-granddaughter of Isaac Levi, served as a lay reader, standing in for Morton Felsenthal during his one-year leave of absence. She re-established the Temple's Sunday school. In 1922, the congregation officially joined theUnion of American Hebrew Congregations.[6] In the late 1970s, the congregation established a small religious school to accommodate five students. When these students graduated, the school closed.[7]
At one time, there were thirty Jewish families in regular attendance. The local Jewish populated peaked in the late 1890s when an estimated 200 Jews lived in town. Theeconomic depression of the 1890s contributed to the decline of Jewish families living in the area, with around 100 left by the turn of the century. During the late 20th century, the congregation's membership began to decline as families moved to larger cities.[5] In the early 21st century, about 12 families attendSabbath services on Friday night at Temple Adas Israel.[2][4][8] Today, an estimated six Jews remain in Brownsville.[7]
Temple Adas Israel is a modest example ofGothic Revival architecture and was modeled after the United Hebrew Congregation Temple inLouisville,Kentucky. It originally featured a smallsteeple, an extremely rare feature for a synagogue.
A particularly beautiful suite of thirteenstained glass windows, arched in Gothic style, were installed in 1910. The window above theTorah ark is unusual in a synagogue as it depicts a large, realistichuman eye, similar to theEye of Providence found on theone-dollar bill and inMasoniciconography.[2][9][10]
The building underwent a major renovation in the 1920s under the leadership of Abe Sternberger. The wooden siding was replaced with brick, the steeple was removed, the rostrum was enlarged, and newpews and an organ were installed.[5]
| Topics | |
|---|---|
| Lists by state |
|
| Lists by insular areas | |
| Lists by associated state | |
| Other areas | |
| Lists of specific structure types | |
| Related | |
