| Temple Emanu-El | |
|---|---|
 The synagogue building, in 2012 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
|
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 2100 Highland Avenue South,Birmingham,Alabama 35205 |
| Country | United States |
  Location inAlabama | |
| Coordinates | 33°30′01″N86°47′38″W / 33.5002°N 86.7938°W /33.5002; -86.7938 |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | William C. Weston(1912) |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Neoclassical(1912) |
| Established | 1881(as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
| Website | |
| ourtemple | |
| [1][2] | |
Temple Emanu-El (transliterated fromHebrew as "God is with us"[1]), is aReformJewish congregation andsynagogue, located at 2100 Highland Avenue South, inBirmingham,Alabama, in the United States.
The community that would become Temple Emanu-El first heldRosh Hashana andYom Kippur celebrations in 1881. The temple's founding president andlay leader wasSamuel Ullman, a businessman, poet, and humanitarian.[3]
Before the synagogue was built, the community met at theCumberland Presbyterian Church for the public worship services. Land for the synagogue was purchased in 1884, and construction began in 1886. The building, located on the southeast corner of 5th Avenue North and 17th Street,[2] was inaugurated on January 24, 1889.[4] The building was a mix ofRomanesque,Gothic, andMoorish revival elements, with a corner tower and at least three turrets, all with bulbouscupolas.[1]
In 1912, the congregation moved to a new sanctuary at 2100 Highland Avenue South, designed byWilliam C. Weston in theNeoclassical style.[1] An extensive renovation and expansion of the building occurred in 2004, costing $17 million. Thesanctuary was updated and restored, and other buildings for congregational and community functions were rebuilt.[1]
RabbiMorris Newfield, originally fromHungary, led the congregation for 45 years, from 1895 to 1940.[2] Rabbi Milton Grafman, one of the signers of "A Call for Unity", led the congregation from 1941 to 1975.[2] Rabbi Jonathan Miller served the congregation from winter 1991 to summer 2017.[5] Rabbi Adam Wright has served the congregation since July 2019.[6]
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