The congregation was founded in 1917 as theWest Side Hebrew Relief Association, anOrthodox congregation for the shopkeepers in the area. Thesynagogue has been located at its current site since 1923,[3] being the synagogue of choice forJews in the entertainment industry nearby. Manyvaudeville, musical theater, television, and nightclub performers attended services there, includingSophie Tucker,Shelley Winters,Milton Berle,Al Jolson,Jack Benny,Joe E. Lewis,Edward G. Robinson, as well as two of theThree Stooges.[4][5]Rabbi Bernard Birstein, an aspiring actor himself, was the synagogue's first rabbi;[6] he died in 1959.[7]
The congregation declined in the wake ofWorld War II as New York-based actors moved toCalifornia and the neighborhood changed. The congregation diminished from 300 members[when?] to approximately 30 by 2009.[4] In 2005, in order to bring in additional income, the temple started renting out dance rehearsal space toNew Dance Group and temporarily transforming into a theatre for plays.[8] However, even with this additional income, the $120,000 annual operating costs used up the $2 million endowment by 2009.[4] Despite these challenges, the temple continues to operate. In 2011, the temple had a fundraising program and about 150 dues-paying members, with an averageErev Shabbat worship attendance of 20–30 people.[7]
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