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The Beginnings | |
The Synagogue on French Street | |
Growth | |
The Center | |
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Plans for a new building---a "Synagogue Center"---were started in 1942: one building to incorporate the Hebrew Institute and the Brith Sholom Congregation. Twelve dedicated men, led by an energetic young rabbi, Abraham Shoulson, started the building fund with the slogan, "If you will it, it is not a dream." [A quote by Theodore Herzl, originally intimating the creation of the Israeli state.] They willed, indeed, and in 1950 the dream became a reality as we officially moved into our lovely new building---the Jewish Center on 32nd and State Street.
Life was comparatively good in 1950; the country was at peace, Brith Sholom was housed in its beautiful new building, our membership of roughly 300 families was growing, Junior Congregation attendance hovered around 100 most Shabbatot. But still our leadership was not satisfied. The Press Family Chapel seated approximately 130 people; when the folding doors to the Radov Library were opened, the capacity was around 150-160. High Holy Day Services along with large weddings and other simchas had to be held in the Cohen Family Auditorium. Under the leadership of Chairman Marcus Cohen another fund drive was begun to build a new sanctuary, built in 1965.
The new sanctuary, with seating capacity of over 300, was still not large enough for the High Holy Day services, and again, folding doors had to be opened to add another 200 seats in the Social Hall. Brith Sholom, along with Erie, was expanding.
At the time of our 75th birthday in 1972 we reported that our membership numbered about 260 families, and that our attendance at minyans and Shabbat services was sometimes less than it should be. In the ensuing 25 years, although we had a healthy influx of new young professional during the decades of the '70s and '80s, our membership decreased. Erie, like the Northeast corner of the United States has experienced a loss of population due partly to the move of industry to other parts of the country. Daily minyans were suspended with only Thursday and Sundays, aside from Shabbat, remaining unless a Yarzeit gathering was called. Attendance at Friday night and Saturday morning services were also light, with portions of the services skipped for lack of a minyan.
Of necessity, changes had to be made. Conservative congregations throughout the country had, for more than two decades, declared egalitarian rights for women in all congregational affairs. We at Brith Sholom resisted as long as we could, but the time came when we found it necessary to change. We had already elected our first woman president. In 1990 the Board of Directors argued the issue, polled the members, and decided the only course of action would be to change. By 1991 the first woman received an aliyah, and the first women were counted to make a minyan. Change did not come easily for our congregation. Today women enjoy complete rights; in addition to those rights previously mentioned, women chant haftorot, and the skilled ones read from the Torah and are among the megillah readers.
As we had before, we still have dedicated workers, professional and lay alike, who feel that in a continuation of the past, in growing from mistakes, and in sincere and honest devotion to people and synagogue lies the promise of a peaceful and bright, as well as constructive, future. It is impossible to name every dedicated person who contributed to the growth of CBS. To them, some of blessed memory, goes our eternal gratitue for what they designed, created, and built for us. For them we owe the pledge that we shall continue with everything in our power, to help it grow and prosper. They dared to dream---we do not dare to destroy what they dreamed.
With gratitude of the research done by Yvette Rosenberg, and the memories and memorabilia of family and friends, it has been my joy to reread, relive, and retell this history. I sincerely hope you will find it your joy to read.
Shirley Reill Brown