History In 1903, ten Jewish families in Gadsden, Alabama, organized a religious school for their children. It met on Sunday mornings and was held at 5th and Cherry streets in the J. Nadler home. In 1908, the first services for Beth Israel families were held at 109 N. 4th Street in a room over the old Gadsden National Bank. Mr. J. Nadler and Mr. Hugo Hecht conducted the services. There are no notes about these beginnings, only the almost total recall of Merlin and John Hagedorn and Janice Lowi. Janice saved further written and printed material in a scrap book. Among those first generations here were: Albert Hagedorn, C.H. Blum, Hugo Hecht, David Reich, A.Block, Max Rapaport, Joe Kahn, Walter Rosenbaum, Sam Rosenbaum, Morris Wohl, Adolph Kohn, Eugene Weil, L. Solomon, I. Haas, J. Nadler, F. Frank. Not long after conducting prayers in one room, they felt the need of a place of worship. It was difficult to imagine how to build a Temple and raise the money for it. The men played poker with non-Jewish buddies. In each game a part of every pot was set aside for a building. The players were: A.M. Taylor, Olin Sibert, Deacon Christopher, Guerin Dubose, Joe Hammond, Albert Hagedorn, C.H. Blum, Ike Keller, D.L. Newman, Isadore Zemurray, Harry Frenkel and I. Haas. To these funds were added those made when raffles were held and when sandwiches made by their wives were sold. On March 8, 1922, the cornerstone of Beth Israel was laid with Masonic as well as religious ceremonies. Grand Marshal Julian Spearman laid the stone assisted by 10 non-Jews who held office in the Masons. Ike Saks, Ike Lowi and J. Nadler were Jewish officers who took part and the orator was C.H. Blum. The Rev. W.R. Rigell, a much loved pastor of the First Baptist Church also spoke. At first, the congreagation could only afford a cast-off organ which they bought from the Episcopal Church. It squeaked and wheezed through many a service. Mr. O.R. Goldman, who lived across the street from the Temple, was the first organist. From 1911 to 1944, Hugo Hecht served as Lay Leader. A dedicated and spiritual man, well versed in the bible and Hebrew, he conducted the services and wrote the sermons. He presided at funerals and was treasurer and secretary. Finally after a number of years, Temple officers voted to pay him $20.00 a month. During his lifetime, Hugo Hecht was also the mainstay of the local B'nai B'rith Lodge. A dedication service for Beth Israel was held on February 23, 1923. Mrs Aileen Dortch Sherwood was organist. Ferd Frank presented the key to C.H. Blum, president of the congregation and Hugo Hecht conducted all the service. Daisy Zemurray and Julia Saks Freibaum gave solos. Little Lillian Solomon lit the eternal light. L. Blackburn sang a selection and Dr. Morris Newfield of Birmingham gave the consecration address. The Rev. E.C. Seamon brought greetings from "Sister Congregations". Prior to the dedication, services began in the finished Temple. The first service was held in September 1922, for the High Holy Days. The building committee had raised $30,000.00 to pay for the lot and the building at 8th and Chestnut Streets. At that time, the officers were: C.H. Blum, Ferd Frank, Albert Hagedorn, Hugh Hecht, I. Zemurray, Ike Haas and Ike Saks. They had come a long way from 4th Street to the Odd Fellows Hall on Walnut and 6th Streets. Here for one year, 1910 to 1911, Rabbi Ferdinand Hirsch, a student, came to Gadsden each second Sunday. He guided Sunday School in the morning and held services in the afternoon. From the Odd Fellows Hall, worship was moved to the annex of the First Methodist Church where Sunday School classes were conducted as well. Always closely associated with the non-Jewish Community, the builders of Temple Beth Israel chose to inscribe above the doorway "Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself." That phrase has continued to be a guiding principal. On November 24, 1924, Beth Israel joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, the representative body of Reform Judiasm, becoming a part of the larger U.S. Jewish community. A small paragraph in the newspaper tells of the 10th anniversary of the Temple. It was celebrated with a musical program by Daisy Zemurray and John Perry Carruth, a Purim feast with pageant and a Tom Thumb wedding. By September, 1946, the tiny nucleus of members had grown to 30 families and they now felt the need of a full-time Rabbi. They chose Rabbi Ernst Appel. On March 21, 1948 there were 25 candles on the Temple cake. Rabbi Adolph Phillipsborn conducted the service commemorating this anniversary. The Sisterhood gave the Temple a new organ and the choir and music was under the direction of Janice Lowi, as it had been since 1924. In 25 years the congregation had grown from 10 families to 30 families in 1923 and to 70 families in 1948. In that year, there were 35 children in Sunday School, a Youth Group and a small library. An unforgettably tragic incident occured at the services to dedicate the Zemurray addition to the Temple on March 25, 1960, (the addition consists of five Sunday School classrooms, a large vestry, and a large kitchen). During the services, a home-made incendiary bomb was thrown into the sancturary. Alan Cohn and Alvin Lowi were both shot by the bomber as they rushed out of the Temple to apprehend him. By the grace of God both recovered. The whole city, shocked and grieved, joined our congregation in a community service the week following the bombing. During all these years of growth and accomplishment, the ladies of the congregation, first as the Temple Aid Society in 1911 and then as the Sisterhood, worked untiringly and successfully to support the house of worship and the comgregation. There is no record of what was done during World War I, but we know there were soldiers here. We also know that Hannah Hagedorn made dish-pans full of her famous German potato salad for rallies and military get-togethers. During World War II, the congregation worked actively with the many Jewish soldiers stationed at Fort McClellan and then with those at Camp Sibert in Gadsden. Oneg Shabbats were held at Temple and at the camp. Passover Seders for the soldiers wiere prepared by Sisterhood members. The Jewish Wives Club met at our temple. All during World War II, Sisterhood members faithfully rolled bandages and knitted warm scarves for over-seas use. The Ladies Auxiliary affilated with the National Federation of Sisterhoods in 1930 and became a Sisterhood. Charter members were: Fedora Haas, Lillie Rosenbaum, Daisy Zemurray, Lillian Frenkel, who was president, and Sadie Frankel who was secretary for over 30 years. Jeanette Freibaum was the first Cemetery chairman. Through Sisterhood a second Torah was dedicated in 1961, both adorned with mantles, crowns and shields. A committee improved the appearance of the cemetery and continues to care for it. While the Sisterhood has sponsored many improvements in the Temple Building, it has not neglected to work for benefit of the social and cultural climate of the community. It has supported the Sunday School, the youth group and the library. In 1963, the library was named the Rabbi Joseph Utschen Library as a memorial to that beloved Rabbi who contributed so much to our congregation. On April 23 1972, the Sisterhood sponsored its first "Your Neighbor Celebrates--Jewish Holiday Tour of Homes", which was a tremendous success. All the funds from the tour were contributed to Anchor, Inc. for the general good of the city through their work. An important arm of the congregation, The Temple Youth Group was organized in 1955, with Alfred Cohn as first president. Having about 10 members with a minimum age of 13, our Youth Group was affiliated with the North Alabama Federation of Temple Youth and the S.E. Federation of Temple Youth. They soon grew in number and have contributed to the congregation by conducting special religious services, Hanukkah and Purim Carnivals and hosting conclaves. The general community has gained by their continued work with the underpriviledged through their tutorial program. In June, 1969, the congregation honored Hazel and John Rogers at a testimonial dinner for 25 years of singing in the choir and Mrs. Aileen Dortch Sherwood for her cheerful cooperation when needed as an organist or singer. In 1973, according to the city census there were 134 men, women and children of the Jewish faith in Gadsden. Our roster contained 55 families. At that time, our Temple had been the scene of over 25 weddings, about 15 confirmations, 12 Bar Mitzvahs, 5 Boy Scout's God and Country Awards, community memorial services for President John Kennedy and for Israeli athletes who died during the 1972 Olympic games in Munich. The decade, 1973-1983, saw improved facilities, good community relations and meaningful programs. Though our membership has not grown we continue to employ the services of a Rabbi. We celebrated 5 Bar Mitzvahs and 9 Baby namings. Six weddings were performed in our sanctuary. Our Sunday School, though small, continued to flourish. Israel became a familiar topic for sermons, Hebrew classes for adults and children were held. "Shabbat Shalom" now rings out after our Friday night services. Gadsden's Federated Jewish Charities drive has continued as a yearly institution that supports of the large world Jewish community. We painted the Temple and protected our irreplaceable stained glass windows, installed new heating and air-conditioning equipment and a sound system. Our inter-faith relations were included a Passover Sedar with the Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter and special brotherhood Sabbaths. We have made Passover more sigificant with our congregational Seders and Sabbath more joyful with our regular Shabbat dinners. Other festivals and holidays are observed with special family dinners at the Temple. We regularly gather in groups to seek knowledge in adult discussion groups. The Sisterhood has continued to support every aspect of Temple activities. A successful art auction and C.P.R. classes are two new Sisterhood functions. An Israeli Festival, chaired by Anne Cohn, Joan Thompson and Susan Harwood, was attended by over 400 people and earned the Sisterhood women a special award from the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. It was decade of expanded Jewish ritual in the Temple, great pride in the accomplishment of Israel and closer ties with our fellow man. We sang, "Behold how good and how pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity." The decade of 1983-1993, witnessed a decline in our Synagogue's memebership. Nonetheless, our congregation continues to thrive. Temple Beth Israel saw various innovations in its he worship services and liturgy. For example, we began to observe TASHLICH, the ceremony of symbolic removal of one's sins on ROSH haSHANA. We adjourn to Moragne Park upon the conclusion of the morning service and cast breadcrumbs into the Coosa River. This was not our only outside "retreat". Through the gracious hospitality of some of our congregants, we have experienced God and nature simultaneously. We now make an annual pilgrimage to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Alan Berman to celebrate SUKOT; In addition, we created a service whose theme was, "Shabbat under the Stars." We convene at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Allan Morris. From 1994 thru the present time our Jewish community has decreased in size to 26 families. The enthusiasm of its membership has maintained momentum and motivation. The Sisterhood remains the congregation's stronghold of support. Although few in numbers, our members care about one another and the Synagogue. Indeed, there IS greatness in small numbers; we have opportunities for development and recognition that are not possible in the larger congregations.