Congregation B'nai Israel (Bridgeport, Connecticut)

For similarly named synagogues, see B'nai Israel.
Congregation B'nai Israel
Hebrew: בני ישראל
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Rabbi Evan Schultz
  • Rabbi Sarah Marion
  • Rabbi James Prosnit (Emeritus)
StatusActive
Location
Location2710 Park Avenue, Bridgeport, Connecticut
CountryUnited States
Congregation B'nai Israel (Bridgeport, Connecticut) is located in Connecticut
Congregation B'nai Israel (Bridgeport, Connecticut)
Location in Connecticut
Geographic coordinates41°11′41″N 73°12′59″W / 41.1946°N 73.2164°W / 41.1946; -73.2164
Architecture
Architect(s)
TypeSynagogue
Style
Date established1859 (as a congregation)
Completed
  • 1911 (1100 Park Avenue)
  • 1958 (2710 Park Avenue)
Website
cbibpt.org

Congregation B'nai Israel (Hebrew: בני ישראל) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 2710 Park Avenue, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, in the United States.

It is the oldest Jewish congregation in Bridgeport[1] and the third oldest in Connecticut.[2][3]

History

B'nai Israel was established by a group of German Jewish immigrants as an Orthodox synagogue in 1859. The congregation's first rabbi was A. Jacobs. B'nai Israel established a Hebrew school in 1863.[4]: 74 

For its first fifty years, B'nai Israel did not have a permanent home. Its members met and prayed in one another's homes and in storefronts and lofts. In 1885, plans were made to erect a building for B'nai Israel. The building, designed by Leonard Asheim with a Craftsman–style interior, was completed in 1911, located at 1100 Park Avenue and known as the Park Avenue Temple.[4]: 74 

By 1911, when the Park Avenue Temple was completed, B'nai Israel had moved from Orthodox to Reform Judaism. Members who were unhappy with the changes left B'nai Israel and founded two of Bridgeport's other synagogues: Adath Israel (Orthodox) and Rodeph Sholom (Conservative).[4]: 74 

After World War II, B'nai Israel outgrew its building and a second structure, called the Second Park Avenue Temple, was erected, designed by the prolific synagogue architect Percival Goodman,[3][5][4]: 75  located at 2710 Park Avenue. Goodman commissioned artist Larry Rivers to create a Torah ark cloth for the new building, but Rivers' design was ultimately rejected and his work ended up in the collection of the Jewish Museum in New York City.[6]

The former synagogue building at 1100 Park Avenue has been repurposed as a Baptist church, called the New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.[7] This 1100 Park Avenue building was one of fifteen Connecticut synagogues added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995 and 1996 in response to an unprecedented multiple submission, nominating nineteen synagogues.[8][9]

Recent history

In 2002, the temple drew attention (including an article in The New York Times) after its large junior choir, directed by Cantor Sheri Blum, recorded a CD with Cantor Bruce Benson entitled The Rock Service, Featuring Cantor Bruce Benson and the Jazz Service. This album was described as combining "original rock music with liturgically accurate chants," and was reportedly in contention for a Grammy nomination.[10][11][a]

In 2009 the temple, having recently renovated and expanded its building, celebrated its 150th anniversary.[2][13] As of 2009, 700 families belonged to Congregation B'nai Israel and approximately 400 students were enrolled in its religious school.

Notable members

Notes

  1. ^ Benson, later the cantor at Congregation Beth Israel, in Scottsdale, Arizona, also recorded a jazz service with Kenny G.[12]

References

  1. ^ Waldo, George Curtis (1917). History of Bridgeport and Vicinity. New York: S.J. Clarke Publishing. p. 321.
  2. ^ a b "Celebrating 150 years of faith". Bridgeport News. May 24, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Weindling, Myrna; Robert Gillette (May 3, 1984). "History of Congregation B'nai Israel". Archived from the original on September 11, 2007. Retrieved July 20, 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d Olitzky, Kerry M. (1996). The American Synagogue. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press. ISBN 9780313288562.
  5. ^ "The Vision Campaign". Congregation B'nai Israel. Archived from the original on September 5, 2008. Retrieved July 21, 2009.[self-published source?]
  6. ^ "Larry Rivers, Rejected Ark Cloth". Jewish Museum of New York. Archived from the original on September 11, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2009.
  7. ^ "B'nai Israel Synagogue (1911)". Historic Buildings of Connecticut. June 14, 2015. Retrieved January 13, 2024.
  8. ^ Charles, Eleanor (April 7, 1996). "In the Region/Connecticut;15 Synagogues Gain National Landmark Status". New York Times. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  9. ^ Ransom, David F. (March 29, 1995). "NRHP Registration Form Multiple Property Listing: Historic Synagogues of Connecticut". National Park Service. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
  10. ^ diGrazia, Christine (September 8, 2002). "Rock Music With One Little Catch: It's Sung in Hebrew". The New York Times.
  11. ^ "Youth choir finds place in the rock world". Connecticut Post. February 17, 2002.
  12. ^ Woldoff, Leisah Namm (July 29, 2005). "Temple Beth Israel welcomes new cantor". Jewish News of Greater Phoenix. Archived from the original on June 9, 2011.
  13. ^ "Scholar speaks at B'nai Israel anniversary event on Jan. 22". Bridgeport News. January 17, 2009. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011.
  14. ^ Elfin, David (November 16, 2011). "Is This The Golden Age Of Jewish Baseball?". Moment Magazine. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved April 8, 2013.