Temple Israel History

The need for a Conservative congregation was long felt in Wilkes-Barre. It was not until 1922 that the impetus for a new congregation gained sufficient strength to assume definite form.

In the summer of 1922, a small group of men met in the basement of a store in Wilkes-Barre and attempted to organize a congregation devoted to the traditional life and practices of Judaism. Each made a commitment to approach 100 other families about becoming members of the newly-formed Conservative congregation which was named Temple Israel. It was now close to the High Holy Days. No time could be lost. A committee of four men was selected to travel to New York with full power to obtain the services of an officiating rabbi, a cantor and a suitable choir.

Upon consultation with Dr. Cyrus Adler, the President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, Rabbi Louis M. Levitsky, then in his graduating year at the Seminary, was invited to occupy the pulpit for the first services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. A few months after the organization of Temple Israel, the rapidly growing membership requested that a site for the synagogue building be sought. In December, 1922, when the congregation was only 3 months old, the John Lenahan Estate on South River Street was purchased for $35,000. The land was cleared, and plans for erecting a home for Temple Israel was considered.

Both the building and congregation rose rapidly. Completion and dedication ceremonies were held on Sunday, September 13, 1925. By then, the membership of Temple Israel had more than doubled. Several acres of land were purchased in Forty Fort, fenced, sodded and hedged for cemetery purposes.

In January of 1929, Temple Israel acquired a three-story building directly across the street from the sanctuary and turned the structure into the Temple Israel School Building.

In 1952, the Board of Trustees unanimously voted to adopt a Bat Mitzvah ceremony for 13 year old girls.

Upon the death of Rabbi Manello in 1951, Temple Israel began the search for a new rabbi. Ultimately persuaded to come to Wilkes-Barre from Atlantic City, 29 year old Rabbi Abraham D. Barras was engaged as the new Rabbi of Temple Israel. His installation was held on Friday evening, May 9, 1952. For the next 31 years, Rabbi Barras would serve not only as Rabbi of Temple Israel, but also as counselor, teacher and friend to every member of the congregation, as well as an outstanding spokesman for the synagogue and Judaism in the general community.

Throughout the years the Rabbis serving the Congregation have been luminaries in the Conservative movement: Dr. Louis M. Levitsky, Dr. Israel Kazis, Rabbi Benjamin Kreitman, Rabbi Reuben Katz, Rabbi Abram Winokur, Dr. Carl L. Manello, Dr. Abraham D. Barras, Dr. Herbert Rosenblum, Rabbi James R. Michaels. A dedicated group of "minyanaires", as well as other volunteer members of the congregation, assure the continuation of the daily minyan. Members of the Ritual Committee serve as ushers at both High Holiday services and Shabbat Services.

While Temple Israel's membership was growing, under Rabbi Barras's guidance, several programs, both within the congregation and in the general community, were taking root. In 1966, the Eternal Light Membership program was established. This life membership program would become a permanent source of financial support for the congregation's future.

In the 50th year of Temple Israel, Hurricane Agnes ravaged the Valley. It took 16 months to rebuild Temple's facilities, which had suffered devastating damage. The weekend of October 13-14, 1973, was one of festivities that marked the completion and rededication of the Temple. On that Saturday evening, a gala dinner dance was held with Governor Milton J. Shapp as the guest of honor. On Sunday afternoon, Rabbi Louis Finkelstein, Chancellor Emeritus of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America, graced the pulpit.

January, 1977, was a turning point in the history of Temple Israel. Following adoption of a resolution by the United Synagogue for Conservative Judaism authorizing the granting of full religious rights and obligations to women of the Conservative Movement, Temple Israel voted to extend equality of religious participation to its women. Thereafter, women of the congregation were granted full participation in the conduct of the service and were counted in the daily minyan.

In 1978, "Operation - Reach Out" was conceived. Special endowments were created to assure the future quality of Jewish life for generations to come.

Continuing to grow in numbers, in 1980, Temple Israel welcomed the members of Temple Agudath Achim of Pittston into the Temple Israel family with the merging of the two congregations. Although they no longer maintained a sanctuary in Pittston, their cemetery in West Pittston remains a separate entity under the auspices of Temple Israel.

The Interfaith Council, initiated by Temple Israel during the mid 1970's, became an active group within the Wyoming Valley.

In the fall of 1986, in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Board of Directors of Temple Israel, voted to establish a major academic program at the Seminary in the late Rabbi Barras's name.

Mindful of the great financial burden future generations might face in the years to come, a program of far-reaching importance to the future of Temple Israel was established in 1987, the Guardians of Temple Israel program, based on the daily prayer of "Shomer Yisroel", the Guardian of Israel.

The congregation was delighted when two members of Temple Israel were ordained as rabbis by the Jewish Theological Seminary, Rabbi Toba August and Rabbi Charles Popky.

At the annual dinner meeting in 1994, the president announced the beginning of the first capital funds campaign on behalf of Temple Israel since its founding 70 years ago. The funds collected were to be used for major renovations of the offices and classrooms in the school building and the creation of a handicapped access for the sanctuary.

As the congregation begins its ascent into the 21st Century, it builds upon a rich legacy of tradition and service to the Jewish and general community. The members of Temple Israel have ample reason to believe that the next 75 years of its participation in the communal affairs of the Greater Wyoming Valley Jewish Community will be as exciting and productive as the past 75 years have been.