Congregation Beth Elohim
Congregation Beth Elohim | |
---|---|
New York City Landmark | |
Part of | Park Slope Historic District (ID80002636) |
Significant dates | |
Designated CP | November 21, 1980 |
Designated NYCL | July 17, 1973 |
[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] |
Congregation Beth Elohim (
, in the United States.Founded in 1861 as a more liberal breakaway from
The congregation went through difficult times during the
By 2006, Beth Elohim had over 1,000 members,[11] and, as of 2009[update], it was the largest and most active Reform congregation in Brooklyn,[12] the "oldest Brooklyn congregation that continues to function under its corporate name",[13] and its pulpit was the oldest in continuous use in any Brooklyn synagogue.[14] In 2009, it was listed by Newsweek as one of America's 25 "Most Vibrant" Jewish congregations.[15]
Early years: Pearl Street
Congregation Beth Elohim was founded on September 29, 1861, by 41
While searching for a permanent location, the congregation continued to meet and hold services at Granada Hall. Men and women sat together, unlike the
Beth Elohim had originally conducted its
Beth Elohim voted to retire Brandenstein in 1882, an action which created some controversy both within the congregation, and among other Brooklyn synagogues. Younger members of the congregation found no specific fault with Brandenstein, but wanted "a change", and succeeded in dismissing him and electing an entirely new board of officers. The final vote was 29 in favor, 21 against, out of a total membership of 53 or 54 (only the male heads of households were counted as members during this era).[21][25] Solomon Mosche[26] was hired to replace Brandenstein.[27]
In April 1883, Baith Israel, Beth Elohim, and
Mosche fell ill in 1884, and after being unable to serve for six months, was replaced by 26-year-old William Sparger.[33] Despite his illness, Mosche lived until age 75, dying on November 3, 1911.[34]
Sparger was Hungarian by birth, a graduate of the Prince Rudolph University of Vienna, and, according to a contemporary New York Times article, "belong[ed] to the extreme liberal school of Hebrew theology".[33] He introduced changes to the services, including improving the choir, bringing in a new prayer book, adding Friday night services,[23] and the "radical reform" of making the sermon the most important part of the service.[35] He appealed to younger congregants, and, under his direction, the synagogue experienced a large increase in attendance.[35]
State Street
Though more seats had been added to the synagogue by narrowing the aisles,[2] as a result of Sparger's innovations Beth Elohim outgrew its Pearl Street building, and a new one was sought.[35] After a three-year search, in 1885 Beth Elohim purchased the building of the Congregational Church at 305 State Street (near Hoyt) for $28,000 (today $950,000), and moved in that year.[2][36]
In 1891, Temple Emanu-El in Manhattan offered Sparger a salary larger than Beth Elohim could match, and he moved there.[37] Beth Elohim subsequently split the offices of cantor and rabbi, hiring G.[38] Taubenhaus as rabbi and the Mauritz Weisskopf as cantor.[18][37]
Born in Warsaw, Taubenhaus could read the Pentateuch fluently in Hebrew at age four, and began studying the Talmud at age six. He attended the "Berlin theological seminary" (likely the Hochschule für die Wissenschaft des Judentums) for six years. Upon emigrating to the United States, he served at Kehillah Kodesh Bene Yeshurum in
By the time of Taubenhaus's hiring, Beth Elohim was, according to the Brooklyn Eagle, "recognized as the leading Hebrew synagogue of Brooklyn".[40] The views of the congregation regarding kashrut (the Jewish dietary laws) were by then quite liberal; in 1892, when Hyman Rosenberg was expelled as rabbi of Brooklyn's Beth Jacob synagogue for eating ham, Taubenhaus stated that he did not believe his congregation would expel him for doing the same.[41]
In 1895, Samuel Radnitz succeeded Weisskopf as cantor, a role he filled until his death in 1944.[18]
By the turn of the twentieth century English had replaced German in the services and official minutes, and the second days of
Taubenhaus left the congregation in 1901, and the following year Alexander Lyons was hired as the congregation's first American-born rabbi.[43] Lyons went on to serve the congregation for 37 years, until his death in 1939 at the age of 71.[44]
In 1907, the women's auxiliary was founded; until then, though seating was mixed, women had little say in the running of the synagogue.[43] That year the congregation had 110 member families and annual revenues of $9,259.55 (today $300,000). The congregational school, which held classes one day a week, had 15 teachers and 200 students.[45]
Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue
1908–1929: New buildings
In 1908, the congregation purchased a 100-foot (30 m) by 112-foot (34 m) lot on the northeast corner of Garfield Place and Eighth Avenue. Plans were made to erect a new synagogue building there with a sanctuary seating 1,500 people, at an anticipated cost of $100,000 (today $3.4 million).
1909 was also the year Judah Leon Magnes proposed and founded his Kehilla, a "comprehensive communal organization for the Jews of New York", which operated until 1922.[50] Lyons opposed its creation, arguing that Jews in New York were too diverse to co-exist in one organization with a single set of standards, that Jews should not organize as Jews for anything except purely religious purposes, and that in any event Reform Judaism was the future and Orthodox Judaism would not survive. As Lyons put it,
To me Reform Judaism is an irresistible conviction. I believe it to be the religion of the Jewish future, while I regard orthodoxy as a survival that may have a galvanized life now and then, but on the whole is doomed.[51]
By 1919, Beth Elohim had 133 member families. The congregational school, which held classes once a week, had 305 students and 16 teachers.[52]
Negotiations to merge with
Instead, the congregation raised funds for a second building,
Lyons took on a number of causes in the 1910s and 1920s. He worked with
1930s: Landman joins, Great Depression, Lyons dies
Landman had also been a prominent opponent of
During the Great Depression synagogue membership decreased significantly; experiencing financial difficulties,[2] the congregation stopped paying its mortgage.[10] Nevertheless, Beth Elohim was not completely moribund; in 1931 it opened its Academy of Adult Jewish Education, which "offered courses in Bible, religion and contemporary Jewish life", and operated throughout the Depression.[27] By 1937 the congregation had elected Lyons "rabbi for life".[72]
In 1938 Lyons made common cause with Thomas Harten, the black pastor of Holy Trinity Baptist Church. Speaking to a mixed black–Jewish audience at the church, Lyons informed the listeners that he was planning to attend the second
Lyons died the following year,[44] and Landman served as sole rabbi.[10] After his death, the Central Conference of American Rabbis described Lyons as the "dean of the Brooklyn rabbinate from the point of view of service".[74]
World War II and aftermath: Sack joins, Landman dies
The synagogue's fortunes improved in the 1940s, but in 1946, its bank threatened to foreclose on its buildings, in anticipation of their sale to the local
Eugene Sack, the father of
Sack had also previously been involved in anti-Zionist efforts amongst the Reform rabbinate. In 1942 the Central Conference of American Rabbis had abandoned its former anti-Zionist stance, and adopted a resolution favoring the creation of a Jewish army in Palestine, to fight alongside other
Landman died suddenly in 1946,[67][68] leaving Sack to head Beth Elohim alone; Sack would eventually serve as rabbi for 35 years.[10] Richard Harvey also joined as cantor in the 1940s;[10] he would serve until his death in the 1970s.[84]
After the war, Beth Elohim allowed women to become full members, granting them full voting privileges and allowing them to hold office. The congregation subsequently elected Jeanette Marks as a trustee. At this time the origins of the membership began to change, as Jews of Eastern European descent started joining the congregation.[10]
In the late 1940s the central vault ceiling of the main sanctuary cracked, and had to be repaired. At that time the pulpit was also rebuilt, so that the rabbi and cantor had separate pulpits. Underneath the sanctuary ran an underground stream which would regularly overflow, leading to flooding problems. The flooding was fixed in the 1950s with the installation of check valves, and a concrete slab floor was installed. Though the intent was to provide usable space in the basement, it was rarely used.[4]
By 1953, Beth Elohim had grown to over 700 families, and the religious school had over 550 students.[2] In the 1960s, however, membership began to decline, as young families moved to the suburbs.[10]
1970s–2000s: Decline, Weider joins, re-birth
In 1970, the congregation again encountered difficulties, "faced with dwindling membership and bleak prospects". The members, however, created one of the earliest
A native of the Bronx, Weider graduated from Rutgers University, and was ordained at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati in 1973 (he would be granted a Doctor of Divinity degree by Hebrew Union College in 1998). Before joining Beth Elohim, he served as Assistant Rabbi of Temple Ohabei Shalom of Brookline, Massachusetts, and as the Associate Rabbi of Washington Hebrew Congregation in Washington, D.C. At Beth Elohim, he focused on programming and services for urban Jewish families.[85] Under his leadership, Beth Elohim opened after–school and early childhood centers in 1978, and a day camp the following year,[86] all housed in the Temple House.[57]
The 1970s also saw a return to more traditional practices in the service, under Weider's guidance. Some members began wearing
In 1985, Weider and Beth Elohim, in cooperation with the rabbis of the
In the 1980s and 1990s Beth Elohim's buildings were repaired and refurbished a number of times. The sanctuary ceiling cracked in the early 1980s, and services were held in Temple House for a time. The congregation mounted a "Save our Sanctuary" campaign in 1982, and repaired the ceiling.[90] In the 1980s Beth Elohim also refurbished the Moses stained glass window, and painted the main sanctuary.[4] The congregation restored and renovated its buildings in 1990,[2] and in 1992 did emergency restoration work to the facade of Temple House and restored the pews.[90] In 1997 the synagogue began its "Kadimah Capital Campaign", which was intended to raise funds to repair and renovate the buildings.[4] By 1999, the congregation had restored Temple House's facade, rebuilt the collapsed Garfield St. entrance, made entry into the synagogue handicapped accessible, added a multipurpose space and classrooms in the basement of the sanctuary, and planned to add a fifth floor for more classrooms.[91] That year Sack (by then Rabbi Emeritus) died;[92] the year before his death his son, Robert, at his induction as a Second Circuit judge, had described his father as "the most open minded man he had ever known".[75]
Janet Leuchter joined as cantor in 2001. A native of Vineland, New Jersey, and 1999 graduate of Hebrew Union College, she had previously served as cantor of Temple Avodah in Oceanside, New York.[93]
Weider retires, events since 2006
Weider retired as senior rabbi in 2006, after 28 years of service. He was succeeded by Andy Bachman.[94] At that time, Beth Elohim had over 500 members.[11] In 2007, the synagogue was a winner of the Union for Reform Judaism's Congregation of Learners award for medium size synagogues, for "those synagogues that provide an exceptional environment of varied and comprehensive learning opportunities and have imbued their synagogue communities with a culture of learning".[95]
In 2009, Beth Elohim was described as the largest and most active Reform congregation in Brooklyn.[12] Prominent members included U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer.[96] In April of that year, Beth Elohim was listed by Newsweek as one of America's 25 "Most Vibrant" Jewish congregations.[15] In September, just four days before Yom Kippur, a part of the sanctuary ceiling collapsed. No-one was hurt, but the sanctuary had to be closed. The nearby Old First Reformed Church—with which Beth Elohim had had close ties since the 1930s—offered its premises for the holiday (Sunday night and Monday), and accommodated over 1000 worshipers.[96] The day before the holiday, the synagogue was picketed by members of the Westboro Baptist Church, who shouted antisemitic and anti-gay slogans.[97]
As of 2012[update], Beth Elohim was the "oldest Brooklyn congregation that continues to function under its corporate name",[13] and its pulpit was the oldest in continuous use in any Brooklyn synagogue.[14] Its rabbis were Andy Bachman, Shira Koch Epstein, and Marc Katz, the rabbi emeritus was Gerald Weider, and the cantor was Joshua Breitzer.[1]
Bachman, a graduate of University of Wisconsin–Madison with a 1996 rabbinic ordination from Hebrew Union College, became Beth Elohim's first new senior rabbi in 25 years on October 25, 2006.[11] Before becoming senior rabbi he had previously been an educator there from 1993 to 1998.[11] An advocate of more traditionalism in the Reform movement, in 2002 he started a small, more traditional, Hebrew-focused spinoff prayer group at Beth Elohim,[98] and has spoken in favor of a more traditional liturgy.[99] Bachman and his wife, Rachel Altstein, have been instrumental in bringing 20- and 30-year-olds into the synagogue, and in December 2007, Bachman was named one of The Forward's "Forward 50".[100] In 2008 he was a regular contributor to the Washingtonpost.Newsweek Interactive website.[101] Epstein, born in the Bronx and raised in New Milford, Connecticut, attended Wesleyan University and Hebrew Union College, and served as the coordinator of the Institute for Reform Zionism.[102] In 2008 she was a member of "Rabbis for Obama", a cross-denominational group of more than 300 American rabbis supporting Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign.[103] Barrington Rhode Island native Marc Katz graduated from Tufts University and studied at Hebrew Union College in Jerusalem before becoming Beth Elohim's rabbinic intern in 2009. He served as the congregation's Associate Rabbi until 2018 and is now the Rabbi at Temple Ner Tamid in Bloomfield, NJ.
On September 22, 2013, Beth Elohim celebrated its 150th anniversary and dedicated a new
In June 2015, Andy Bachman departed to join the 92nd Street Y as the Director of Jewish Content and Community Ritual, and in addition, he founded "Water Over Rocks," a non-profit dedicated to memory and civic responsibility.[105] In July 2015, Rachel Timoner became the Senior Rabbi.[106]
Notes
- ^ a b Leadership & Staff, Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 228.
- ^ a b Kamil & Wakin (2005), p. 152.
- ^ a b c d e f "The Main Sanctuary", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b Morrone & Iska (2001), p. 375.
- ^ a b c d e Morrone & Iska (2001), p. 376.
- ^ a b c Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, pp. xiii, xiv, 25, 60.
- ^ a b Park Slope Historic District, NRHP Registration Form, July 24, 1979, Section 7, p. 6.
- ^ a b c Sleeper (1989), p. 160.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "The Temple House", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b c d Norsen (2006).
- ^ a b Gersten (2009).
- ^ a b c d "Origins", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b c d e Bergman (2001), p. 314.
- ^ a b Newsweek, April 4, 2009.
- ^ Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 226.
- ^ a b c d Gross (1999).
- ^ a b c d e "Timeless Symbolism", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b c d Stiles (1870), p. 816.
- ^ a b , Brooklyn Eagle, September 27, 1891.
- ^ a b Brooklyn Eagle, October 4, 1882, p. 4.
- ^ Abelow (1937), pp. 23–24.
- ^ a b c Abelow (1937), p. 24.
- ^ Landman, Isaac, ed. (1941). The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia. Vol. 5. New York, N.Y.: The Universal Jewish Encyclopedia, Inc. p. 105 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Brooklyn Eagle, May 27, 1884, p. 2.
- ^ Sources give different names for Mosche:
- The American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 14, p. 125 and Landman (1940), p. 546 refer to him as "Solomon Mosche".
- The Brooklyn Eagle (September 17, 1882, p. 6, April 26, 1883, p. 2, May 27, 1884, p. 2) and Abelow (1937), p. 24 refer to him as "the Rev. S. Moshe".
- The New York Times, July 11, 1884, p. 8 refers to him as "the Rev. Mr. Mosher".
- ^ a b Landman (1940), p. 546.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, April 7, 1883, p. 1.
- ^ a b Brooklyn Eagle, April 26, 1883, p. 2.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, April 26, 1883, p. 2.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, July 7, 1884, p. 4.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, October 27, 1884, p. 1.
- ^ a b The New York Times, July 11, 1884, p. 8.
- ^ American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 14, p. 125.
- ^ a b c Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2.
- ^ The New York Times, June 29, 1885, p. 8.
- ^ a b c Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2.
- ^ Sources give different first names for Taubenhaus:
- Contemporary newspaper accounts generally refer to him as "Dr. G. Taubenhaus" (e.g. The New York Times, October 6, 1897, p. 5, Brooklyn Eagle, December 16, 1892, p. 1), and Abelow (1937), p. 18 refers to him as "Rabbi G. Taubenhaus". His 1900 work Echoes of Wisdom, refers to him simply as "G. Taubenhaus".
- His 1900 / 1918 translation of the Talmud tractate Aboth, some contemporary accounts (e.g. The New York Times, February 23, 1898, p. 7), the American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 7, p. 108, and his wife's obituary (The New York Times, August 6, 1960, p. 19), refer to him as "Godfrey".
- Some contemporary accounts refer to him as "Gottheil" (e.g. Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2. Brooklyn Eagle, November 24, 1900, p. 5), as does a later Beth Elohim rabbi, Isaac Landman, in his Universal Jewish Encyclopedia (Landman (1940), p. 546).
- "Timeless Symbolism", Beth Elohim website refers to him as "George".
- His 1900 / 1918 translation of the Talmud tractate Aboth also refers to him by his Hebrew name "Shayah" (there transliterated as "Shajah").
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, May 1, 1893, p. 10.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2.
- ^ Brooklyn Eagle, December 16, 1892, p. 1.
- ^ American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 2, p. 328.
- ^ a b "New Century", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b The New York Times, June 7, 1939, p. 26.
- ^ American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 9, p. 262.
- ^ a b Brooklyn Eagle, October 7, 1908
- ^ Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. xiii.
- ^ Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. xiiv.
- ^ Abelow (1937), p. 53.
- ^ Kaufman (1999), p. 133.
- ^ The New York Times, March 14, 1909, p. 6.
- ^ American Jewish Year Book, Vol. 21, p. 439.
- ^ a b Abramovitch & Galvin (2001), p. 33.
- ^ Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. 25.
- ^ Park Slope Historic District Designation Report, 1973, p. 60.
- ^ Shaw (2008).
- ^ a b "The Temple House", Our Buildings, Beth Elohim website.
- ^ The New York Times, October 26, 1910, p. 6.
- ^ Lyons (1913).
- ^ The New York Times, November 29, 1914, p. 13.
- ^ Lyons (1920).
- ^ The New York Times, April 23, 1912, p. 24.
- ^ The New York Times, June 19, 1912, p. 9.
- ^ The New York Times, April 28, 1914, p. 8.
- ^ The New York Times, February 8, 1919, p. 11.
- ^ The New York Times, May 30, 1931, p. 2.
- ^ a b c "Isaac Landman Papers", University of Illinois at Chicago website.
- ^ a b The New York Times, September 5, 1946, p. 20.
- ^ Cohen (2003), p. 68.
- ^ Reich (2007), p. 206.
- ^ Time magazine, April 4, 1932.
- ^ Abelow (1937), p. 26.
- ^ Erenberg (2006), p. 102.
- ^ Yearbook of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1939, p. 301.
- ^ a b c Zauderer (2008).
- ^ See District 5 history and District 5 History (continued), Women of Reform Judaism Atlantic District website.
- ^ Zeidman (2007), pp. 4–5.
- ^ Bronstein (2007).
- ^ Kolsky (1992), p. 42.
- ^ Kolsky (1992), p. 45.
- ^ Kolsky (1992), p. 46.
- ^ Kolsky (1992), p. 49.
- ^ Kolsky (1992), p. ix.
- ^ a b c "Another Renaissance - The 1970s'", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ a b c "Rabbi Emeritus Gerald I Weider", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 229.
- ^ a b c Kane Street Synagogue Journal, Issue 44, November 3, 2006.
- ^ a b Desantis (1994). See also Olitzky & Raphael (1996), p. 229.
- ^ See "School History", Hannah Senesh Community Day School website, Levy (2005), and George (1997).
- ^ a b "Continued Growth - The 1980's", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ See Gross (1999) and "The Main Sanctuary", Beth Elohim website. The fifth floor was never built.
- ^ The New York Times, June 13, 1999.
- ^ "Cantor & Music", Beth Elohim website.
- ^ Nussbaum Cohen (2006).
- ^ Union for Reform Judaism, "Congregation of Learners, Best Practices in Adult Study" (2007), p. 7.
- ^ a b McLaughlin (2009).
- ^ Muessig (2009).
- ^ Nussbaum Cohen (2002).
- ^ Lando (2007).
- ^ The Forward, December 12, 2007.
- ^ Andy Bachman, On Faith website.
- ^ See "Rabbi Shira Koch Epstein", Beth Elohim website and "IRZ – The ARZA Institute for Reform Zionism", Association of Reform Zionists of America website.
- ^ Fingerhut (2008).
- ^ News 12 Brooklyn, September 22, 2013).
- ^ "Andy Bachman Takes New Post at 92nd Street Y - Breaking News". Retrieved 2015-09-27.
- ^ Levit, Donny (July 29, 2015). "Spirituality, Activism & Community: Rabbi Rachel Timoner Joins Congregation Beth Elohim". Park Slope Stoop. Corner Media Group. Archived from the original on September 28, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2015.
References
Brooklyn Eagle, no byline
- "Penitential. The First Sabbath in the Jewish New Year—Sermon by the Rev. S. Moshe.", Brooklyn Eagle, September 17, 1882, p. 6.
- "Peculiar. The Action of the Congregation Beth Elohim in Pearl Street.", Brooklyn Eagle, October 4, 1882, p. 4.
- "Hebrews Consolidating. A Movement to Unite Three Congregations—Important Action Taken on the Subject", Brooklyn Eagle, April 7, 1883, p. 1.
- "Consolidation of Local Hebrew Churches." (part 1), Brooklyn Eagle, April 26, 1883, p. 2.
- "Consolidation of Local Hebrew Churches." (part 2), Brooklyn Eagle, April 26, 1883, p. 2.
- Hebrews. The Agitation on the Question of the Changing the Jewish Sabbath.", Brooklyn Eagle, May 27, 1884, p. 2.
- "A Hebrew Sunday School Union. The First Combined Picnic to be Held in Prospect Park.", Brooklyn Eagle, July 7, 1884, p. 4.
- "Montefiore — Brooklyn Honoring the Centenarian.", Brooklyn Eagle, October 27, 1884, p. 1.
- "Judaism in Brooklyn. The Ancient Faith of Israel and Its Local Adherents.", Brooklyn Eagle, September 27, 1891, p. 19.
- "Thirtieth Anniversary. A Notable Celebration in Synagogue Beth Elohim Today." (part 1), Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2.
- "Thirtieth Anniversary. A Notable Celebration in Synagogue Beth Elohim Today." (part 2), Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2.
- "Thirtieth Anniversary. A Notable Celebration in Synagogue Beth Elohim Today." (part 3), Brooklyn Eagle, October 25, 1891, p. 2.
- "How They Regard Ham. Views of Local Rabbis on Mr. Rosenburg's Expulsion.", Brooklyn Eagle, December 16, 1892, p. 1.
- "A New Rabbi for Baith Israel: Rev. M. Friedlander succeeded by Rev Joseph Taubenhaus.", Brooklyn Eagle, May 1, 1893, p. 10.
- "Ancient Hebrew Testament. Spirit and Will of God to Rule the World Above all Race and Creed.", Brooklyn Eagle, November 24, 1900, p. 5.
- "Fine Temple to be Erected by Beth Elohim Congregation", Brooklyn Eagle, October 7, 1908, Picture and Sporting Section.
New York Times, no byline
- "City and Suburban News; New-York. Brooklyn. Westchester County. New-Jersey" (PDF). The New York Times. July 11, 1884. p. 8.
- "City and Suburban News.; New-York. Brooklyn. Long Island" (PDF). The New York Times. June 29, 1885. p. 8.
- "Jews' Greatest Fast Day. The Day of Atonement Inaugurated with Impressive Services Throughout the City" (PDF). The New York Times. October 6, 1897. p. 5.
- "Gibier -- Hoen" (PDF). The New York Times. February 23, 1898. p. 7.
- "Rabbi Lyons Urges Reform Judaism; Orthodoxy, Brooklyn Preacher Says, Is Doomed – Opposes New Jewish Federation. AMERICANS FIRST, HE SAYS Conspicuous American Loyalty the Best Defense Against Intolerance – Strictly Jewish Movements a Mistake" (PDF). The New York Times. March 14, 1909. p. 6.
- "Preachers Expose Tenement Evils; Bishop Greer and Rabbis Wise and Lyons Find Rooms Overcrowded Dark, Unsanitary" (PDF). The New York Times. February 26, 1910. p. 6.
- "Rabbis Convene Here. Form Organization In the Interests of Liberal Judaism" (PDF). The New York Times. April 23, 1912. p. 24.
- "Eastern Rabbis Reply.; Answer Central Conference on Scope of Their Work" (PDF). The New York Times. June 19, 1912. p. 9.
- "Jewish College Center.; Reform Rabbis Adopt Suggestion for Young Men's Association" (PDF). The New York Times. April 28, 1914. p. 9.
- "Retry Leo Frank, Says Rabbi Lyons; Necessary to Vindicate Courts from Charge of Yielding to Prejudice and Passion" (PDF). The New York Times. November 29, 1914. p. 13.
- "More Members Quit Committee; A.J. O'Keefe, One of the Executive Board, Sends His Resignation to Riegelmann" (PDF). The New York Times. February 8, 1919. p. 11.
- "Landman Takes New Post.; Jewish Editor Will Also Be Rabbi of a Brooklyn Congregation.", The New York Times, May 30, 1931, p. 2.
- "Rabbi Lyons, 71, Brooklyn Leader; Sought Cooperation Between Christians and Jews--Dies in His Residence Aided St. John Cathedral Civic Worker and Promoter of World Peace--With 8th Ave. Temple for 37 Years", The New York Times, June 7, 1939, p. 29.
- "Rabbi Landman, 65, Reformist is Dead; Brooklyn Preacher a Leader in Hebrew-Christian Moves for Religious Friendship", The New York Times, September 5, 1946, p. 20.
- "Taubenhaus-Carrie", The New York Times, August 6, 1960, p. 19.
- "Sack, Eugene J., Rabbi.", The New York Times, June 13, 1999.
- Congregation Beth Elohim website
- "Origins", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Timeless Symbolism", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "New Century", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "The Temple House", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Another Renaissance - The 1970s'", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Continued Growth - The 1980's", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "The Main Sanctuary". Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "The Temple House", Our Buildings, Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Rabbi Emeritus Gerald I Weider", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Rabbi Daniel Bronstein", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Cantor & Music", Beth Elohim website. Accessed August 8, 2010.
- "Clergy & Staff", Beth Elohim website. Accessed January 21, 2021.
Other
- Abelow, Samuel Philip. History of Brooklyn Jewry, Scheba Publishing Company, 1937.
- Abramovitch, Ilana; Galvin, Seán. Jews of Brooklyn, University Press of New England, Nov 1, 2001. ISBN 978-1-58465-003-4
- American Jewish Committee (1900–1901). "Directory of Local Organizations" (PDF). American Jewish Year Book. Vol. 2. Jewish Publication Society.
- American Jewish Committee (1905–1906). "Biographical Sketches" (PDF). American Jewish Year Book. Vol. 7. Jewish Publication Society.
- American Jewish Committee (1907–1908). "Assorted Statistics" (PDF). American Jewish Year Book. Vol. 9. Jewish Publication Society.
- American Jewish Committee (1912–1913). "Review of the Year (1912-1913)" (PDF). American Jewish Year Book. Vol. 14. Jewish Publication Society.
- American Jewish Committee (1919–1920). "Directories" (PDF). American Jewish Year Book. Vol. 21. Jewish Publication Society.
- "IRZ – The ARZA Institute for Reform Zionism" Archived 2010-12-11 at the Wayback Machine, Association of Reform Zionists of American website. Accessed November 1, 2009.
- Bergman, Edward F. The Spiritual Traveler: New York City : the guide to sacred spaces and peaceful places, Hidden Spring, 2001. ISBN 978-1-58768-003-8
- Bronstein, Dan. "Our Cause is the Same", Veterans Day Sermon, Congregation Beth Elohim, November 9, 2007. Accessed November 1, 2009.
- Yearbook of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Central Conference of American Rabbis, 1939.
- Cohen, Naomi W. The Americanization of Zionism, 1897-1948, ISBN 978-1-58465-346-2
- Desantis, John. "NEIGHBORHOOD REPORT: BROWNSTONE BROOKLYN; Reform Synagogue to Open Private School", The New York Times, July 17, 1994.
- Erenberg, Lewis A. The Greatest Fight of Our Generation: Louis Vs. Schmeling, ISBN 978-0-19-517774-9
- Fingerhut, Eric. "Chicago rabbis organize nationwide Rabbis for Obama group, 300 sign on", The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles, September 9, 2008.
- "Forward 50 2007", The Forward, December 12, 2007.
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External links
- Official website
- Rabbi Rachel Timoner's website
- Rabbi Andy Bachman's website
- Rabbi Marc Katz's Website
- "Rebuking narrow-mindedness" (PDF)., summary of a sermon given by Rabbi William Sparger of Congregation Beth Elohim, in The New York Times, May 31, 1886, p. 2.
- "The Day of Atonement; Jews, Rich and Poor Alike, Spend the Day in Fasting and Prayer" (PDF)., summary of a sermon given by Rabbi G. Taubenhaus of Congregation Beth Elohim, in The New York Times, October 7, 1897, p. 7.
- "Sweeping Dust Into the Air" (PDF)., letter to the editor by Rabbi Alexander Lyons of Congregation Beth Elohim, in The New York Times, October 12, 1902, p. 6.