| Temple Emanuel | |
| Image Upright: | 1.4 |
| Religious Affiliation: | Reform Judaism |
| Festivals: | --> |
| Organisational Status: | Synagogue |
| Organizational Status: | --> |
| Functional Status: | Active |
| Location: | 12166 Conway Road, Creve Coeur, Missouri |
| Country: | United States |
| Map Type: | Missouri |
| Map Size: | 250 |
| Map Relief: | 1 |
| Coordinates: | 38.6414°N -90.4474°W |
| Architect: | William Bernoudy |
| Architecture Type: | Synagogue |
| Architecture Style: | Modernist |
| Established: | 1956 |
| Groundbreaking: | 1961 |
| Year Completed: | 1962 |
| Date Destroyed: | --> |
| Materials: | Roof: Laminated wood beams, decking, copper |
| Elevation Ft: | --> |
| Footnotes: | [1] |
Temple Emanuel is a Reform Jewish synagogue located at 12166 Conway Road, near the corner of New Ballas Road, in Creve Coeur, Missouri, in the United States.[2] [3] Organized in 1956, it is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism (UAHC). It has a membership of 300 families.
The Temple is notable not only for its size, but for its unique Modernist architecture.
A group of parents in the area first had the idea to form a synagogue in the 1940s as a way to further their children's religious education.[4] [5] They founded St. Louis School for Judaism in September 1953 and organized the synagogue in 1956, choosing the name "Temple Emanuel" on December 16, 1956.[6] [7] [4] [5] It was the first Reform congregation founded in St. Louis in 70 years.[5] The congregation initially had 48 families, and services were held at the Bible Presbyterian Church.[4] Construction at the Conway Road site began in September 1961, and the completed building was dedicated in January 1963.[4] The synagogue is affiliated with [the [[Union for Reform Judaism]], which was formerly called] the UAHC.[8]
In March 2008, the synagogue and Temple Israel in Creve Coeur (which had approximately 1,000 families) announced a plan to merge, which would have created a congregation of 1,400 families, one of the area's largest Reform Jewish congregations.[9] [10] After two months of discussions among some leaders of the synagogues, the matter became public when the two Boards of Directors were asked for their input.[9] The membership of Temple Emanuel were given presentations on possible merger in April.[11] The school enrollment had declined from 137 students in 2001 to 79 students in 2008.[11] Ultimately, after 2/3 of congregants indicated that they preferred independence in balloting the following month, the congregation decided overwhelmingly to remain independent.[12] [13]
In 2010, Temple Emanuel mounted an exhibition of black and white photographs of Albanian Muslims who rescued 2,000 Jews during the Holocaust.[14] [15] Its rabbi said a goal of the congregation with the exhibit was "to tell people ... these are examples of Muslim-Jewish respect, tolerance and love."[16]
The synagogue provides Shabbat and Sunday religious services.[17] Temple Emanuel instituted its Sunday services in 1958, decades after the Sunday-Sabbath movement in American Reform Judaism had largely ended.[18]
It also provides Sunday religious school and Hebrew in preparation for Bar/Bat Mitzvah, as well as Torah study and adult learning courses. In addition, it provides programs on interfaith issues and family learning, as well as youth and senior programs.[17]
As of 2016, the synagogue had a membership of about 250 families.[17]
Temple Emanuel's Senior Rabbi is Elizabeth Hersh. Its Rabbi Emeritus and Senior Scholar is Dr. Joseph R. Rosenbloom, who has been rabbi at the synagogue for more than 42 years.[17] [19] Since 1977, the temple's "Cantorial Soloist" has been Malachi Owens, a non-Jewish African American who worked as an electrical engineer and has also been a Baptist minister since 1998.[20] [21] [22]
Its 1962 building in the St. Louis suburb of Creve Coeur, Missouri, was designed by architect William Bernoudy, of the firm Bernoudy-Mutrux-Bauer, which was known for its originality.[23] [24] [25] [26] It was designed in the shape of the six-pointed Jewish star.[27] [28] [29] The congregation owns the building, and the land on which it sits.[12]
The St. Louis County Historic Buildings Commission has named the synagogue an outstanding example of mid-century Modern architecture worthy of preservation.[23]