The Temple (Atlanta) Explained

The Temple
Image Upright:1.4
Religious Affiliation:Reform Judaism
Festivals:-->
Organisational Status:Synagogue
Organizational Status:-->
Ownership:Hebrew Benevolent Congregation
Functional Status:Active
Location:1589 Peachtree Street NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Country:United States
Map Type:Midtown Atlanta
Map Size:250
Map Relief:1
Coordinates:33.7978°N -84.3892°W
Architect:Philip Shutze
Architecture Type:Synagogue
Architecture Style:Neoclassical
General Contractor:Mr. Birchey
Established:1860
Date Destroyed:-->
Dome Quantity:One
Elevation Ft:-->
Module:
Embed:yes
The Temple
Added:September 9, 1982
Refnum:82002420
Designated Other1 Name:Atlanta Landmark Building
Designated Other1 Date:October 23, 1989
Designated Other1 Abbr:ALB
Designated Other1 Link:List of historic buildings and districts designated by the City of Atlanta
Designated Other1 Color:
  1. aaccff
Footnotes:[1] [2]

The Temple (formally, the Hebrew Benevolent Congregation) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 1589 Peachtree Street NE, in Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States. The oldest Jewish congregation in Atlanta, it was established in 1860 to serve the needs of German-Jewish immigrants. The Temple, designed by Philip Trammell Shutze in a Neoclassical style, was completed in 1931.

The synagogue building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on September 9, 1982;[2] and designated as an Atlanta Landmark Building on October 23, 1989.[1]

Architecture

The Neoclassical building has a pedimented portico, drum dome, and vaulted and domed sanctuary. Its rich finishing details include terrazzo floors, black marbleized-wood columns and gilded woodwork. Of particular significance is the intricate plaster relief work on the interior of the sanctuary's frieze, cornice, vaults and dome. In 1959 a three-story brick education building of contemporary design was added to the rear of the building.[2]

Organ

The Shutze temple opened in 1931 with a new Pilcher organ. In 1955, temple organist Emilie Spivey contracted Aeolian-Skinner to update and renovate the organ. The renovated organ, one of twelve in the country bearing G. Donald Harrison's signature plate, was dedicated October 14, 1955 with a performance of Ernest Bloch's Sacred Service. On Oct 30, 1955 Spivey played the opening recital of Mozart, Bloch, and Poulenc's organ concerto.[3] [4] The organ underwent a major renovation in 2011-2012.

History

Previous temples of the congregation were located at:[5]

During the 1950s and 1960s, The Temple became a center for civil rights advocacy. In response, white supremacists bombed The Temple on October 12, 1958, with no injuries. While arrests were made, there were no convictions. Atlanta Journal-Constitution editor Ralph McGill's outraged front-page column on the Temple bombing won a Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing.[7] The Temple and the bombing event was used as a central theme in the film Driving Miss Daisy (1989).

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The Temple (Hebrew Benevolent Congregation) . Historic Preservation . City of Atlanta, GA . n.d. . January 11, 2024 .
  2. Web site: Brooks, Caroline . Nomination Form: The Temple . National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service . September 9, 1982 . January 11, 2024 .
  3. January 1, 1956 . Organ in Atlanta Temple Opened by Emilie Spivey . . 47 . 2 . 1.
  4. Web site: The Organ - The Temple . 2022-10-25 . www.the-temple.org.
  5. Web site: Pioneer Citizens' History of Atlanta, 1833-1902: Pub. By the Pioneer Citizens' Society of Atlanta. 1902.
  6. http://www.atlgoc.org/images/pryor.jpg photo
  7. Web site: The Temple. 2008-10-10. Atlanta: A National Register of Historic Places Travel Itinerary. National Park Service.