Congregation Emanuel is one of the oldest Jewish congregations in North Carolina. It is the second oldest functioning congregation, after Temple of Israel (Mishkan Israel), itself established in Wilmington in 1872. Our congregation was established in 1883 in large part by the generosity and hard work of Isaac Wallace, a German immigrant who moved to Statesville in 1859 to start a roots and herbs business. Soon after his arrival, in 1861, his brother David joined him. A third brother, Victor, moved to Salisbury.
During and after the Civil War, other Jewish families moved to Statesville and became active in retail, wholesale, liquor, tobacco, clothing and merchandising.
The Wallace home became the center of religious life for the Jewish community. Congregation Emanuel was organized there at a meeting on August 19, 1883, as a Reform congregation. There were 29 other founding members, also mostly German immigrants, with such names as Clarke, Lowenstein, Meyer, Harrison, Simon, Moses, Levy, Schiller, Adelson, Kaufman and Eichberg. They established Cemetery Emanuel in 1890, when the Congregation purchased 35 lots in Oakwood Cemetery in Statesville.
Regular services were held at the Fireman's Hall for nine years until our present synagogue was built in 1892. The land on which the Temple now stands was purchased from the estate of Dr. H. Kelly in February 1881, hence the name of the street outside our front door, North Kelly. The members began planning the building of the Temple in 1890. Built in the Romanesque Revival style, it was erected in the 9th year of the Congregation’s existence, and dedicated in a ceremony on May 25th, 1892. The cost of the building is estimated to have been between $4,000 and $5,000. The officiating Rabbis were Rabbi S. Tyor and Reverend Dr. Benjamin Szold of Baltimore, father of Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah. A book on the Szold Family of Baltimore was part of our 125th anniversary exhibit, and Reverend Szold’s picture can be seen in its pages.
The Romanesque Revival brick synagogue is the second oldest house of worship in Statesville, and the oldest which is still used for its original purpose. The four supporting buttresses terminate in unique buttress caps of pressed tin with the Star of David emblazed on each one.
Notwithstanding the addition of modern conveniences such as electricity and indoor plumbing, as well as the addition of a social and recreation hall, the synagogue stands much as it did over one hundred and sixteen years ago.
Due to the effects of economic factors and the two World Wars on the local Jewish community, the Congregation became dormant for a period of 35 years between 1920 and 1954. Amongst these factors was the effect of prohibition on the distilleries, a business in which a number of the members were engaged. The Congregation went from a membership of 23 families, to six families in 1923. Dr. S. Wallace maintained the sanctuary during this period. The Congregation continued to raise funds on behalf of charities, largely through renting of the premises on various occasions. It was during these years that Louis Gordon came to Statesville from High Point, to establish a successful scrap iron and metal business.
The Congregation Emanuel Renaissance
The early 1950’s saw a resurgence of Jewish life in Statesville and environs. Factors contributing to this were the post-war baby boom, and the growth of the textile industry as it migrated south from New England. Congregation members who were engaged in the textile industry included Albert Schneider of Schneider Mills in Taylorsville, Leonard Polk who had a mill in Conover, as well as Messrs. Katz and Adler. On October 27th, 1953, a group of men from the local Jewish community met and pledged $2000.00 to the re-dedication of the temple. It was to become a Conservative Congregation, as opposed to Reform when it was first constituted.
On January 4th, 1954, at a meeting which took place at the home of Mr. Louis Gordon, a plan for repairing the temple was adopted. The local community joined the Circuit-Riding Rabbi Project in 1954, as well as organizing a religious school and the Ladies Auxiliary of Temple Emanuel. Upon completion of the project, the sanctuary was re-dedicated at a service conducted by Rabbi Harold A. Friedman on September 1st, 1954. Mr. I.D. Blumenthal of Charlotte, NC participated actively in, and made a sizeable contribution toward the re-dedication of the Synagogue. He also addressed the Congregation at the reconsecration ceremony. Jules Aronson was the president, with Herman Wallace as President Emeritus. Albert Schneider was president in 1955-1956, and Louis Gordon was president in 1957-1959.
A second rededication ceremony took place on December 1st, 1957 upon the completion of the addition of The Center. Elliott Cohen, chairman of the building committee, was the architect, and G.L. Wilson Construction Company was hired to execute the building project. One hundred and fifty people were in attendance at the rededication, and the Congregation counted 42 members at the time. Attendees included circuit-riding Rabbi Eli Gottesman and I.D. Blumenthal, president of the North Carolina Association of Jewish Men. Joe Mann and Albert Gruenhut placed the Torah in the ark. Ellis Gordon lit the Eternal Light. Mrs. S. Wallace Hoffman laid the cornerstone of the educational building, assisted by Saul Gordon and Max Lerner. Elliott Cohen presented the key to the building to Louis Gordon, president.
We have been in continuous service to our community ever since. The congregation continued to grow during this renaissance period, as evidenced by the following events.
Craig Gordon was born to Gene and Saul Gordon on July 5. 1956.
Ruth and Leonard Polk joined the congregation in September of 1957.
Kalman and Toby Gordon were married on 04/3/60.
Richard Gordon was born on 06/26/60 to Rona and Alfred Gordon.
Beverly and Hy Silberman, and Howard and Hanna Adler joined the congregation in 1960.
Susan Gordon was born to Gene and Saul Gordon on 04/11/61.
The first Bar Mitzvahs of the rededication era were held in 1962 – Paul Polk and Josh Schneider.
Wendy Gordon was born to Toby and Kalman Gordon on September 24,1962.
Two more Bar Mitzvahs were held in 1963 – Jeffrey Katz and Mark Adler.
Saul Gordon was President from 1962-1964. Martin Silberman celebrated his bar Mitzvah in January 1964.
Louis Gordon passed away unexpectedly on December 21, 1964. Three days later, Louis Gordon was born to Toby and Kalman Gordon on December 27, 1964. Robert Gordon was born to Rona and Alfred Gordon on January 16, 1965.
Dr. S. Wallace Hoffman, osteopath, poet, celebrated his 80th birthday at the Statesville Country Club. His inspiring words that day were “ I’ve lived it all and enjoyed it. The best time is always the one that’s coming. “ Mayor Garner Bagnal presented him with a distinguished citizen plaque.
During these years the Temple was also famous for its “Businessmen’s Lunches” organized by the Ladies’ Auxiliary.
Presidents 1960-1984: Nathan Lipshitz, Saul Gordon, Sol Ludwig, Melvin Gordon, Howard Adler, Hyman Silberman, Kalman Gordon, Warren Winthrop, Martin Leventhal, Ed Goldstein, Cecil Ram, and Larry Rosenfeld.
Ladies Auxiliary Presidents 1954-1984 (the last year of the Ladies Auxiliary): Leah Hoffman, Irene Steinberger, Jacquie Schneider, Joyce Lipshitz, Gene Gordon, Ruth Polk, Muriel Ludwig, Barbara Gordon, Toby Gordon, Diane Walsh, Barbara Winthrop, Beverly Silberman, Ruth Goldstein, Jacquie Homesley, Judy Ram, Joanne Rosenfeld and Betty Lee.
Rabbis: Harold Friedman, Eli Gottesman, Alan Fuchs, Stanley Plattock, David Geffin, Richard Marcovitz, David Nelson, Abraham Garmaize, Selwyn Geller, Mayer Gruber, Irwin Beigel, Haim Gordon, Jack Dembowitz, and Israel Gerber.
The 100th Anniversary of Congregation Emanuel was celebrated during the weekend of August 19th-21st, 1983. Hannah Adler, who has served as Corresponding Secretary for many years, put together a wonderful commemorative booklet, which has proven an invaluable resource for this piece.
The Post-Renaissance Period
The Congregation continued to thrive through the eighties. There was a resurgence of Jewish families and consequently the Hebrew school in 1988. Barbara Podair and Fawn Combs served as co principals. At one point we had 20 children for Sunday school. Diane Emery did arts and crafts. Fred Marks and Neil Kassman taught history. Barbara Podair, Mrs. Friedman and Beverly Maurice were the Hebrew Teachers. We put together plays with the help of Judy Ram. We had annual carnivals, Hanukkah parties and Seders. All the children were bar and bat Mitzvahed – Bradley and Elizabeth Podair, Danny Sudman, Jeffrey and Allyson Onsrud, Mahalia Siegel, Jessica Emery, Celia Throop, Daniel Martin, “A.J.” Jaffe, Adam Harell, Rachel Goldstein, Eric and Ryan Robinson, Kate Sykes, and Robert Gutzeit. That was also the time that the Lake Norman families came to us for Hebrew school.
Economic factors once again began to have their effect on Congregation Emanuel. As the baby boomer wave began to subside, and the textile industry moved further south to Mexico, and west across the Pacific Ocean, new families did not move in to replace the children who were Bar- and Bat-Mitzvahed in its Sanctuary. The local Sunday school, which served to educate these children, ceased to function as the need to support it began to wane. The Lady’s Auxiliary, which for years during the renaissance period provided a wide variety of services to the Congregation and community, also ceased activities, as its members saw their children grow, and as they gradually joined the workforce. Another factor has been the growth of the Lake Norman area, including Mooresville and Cornelius, to where many young families are currently moving, attracted by the growth of the Charlotte Mecklenburg region and the banking industry. These important points serve to illustrate the fact that the lifeblood of any community is its youth, coupled to the guidance and wisdom of the parents and the community elders.
Despite the aforementioned, the Congregation has adapted to the changing times, and continues to have strong programming in other areas. In 2005-2006, there were two Yom HaShoah remembrance observances which were attended by full houses in a program we jointly sponsored with our neighboring Presbyterian Church. We are also networking with other Jewish communities in the area, participating in the Jewish Council of Lake Norman, and maintaining a close relationship with our sister conservative congregation Temple Israel in Charlotte and its Rabbi, Murray Ezring. Rabbi Ezring was also instrumental in shepherding our successful grant application for the visiting Rabbinical Fellow Program through the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Legacy Heritage Foundation. We are heading into our third year with the Program. Our first two Rabbinical Fellows were Aaron Philmus, who went on to a congregation in San Francisco, and Sarah Freidson, now starting with a congregation in Rochester, NY. We look forward to spiritual guidance for the upcoming year from Rabbinical Fellow Deborah Zuker as we continue in the Legacy Heritage Foundation program.
Of course, we continue to have a strong weekly Friday Night Service program, as well as High Holiday Services led by Hebrew educator Steve Kerbel of Washington, D.C, and Mitch Siegel, whose familiar dulcet tones have provided the Cantoral accompaniment over these many years. Through our networking with Charlotte and Lake Norman communities, namely the Jewish Federation of Greater Charlotte and Beth Shalom of Lake Norman, we had a wonderful experience with the College Hillel singing group from the University of Pennsylvania, The Shabbatones. We continue to plan varied programming, such as an Israeli Dance Night, led by Penny Boyes and Elana Rappaport, in celebration of Yom Yerushalayim. We also continue to hold the very popular annual Community Seder, as well as fall Holiday festivities in our Sukkah. Furthermore, we share spiritual experiences with groups outside the Jewish Community, such as the Yom HaShoah programs outlined above, and Purim holiday programs.
The following are among the persons who have proudly served our community these last years:
Presidents – George Simon, Albert Schneider, Eddie Goldstein, Manfred Katz, Leonard Polk, Kalman Gordon, Michael Landau, Mark Robinson, Fred Marks, Steve Martin, Mike Schlesinger, Larry Rosenfeld, Joanne Rosenfeld, Jack Celnik and Elliott Vizel.
Rabbis – Andrew Ettin, Steve Kerbel – Hebrew Educator, Allan Selis, Murray Ezring – visiting from Temple Israel in Charlotte, Ari Sunshine, Motti Arad, Jeff Poelvoorde – Judaic Scholar, Aaron Philmus – Rabbinical Fellow, Sarah Freidson - Rabbinical Fellow.
Howard Adler – Treasurer “Emeritus”; Hannah Adler – Corresponding Secretary; Diane Emery – Vice President, Publicity; Steve Martin – Ritual Chair; Robin Rosenfeld - Communications; Arnold Podair – Publicity; Break-fast – organized by Rona Gordon and Jacquie Homesley, and generously funded by the Rosenfeld family; Manfred Katz – Finance; Libbie Katz – Sick and Visiting; Gift Shop – Helen Rifas, Barbara Podair; Bob Saltzman – Vice President, Special Events; Steve Bograd – Vice President, Recording Secretary; Alfred Gordon – House and Building (may he rest in peace); Richard Gordon – Vice President; Barry Gordon – Ritual Chair; Leonard Polk – Trustee (may he rest in peace). Pearl Abramsky – Oneg reminders; Sid Abramsky – Special Events; Shelly Starman-Onsrud – Communications, Corresponding Secretary; Kevin Combs – Yom HaShoah planning, Vice President; Barbara Winthrop – Gift Shop; Stacey Schlesinger – Recording Secretary; Hy Silberman – Cemetery and Plaque; Wendy Pake – Membership; Jane Martin – Legacy Heritage Fund Liaison. And to all our members who have contributed their time and effort for the benefit of the congregation, thank you!
The Next 125 Years
Congregation Emanuel continues to steadfastly occupy pride of place at its address on North Kelly Street, and is ready for the next wave of rejuvenation, to continue to provide a Sanctuary for the spiritual enrichment and growth of the local Jewish community, as it has done these past 125 years. As a symbol of this, we planted a Red Dogwood sapling on the property the weekend of our 125th anniversary celebration – symbol of the new growth which we know will inevitably come to this area.
Elliott Vizel
President
Congregation Emanuel
206 North Kelly Street
Statesville, NC
May 31, 2009/ 8 Sivan 5769
Update July 25th, 2010
