Temple Beth El, Rochester, New York records

  • Dates: 1915-1990
  • Size: .4 linear ft.
  • Number of Boxes: 1
  • Languages: English
  • Location: Special Collections Reading Room, Jewish Theological Seminary Library.
  • Restrictions: Reproduction of fragile items is not permitted; consult the archivist about literary rights.
  • Gift Of: Rabbi Abraham Karp
  • Date: 1990

NJS, 7/16/91

Table of Contents:

A Note on Folder Headings

Individual folders are identified in the following way on the left side of each folder: Name of Collection, box #/folder#, as in Ben Zion Bokser Papers, 4/22. Please use this format in citations and when referring to files for any other reason.

Historical Note

Temple Beth El in Rochester, New York, was founded in 1915 when a group of younger and more affluent members of the Leopold Street Beth El moved to a newer neighborhood and established their own synagogue. Organizations within the synagogue included the Men's Club, Sisterhood, school, and youth organizations, including The Boy Scouts.

Rabbi and historian Abraham Karp, the donor of these records, was the rabbi at Temple Beth El from 1956-1972.

Collection Description

This collection consists of photocopies of the minutes of board of trustees meetings, November 28, 1915 - December 6, 1939 (among which can be found announcements, legal and financial documents, and a few letters); a group of ritual committee records, 1960-1990, gathered by ritual committee chairman Samuel Poze; an essay by Samuel Poze entitled "Building a New Temple Beth El," November 27, 1984; and issues of the Temple Beth El Bulletin, September, 1987 - December, 1990.

Samuel Poze's ritual committee records consist of: minutes, November 7, 1960 - June 12, 1969; correspondence, September 23, 1963 - August 9, 1990, regarding arrangements for services; a list of men honored with Hatan Torah and Hatan B'reishit, 1957-1970; the order of the Shabbat morning service; an agenda for a workshop at the Rabbinical Assembly convention, May 5-9, 1974; correspondence and instructions regarding ushering during Shabbat services, 1963-1981; correspondence regarding funeral services and policy, 1963- 1965; and ritual committee reports presented at the annual membership meetings, 1960 - 1968.

Box List

Box  Folder(s)  Description 
   
1 1-5 I. Minutes, 1915-1939
   
  II. Samuel Poze Papers, 1960-1990
  Ritual Committee Records, 1960-1990:
 6 Minutes, Nov. 7 1960 - June 12 1969
 7 Ushering correspondence, 1963-1981
  Funeral correspondence, 1963-1965
  Reports, 1960-1968
 8 Correspondence, 1963-1990; list, 1957-1970; order of service; agenda, 1974
   
 9 "Building a New Temple Beth El" by S. Poze, 1984
   
 10 III. Temple Beth El Bulletins, Sept 1987 - Dec 1990