Congregation Beth Sholom
Congregation Beth Sholom is a Conservative Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 301 14th Avenue, in San Francisco, California, in the United States.
| Congregation Beth Sholom | |
|---|---|
The synagogue interior | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Amanda Russell |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 301 14th Avenue, San Francisco, California |
| Country | United States |
Location in San Francisco Bay Area, California | |
| Geographic coordinates | 37°46′59″N 122°28′24″W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | Stanley Saitowitz |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Modernist |
| Date established | 1921 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
| Website | |
| bethsholomsf | |
History
Founded in 1921, it is one of the oldest synagogues west of the Mississippi River.[1] A member of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism, Congregation Beth Sholom is a hub of the Bay Area Jewish community. Beth Shalom built a synagogue on Fourteenth Avenue and Clement Street in 1934 after initially meeting in a church on Fourth Avenue near Geary. The first full-time rabbi, Saul White, age 27 and born and raised in Russian Poland, was hired in 1935.[2] The first bat mitvah, for Judith Stein, was held at the synagogue in 1957.[1]
The congregation moved to a new synagogue designed by architect Stanley Saitowitz in 2008.[3] In 2022, Rabbi Amanda Russell was promoted to the position of senior rabbi, the first woman to hold the position in the congregation.[4]
Rabbinical leaders
The following individuals have served as rabbi of Congregation Beth Sholom:
| Ordinal | Officeholder | Term start | Term end | Time in office | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Saul E. White | 1934 | 1983 | 48–49 years | |
| 2 | Allan Schranz | 1983 | 1986 | 2–3 years | |
| 3 | Alexander Graubart | 1986 | 1991 | 4–5 years | |
| 4 | Alan Lew | 1991 | 2005 | 13–14 years | |
| 5 | Kenneth Leitner | 2005 | 2007 | 1–2 years | |
| 6 | Micah Hyman | 2007 | 2014 | 6–7 years | |
| 7 | Aubrey Glazer | 2014 | 2018 | 3–4 years | |
| 8 | Dan Ain | 2018 | 2022 | 3–4 years | |
| 9 | Amanda Russell | 2022 | incumbent | 1–2 years |
See also
References
- Pine, Dan (February 18, 2022). "Forward-looking Beth Sholom looks back at 100 years of progress". J. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- Rosenbaum, Fred (May 11, 2009). Cosmopolitans: A Social and Cultural History of the Jews of the San Francisco Bay Area. University of California Press. doi:10.1525/california/9780520259133.003.0007. ISBN 978-0-520-25913-3.
- King, John (August 11, 2008). "New synagogue livens up Richmond District". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
- Stutman, Gabe (April 22, 2022). "Rabbis on the move: departures and promotions across the Bay Area". J. Retrieved August 30, 2023.