Temple Beth El (Madison, Wisconsin)

The synagogue's founding rabbi was Dr. Manfred Swarsensky.{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=11817|title=New book captures dramatic life of Madison's Rabbi Swarsensky|work=The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle|author=Cohen, Leon |date=October 30, 2009|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402094259/http://www.jewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=11817|archivedate=April 2, 2015|df=mdy-all}} He was a Holocaust survivor who emigrated from Berlin, Germany, to the United States in 1939, established the synagogue with 12 members, and was the rabbi of Temple Beth El for 36 years, until his retirement.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/reflectionsofpos0000carg |url-access=registration |page=9 |quote=Temple Beth-El.|title=Reflections of a Post-Auschwitz Christian |author=Cargas, Harry James |publisher=Wayne State University Press |year=1989 |isbn=0814320961}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Hr02bRB2k0C&q=%22Temple+Beth-El%22+&pg=PR5|title=Mensch: Biography and Writings of Manfred Eric Swarsensky|author=Zolot, Marvin |year=2009 |isbn=978-1438975450}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=14976|title=Madison and Waukesha shuls celebrating 75th anniversaries |work=The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle|author=Kleinman, Lynne |date=February 28, 2014}}

In 1950, when the synagogue had 150–200 families as members, it built the present synagogue building on land it had purchased on Arbor Drive, and dedicated the new building.{{cite journal|author=Goodwin, George M. |title=Wright's Beth Sholom Synagogue |journal=American Jewish History |volume=86 |pages=325–348 |number=3 |date=September 1998 |doi=10.1353/ajh.1998.0020 |s2cid=162284622}} By the end of Swarsensky's tenure, the synagogue had 400 families as members. The synagogue after his death created in his honor an annual lectureship, known as the "Swarsensky Weekend".

File:TempleBethElSign.jpg

Rabbi Kenneth Roseman, who has a Ph.D. in Jewish history, was the rabbi of the synagogue following Swarsensky, from 1976 to 1985.{{cite web |url=http://www.caller.com/news/local-news/longtime-rabbi-at-congregation-beth-israel-to-retire_94479990 |title=Longtime rabbi at Congregation Beth Israel to retire |author=Grant, Mary Lee |work=Corpus Christi Caller Times |date=June 20, 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.caller.com/news/local-rabbi-writes-book-texas-jewish-heritage |title=Local rabbi writes book on Texas' Jewish heritage |author=Baird, Mike |work=Corpus Christi Caller Times |date=May 16, 2007}} He was followed by Rabbi Jan Brahms, who served for nineteen years before deciding in 2004 to take a post at a smaller congregation in The Woodlands, Texas. Brahms was known for his interfaith activities and for his many columns on religious topics for The Capital Times newspaper. During Brahms' tenure the congregation grew from 480 families to about 700.{{cite news |last=Nowlen |first=Chuck |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114502750.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402210333/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114502750.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |title=Rabbi Put His Heart Into It: Temple Beth El's Brahms To Leave June 30 |work=The Capital Times |date=March 22, 2004 |accessdate=March 17, 2015 }}{{cite news |last=Waxman |first=Andrea |url=http://www.jewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=3427 |title=Madison's Rabbi Brahms leaves Temple Beth El after 19 years |work=Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle |date=June 18, 2004 |accessdate=March 17, 2015 }}

After Brahms, Daryl Crystal served as rabbi on an interim basis until Rabbi Jonathan Biatch took the position in 2005.{{cite news |last=Daglas |first=Cristina |url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133952513.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091928/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-133952513.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 2, 2015 |title=Taking The Reins At Beth El: Education Is Priority For New Rabbi |work=The Capital Times |date=July 11, 2005 |accessdate=March 17, 2015 }} Biatch held the position for 19 years, before becoming rabbi emeritus in 2024, and the current rabbi, Jonathan Prosnit, took Biatch's place.{{Cite web |title=Rabbi Jonathan Prosnit to Become Rabbi of Temple Beth El Starting in July 2024 |url=https://www.tbemadison.org/blog?post_id=1541954 |access-date=2024-07-01 |website=www.tbemadison.org}}

Lawrence Kohn served as Education Director for 35 years, starting in 1979.{{cite journal |title=Spectators to Civilization's Destruction |issue=3-4 |pages=216–223 |journal=Jewish Political Studies Review |volume=21 |date=Fall 2009 |jstor=25834863 |last1=Kohn |first1=Lawrence}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/sports/article/gabe_carimi_star_in_shul_and_on_the_football_field_rosebowl_feature_2010122 |title=Gabe Carimi: Star in shul and on the football field |author=Hirsch, Deborah |work=Jewish Journal |date=December 28, 2010}} Henry James Cargas was the first Rabbi Manfred Swarsensky Scholar at the synagogue, in 1982.

In 2008, the Madison Jewish Community Day School opened in rented space at Temple Beth El.{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishchronicle.org/article.php?article_id=10448 |title=Madison launches Jewish day school |work=The Wisconsin Jewish Chronicle |author=Cohen, Leon |date=August 7, 2008}} Beginning in February 2014, the synagogue hosted Beth Israel Center’s after-school services while renovations were underway at Beth Israel for six months.{{cite web |url=http://host.madison.com/lifestyles/faith-and-values/religion/in-the-spirit-beth-israel-center-to-vacate-premises-for/article_7a39fa86-1997-5e01-8705-fa198e3206b6.html |title=In the Spirit: Beth Israel Center to vacate premises for six months during renovation |author=Erickson, Doug |work=Wisconsin State Journal |date=February 23, 2014}} The synagogue had to postpone a planned group trip to Israel scheduled for August 2014 due to fighting in Israel. Rabbi Biatch said: "There's a great deal of disappointment. But there is optimism that we will go eventually."{{cite web |url=http://www.jsonline.com/news/usandworld/concerned-about-safety-local-tourists-cancel-israel-trips-b99316866z1-268387942.html |title=Concerned about safety, local tourists cancel Israel trips |author=Gebelhoff, Robert |work=Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel |date=July 24, 2014}}

In 2014, the synagogue had 650 member families. The congregation is a member of the Union for Reform Judaism.{{cite web |title=Directory of Congregations: Temple Beth El |website=Union for Reform Judaism |url=http://congregations.urj.org/detail.cfm?id=C355 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402152129/http://congregations.urj.org/detail.cfm?id=C355 |archive-date=2015-04-02 |url-status=unfit}} Its members reflect Madison’s demographic as the seat of state and county government, home of the University of Wisconsin, and a regional center for medical care, scientific research, and business.

• Gabe Carimi, a former National Football League player{{cite web |url=http://www.heritagefl.com/story/2013/09/27/features/jewish-hammer-on-bucs-offense/1441.html |title='Jewish Hammer' on Bucs' offense |work=Heritage Florida Jewish News |author=Fryer, Bob |date=September 27, 2013}}{{cite web |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/the_great_rabbino/item/the_bear_jew_gabe_carimi_20110503 |title=The Bear Jew: Gabe Carimi |work=Jewish Journal |author=Fine, Jeremy |date=May 3, 2011}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{official website|http://www.templebethelmadison.org}}

{{Synagogues in the United States}}

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Category:1939 establishments in Wisconsin

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Category:Synagogues in Wisconsin