Temple Society of Concord

Temple Concord was founded in 1839 by German immigrants drawn to upstate New York by the new Erie Canal. The small group gathered in a back room of a local store for meetings and worship services. By 1841 they had moved to the second floor of a member's home on Mulberry Street, from where they hired their first religious leader (he was not formally trained or ordained as a rabbi). The group incorporated under the laws of the State of New York on February 24, 1942. and first took the name "Comrades of Peace" and shortly thereafter Keneseth Shalome, which they translated in formal English as Temple Society of Concord. Incorporation papers list Max Thalheimer, Samuel Bernheimer and Joseph Wiseman as trustees.{{cite book |author=Rudolph, B. G. |title=From a Minyan to a Community: a History of the Jews of Syracuse |location=Syracuse, New York |publisher=Syracuse University Press |year=1970 |pages=1–3 |isbn= }}

In its early years the congregation was served by many religious leaders. These men were referred to as "Reverends" and they served as cantors, teachers, Mohelim, and Schochetim. With the exception of Bernard Illowy, it is doubtful that any were formally trained or ordained as rabbis. Rabbi Adolph Guttman, who emigrated to America from Hohenems, Austria, was the first modern Reform rabbi, and he shaped the liturgy and organization for decades to come.{{cite book |author= |publisher=Temple Society of Concord, Syracuse, New York |title=1839-1964: Our First One Hundred Twenty-five Years |location=Syracuse, New York |year=1964 |isbn= }}{{rp|6}}

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• Abraham Gunzenhauser (1841-1846)
• Joseph Goodman
• Jacob Levi
• Bernard Illowy
• Herman Berkenthal
• Rev. Deutsch
• Rev. Cohen
• Rev. Burgheimer
• Dr. Adolph Guttman (1883-1918)
• Rabbi Benjamin Friedman (1919-1969)
• Rabbi Theodore S. Levy (1970-1990)
• Rabbi Sheldon Ezring (1990-2009)
• Rabbi Daniel Fellman (2009-2021)
• Rabbi Ilan Emanuel (2021-present)

{{div col end}}

In 1851, the congregation erected its first purpose-built synagogue building at Harrison and Mulberry Streets. The cost was $10,000, a substantial sum at the time.

The present Neo-classical-style sanctuary at the corner of Madison Street and University Avenue, with an attached social hall, was designed by Syracuse-based architect Alfred Taylor and New York-based consulting architect Arnold W. Brunner.{{cite journal |author=Gruber, Samuel D.

|url=http://works.bepress.com/samuel_gruber/52/ |title=Arnold W. Brunner and the New Classical Synagogue in America |journal=Jewish History |volume=25 |number=1 |year=2011 |pages=69–102 |issn= |doi= 10.1007/s10835-010-9128-5}} The cornerstone was laid on September 19, 1910{{cite news |title=No title |work=The Post-Standard |location=Syracuse, New York |date=September 19, 1910 |via= }} and the building was dedicated on September 23, 1911. It was built at a cost of $100,000. The social hall was expanded and a classroom building added in the 1920s. The Hiram and Mabel Weisberg Religious School, designed by Edward C. Roock, was built on the east side of the complex and dedicated on February 12, 1961.{{rp|7}}

The Benjamin M. Berinstein Memorial Chapel was built in 1997 inside the former 1920s education building. Allen Kosoff, a congregant, was the architect, and John Dobbs designed the stained glass windows.{{cite web |url=http://samgrubersjewishartmonuments.blogspot.com/2011/09/usa-syracuse-ny-temple-concord.html |author=Gruber, Samuel D. |title=USA: Syracuse, NY, Temple Concord Sanctuary A Century Old: Re-Dedication on September 18, 2011 |publisher=Samuel D. Gruber |work=Jewish Art Monuments |date=September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130930104645/http://samgrubersjewishartmonuments.blogspot.com/2011/09/usa-syracuse-ny-temple-concord.html |access-date= |archive-date=September 30, 2013 }}

The 1910-11 building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 27, 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.nps.gov/history/nr/nrlist.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places: Weekly List Actions}}

In July 2019, in light of stagnant membership, a rising deficit, and declining participation,{{Cite news |url=https://dailyorange.com/2019/11/temple-concord-comes-terms-selling-century-old-home/ |title=Temple Concord comes to terms with selling century-old home|author=Stern, Gabe |date=November 2019 |website=The Daily Orange |language=en-US |access-date=2023-12-27 }} members of the congregation voted to sell the building for $9 million, to be converted into student housing.{{Cite news |url=https://www.syracuse.com/news/2019/07/central-nys-oldest-jewish-congregation-votes-to-sell-historic-synagogue-for-student-apartments.html |title=Central NY's oldest Jewish congregation votes to sell historic synagogue for student apartments |last=Moriarty|first=Rick |date=2019-07-28 |website=syracuse.com |language=en-US |access-date=2019-08-28}} Initial plans by the developer were scaled back in light of community opposition that claimed the proposed development was "too big and out of character". A revised proposal was submitted to consenting authorities in 2021 that proposed 210 apartments with 599 beds.{{Cite news |url=https://www.syracuse.com/business/2021/07/developer-files-new-plans-for-historic-temple-concord-in-syracuse-in-the-face-of-criticism-photos.html |title=Developer files new plans for historic Temple Concord in Syracuse, in the face of criticism |last=Moriarty|first=Rick |date=2021-07-24 |website=syracuse.com |language=en-US |access-date=2023-12-27}}

Temple Concord.jpg|Sanctuary exterior

Temple Society of Concord exterior 6.jpg|Sanctuary facade

Temple Society of Concord interior 2019 06.jpg|View of the interior facing the ark

Temple Society of Concord interior 2019 09.jpg|View of the interior from the bema

Temple Society of Concord interior 2019 05.jpg|The bema

Temple Society of Concord interior 2019 11.jpg|The ark

• Ethnic groups in Syracuse, New York
• List of the oldest synagogues in the United States
• Louis Marshall

{{reflist}}

{{Commons Category|Temple Society of Concord}}

• {{official website|http://www.templeconcord.org/}}
• {{cite web |url=http://www.isjm.org/AboutISJM/OurHistoricHome/tabid/100/Default.aspx/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613083211/http://www.isjm.org/AboutISJM/OurHistoricHome/tabid/100/Default.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 13, 2008 |work=International Survey of Jewish Monuments |title=Historic Home at Temple Society of Concord, Syracuse (NY) |date= }}
• {{cite web |author=Brace, Constance M. |url=https://www.syr.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/1-boards-and-commissions/bza/documents/2022/seqr-910-madison-deis/app-i-deis-910-madison-owner-opinion.pdf |title=Professional Opinion and Recommendation Letter: Temple Society of Concord, 910 Madison Street, Syracuse, New York |work=Draft Environmental Impact Statement |publisher=LMP Syracuse Property Owner, LLC |date=March 31, 2020 |access-date= |via=Syracuse City Hall }}

{{Synagogues in the United States}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Temple Society Of Concord}}

Category:1839 establishments in New York (state)

Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States

Category:Ethnic groups in Syracuse, New York

Category:German-Jewish culture in New York (state)

Category:Jewish organizations established in 1839

Category:National Register of Historic Places in Syracuse, New York

Category:Reform synagogues in New York (state)

Category:Religious buildings and structures in Syracuse, New York

Category:Synagogues completed in 1911

Category:Synagogues on the National Register of Historic Places in New York (state)