Sinai Temple (Springfield, Massachusetts)

Sinai Temple (Hebrew: סִינַי) is a medium-sized Reform Jewish synagogue located in Springfield, Massachusetts, New England's fourth largest city (population 153,060).

For similarly named synagogues, see Temple Sinai.
Sinai Temple
סיני
Sinai Temple
Religion
AffiliationReform Judaism
LeadershipRabbi Jeremy Master,
[Cantorial Specialist Wayne Krieger]
StatusActive
Location
Location1100 Dickinson Street
Springfield, Massachusetts
 United States
Architecture
Groundbreaking1949[1]
Completed1950[1]
Website
sinaitemple.shulcloud.com

Founded in 1931,[2] Sinai was the first Reform congregation in Springfield. The congregation's first rabbi, David M. Eichhorn, was hired in 1932 and let go just two years later due to financial difficulty brought on by the Great Depression,[3] though he went on to become a prominent American rabbi and authority on interfaith marriage and conversion for the Reform movement.

History

The congregation began meeting at a mansion at 188 Sumner Ave. in Springfield in 1932, which was used as a synagogue until the late 1940s.[4] In 1949 Sinai broke ground on a new location at 1100 Dickinson Street, near the Longmeadow border, which was completed in 1950.[1] Notably, Sinai has had two long-tenured rabbis: Herman E. Snyder (1947–1970) and Mark D. Shapiro (1988–2016). Membership grew from 50 to 500 families under Rabbi Snyder's leadership.[5] An interfaith leader, he created the Sinai Temple Institute for Christian and Muslim Clergy and Educators, an annual learning session that brings together clergy from the three major religions for a seminar at the Temple.[6]

Rabbi Snyder's successor, Bernard Cohen, was the first rabbi to serve on the faculty of a Roman Catholic college (Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College). His 1970 installation was attended by 100 Catholic and Protestant clergymen.[7]

Rabbinical leadership
Name Years Emeritus
David M. Eichhorn 1932–1934
Judah Cohn 1937-1943
Hershel Levin 1943-1947[8]
Herman E. Snyder 1947–1970 1970–1992
Bernard M. Cohen (interim)[9] 1970–1971[7]
Stanley Davids 1971–1977
Howard Kaplansky 1977–1983[10]
Jerome S. Gurland (interim) 1983[11]
Bernard Bloomstone 1983–1988
Mark D. Shapiro 1988–2016[12] 2016–2020[13]
Howard Kosovske (interim) 2016–2018
Jeremy Master[14] 2018–

Prominent alumni

References
  1. History, Sinai Temple website]. Accessed June 14, 2019.
  2. United States of America Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 109th Congress Second Session Vol. 152 Part 5, page 6961.
  3. The David Max Eichhorn Papers. Manuscript Collection No. 79, 1955-1974. American Jewish Archive.
  4. Adams, Abigail. Springfield’s Jewish Community: An American Story. Massachusetts Jewish Ledger, Jul 25 2013.
  5. The Herman E. Snyder Papers. Manuscript Collection No. 598, 1916-1992. American Jewish Archive.
  6. Dresner, Stacey. Changing Course – Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro may be retiring from Sinai Temple, but he’s not leaving. Massachusetts Jewish Ledger, Jun 9 2016.
  7. Anonymous. A Rabbi Is Installed Before Three Faiths. The New York Times, Nov 9 1970.
  8. Sinai Temple's Rabbinical Leadership (Plaque inside temple). Springfield: Sinai Temple. 2018.
  9. Sinai Temple's Spiritual Leaders Through the Year (Poster inside temple atrium). Springfield: Sinai Temple. 2023.
  10. Bogan, Jesse. Longtime rabbi is lauded as 'invaluable resource'. St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Jun 18 2011.
  11. Anonymous. Retired Rabbi Brings Knowledge to Glenmeadow. Glenmeadow E-Newsletter, Aug 16 2016.
  12. Urban, Cori. Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro to celebrate 25 years at Sinai Temple in Springfield. The Republican, Oct 18 2013.
  13. Flynn, Anne-Gerard. Rabbi Mark Shapiro of Springfield remembered as man of faith, community. The Republican, Jul 22 2020.
  14. Flynn, Anne-Gerard. Sinai Temple selects South Carolina rabbi as new leader. The Republican, Feb 26 2018.
  15. Schoenberg, Shira. Longmeadow native Eric Lesser celebrates Passover seders with President Obama. The Republican, Mar 25 2013.
  16. Adams, Abigail. Eric Lesser makes a run for State Senate. Massachusetts Jewish Ledger, May 15 2014.

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