Temple Israel of Hollywood

For similarly named synagogues, seeTemple Israel.

Temple Israel of Hollywood
The synagogue building, in 2009
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Mari Chernow
Status	Active
Location
Location	Hollywood Boulevard,Hollywood,Los Angeles,California
Country	United States
Location inLos Angeles,California
Geographic coordinates	34°6′5″N118°20′57″W
Architecture
Architect(s)	Samuel E. Lunden S. Charles Lee
Type	Synagogue architecture
Date established	1926(as a congregation)
Completed	1948
Website
tioh.org

Temple Israel of Hollywoodis aReformJewishcongregation andsynagogue,located inHollywood,Los Angeles,California,in the United States. Founded in 1926, the congregation initially held services in the Hayakawa Mansion before the first Temple Israel building was established on Ivar Street under the leadership of Rabbi Isadore Isaacson. Temple Israel moved to its current location onHollywood Boulevardin 1948. It has traditionally had a large number of film actors, writers, directors and producers as members. It is currently led by Senior Rabbi Mari Chernow.

History

Temple Israel was founded in 1926 by seven men, five of whom were prominent in the film industry, includingSol M. Wurtzel,Isadore Bernstein,andEdward Laemmle.They wanted to fill the need for social services and a house of worship for theHollywoodJewish community. A former church on Ivar Street was purchased, and served the Temple over the next two decades before the size of the congregation necessitated a larger building.

The current temple was built in 1948 and has been expanded several times. It was designed by architects Samuel E. Lunden, who also designed theLos Angeles Stock Exchange Buildingand interior of theSt. Vincent de Paul ChurchandS. Charles Lee,the designer of theHollywood Melrose HotelandTower Theatre.At the temple's dedication ceremony, a small orchestra playedPoem Ancien,composed by Alexander Borisoff for cello and narrator.Edward G. Robinsonnarrated at the ceremony.

Shortly after its founding, the Temple began staging its Midnight Show, a fundraiser that over the years saw such stars asBenny Rubin,Lucille Ball,Al Jolson,Eddie Cantor,Jack Benny,Milton Berle,Frank Sinatra,Judy Garland,Shirley MacLaine,andLena Horneperform on behalf of the Temple.

Rabbi Max Nussbaum served as Rabbi from 1943, until his death in 1974, after Rabbi Morton Bauman left to serve inWorld War II.Cantor Saul Silverman served alongside Nussbaum, and served the Temple for over 39 years. During Nussbaum's tenure Temple Israel established itself as a great friend ofIsrael,raising large sums for the fledgling state.Many famous speakers were also brought in to speak before the congregation including RabbisMordechai Kaplan,Leo Baeck,andStephen S. Wise.Harry Belafonte,Leon Uris,andTheodore Bikelalso spoke before the congregation; and in 1965Martin Luther King Jr.gave a rousing speech from the bima.

After the death of Rabbi Nussbaum, Rabbi Haskell Bernat led the congregation. Cantor Aviva Rosenbloom came to the Temple at the same time and would serve as Cantor for over 30 years. After Rabbi Daniel Polish served a short term as senior Rabbi, Rabbi John Rosove led the Congregation in 1988 until 2019.

Danny Maseng,a prominent composer and singer, served aschazzanfrom 2008 to 2015.

In January 2015, the Temple celebrated the 50th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.'s visit with a celebratory evening featuring speeches from Los Angeles MayorEric Garcettiand talk show host and authorTavis Smiley.

Rabbi Mari Chernow was appointed as the congregation's first female senior rabbi in July 2021.

In October 1957 the Temple acquired and commenced operating theHillside Memorial Park Cemetery.

Trivia

• The Temple'ssanctuary lampwas donated byHal Wallis,producer ofCasablancaandTrue Grit.
• Henry Diskay, who sangKol NidreinThe Jazz Singer,served as cantorial soloist in the 1930s.
• Rabbi Nussbaum rescued a small Torah onKristallnachtthat now resides in the Temple'sTorah ark.
• Tony Curtiscrowned thePurimCarnival Queen in 1952.
• Marlon BrandoandBob DylanattendedPassover Sederat the Temple in 1975.
• In 1996 the Temple beganChesedDay and by 1999 it was known as Mitzvah Day. Today it's calledBig Sundayand is a citywide event.
• The frieze over the front doorscontains two pairs of hands making the sign of the Priestly Blessing. Boston childhood memories of the gesture inspired congregation member Leonard Nimoy to devise theVulcan salute.

Notable current and former members and congregants

• Frances Bay,actress
• Isadore Bernstein,screenwriter
• Jack Black,actor
• May Britt,actress
• Steve Broidy,film executive
• Aline Brosh McKenna,writer, director
• Eddie Cantor,singer, actor, comedian, and dancer
• Sammy Davis Jr.,singer and dancer
• Lion Feuchtwanger,novelist
• Eddie Fisher,singer who once sangKol Nidreon the High Holidays
• Gal Gadot,actress
• Martha Hyer,actress
• George Jessel,actor
• Al Jolson,singer, actor, and comedian
• Edward Laemmle,silent filmdirector
• Osa Massen,actress
• Leonard Nimoy,actor
• Amanda Peet,actress
• Leon Schlesinger,film producer
• David O. Selznick,film producer
• Ben Stein,writer, lawyer, and actor
• Elizabeth Taylor,actress, whoconvertedin the Temple in 1959
• Lea Thompson,actress, television director and producer
• Mike Todd,theatre and film producer
• Hal Wallis,film producer
• Sol Wurtzel,film producer
• Roger Kumble,director and writer
• Sacha Baron Cohen,comedian, actor, writer
• Matthew Weiner,writer, director, television producer.
• Ruth Kobart,actress

Further reading

• "The history of Temple Israel of Hollywood, 1926-1931".American Jewish Archives.1959.

External links

• Official website