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| Temple Emanu-El (Public Domain) |
Senior Rabbi Joshua M. Davidson of Temple Emanu-El recently released this statement concerning Joan Rivers to ABC News: We mourn with her family,
friends and all those millions to whom she
brought laughter and joy.
MSN Entertainment
reports that Rivers’ funeral is set to be held this weekend at Temple Emanu-El of New York, “the synagogue where she was a member.”
Wikipedia explains that the term "Emanu-El" means “God is with us” in Hebrew. God has apparently been with the Temple since its founding in 1845. It
was “the first Reform Jewish congregation in New York City,” and is currently “the largest, and one of the most beautiful synagogues in the world.” Rabbi
Davidson has been its leader since July 2013.
Although the Temple's first few years of services were “highly traditional,” by 1848 reforms began to be instituted. The German vernacular of the founders soon replaced the liturgical Hebrew, and instrumental music (formerly banned) was permitted in 1849.
Mixed seating (as opposed to gender-based seating) began in 1854.
Rosh Hashanah was then celebrated for one day instead of two. By 1895, the
Union Prayer Book had been adopted by the congregation.
This prayer book included significant departures from the “traditional concepts of Jews as a chosen
people, a personal Messiah, resurrection and of a return to Israel.” Reforms were then widely adopted by congregations throughout the United States.
Resources
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_Emanu-El_of_New_York
http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=887497
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_Prayer_Book
Copyright September 5, 2014 by Linda Van Slyke All Rights Reserved
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