Congregation Neveh Shalom

Neveh Shalom in the Hillsdale neighborhood

Neveh Shalom is a congregation and synagogue affiliated with Conservative Judaism,^[1] located in Portland, Oregon, United States.^[2][3] Founded in 1961 from the mergers of three older congregations, it has a membership of over 800 households.^[4] The early members of the synagogue were immigrants from Prussia or Poland.^[5] Because of this, the synagogue was often called "Polisha shul." Despite the synagogue's nickname, it leaned for towards the German styles of Judaism, rather than the Polish one.^[5] Neveh Shalom is the second oldest Jewish congregation in the Pacific Northwest and the oldest Conservative congregation on the West Coast.^[6]

History[]

Neveh Shalom was originally a congregation named Neveh Zedek.^[5] The first Rabbi of Neveh Zedek was Julius Eckman.^[5] Julius Eckman was born in San Francisco. Julius would go on to become a Rabbi at Beth Israel. Although, he soon left the Temple because he believed Reform Judaism strayed too far from tradition.^[5] After he left Beth Israel he traveled to Neveh Zedek.^[5] He stayed there for three years.^[5] In 1886 the synagogue had difficulty finding a Rabbi.^[5] Because of this, a Hazzan named Robert Abrahamson served as Cantor and Rabbi.^[5] In 1889 the synagogue had constructed a cemetery.^[5][7] Around this time the synagogue also started to conduct sermons in English.^[5] Previously the synagogue had exclusively spoken in German.^[5] In 1902 the congregations Neveh Zedek and Talmund Torah would merge, resulting in Neveh Zedek.^[5][7] In 1904 the synagogue constructed a new building, because the old one was too small for the congregation size.^[5] The same thing occurred again in 1911.^[5] In 1921 Neveh Zedek joined the Conservative movement.^[5] Two years later in 1923, an arson set fire to the synagogue.^[5][7] Although, the synagogue was built on the same site.^[5] Throughout the 20's the synagogue would struggle to find a Rabbi. So it relied on Abraham Rosencrantz, a Cantor and Interim Rabbi.^[5] Abraham Rosencrantz would serve as Rabbi until he died in 1936.^[5] In 1937, Charles Sydney took over as Rabbi.^[5] He would remain in that position for fourteen years, from 1937 to 1951.^[5][7] Another Rabbi named Phillip Klienman would serve at the synagogue from 1937 to 1956.^[7] After World War 2 an influx of Jewish refugees from the Holocaust resulted in the Neveh Zedek's teachings shifted into becoming more traditional.^[5] In 1950 the synagogue's attendees had grown beyond what the building was capable of holding.^[5] So, they constructed a new building.^[5] In 1953 a new Rabbi named Joshua Stampfer arrived at the synagogue.^[5] Joshua Stampfer created a Jewish preschool which would later turn into Foundation School.^[5] A year later, in 1954, a man named Major Pruitt would come to the synagogue as a non-Jew.^[5] Despite that he decided to learn everything he could about Judaism. While at the synagogue he organized weddings, barmitzvahs, kept track of yahrzeits, and he would oversee the synagogue's kosher kitchen.^[5] In 1961 Neveh Zedek merged with Ahvahai Shalom to form Neveh Shalom.^[5][7] In 1965 the religious schools run by the synagogue grew.^[5] The schools taught adult classes on traditional and modern Judaism. The schools also began to explore issues from a Jewish perspective. The Rabbi would also lead book discussions. Another thing that occurred in 1965 was the completion of the construction of the synagogue's current building.^[6] the 1960s, the congregation would host Robert F. Kennedy, Chaim Potok, and Abraham Joshua Heschel as speakers at it.^[5] Kennedy would specifically speak in 1968 during his presidential campaign.^[8] In 1967, a woman named Min Zidell became the first woman to serve as a member of the board.^[5] Later in 1976 a woman named Carolyn Weinstein would become the first female executive director of the synagogue.^[5] Also in 1967, women officially became equal to men within the law of the synagogue.^[5] In 1993 Rabbi Stampfer retired from his position.^[5] He was succeeded in 1993 by a Rabbi named Daniel Isaak.^[5][7] Issak had an associate Rabbi named Bradley Greenstein.^[7] Daniel would serve as the Rabbi of the synagogue until 2015.^[5] In 2008 the synagogue engaged in a major remodel.^[7] By 2009 the synagogue was largest Conservative synagogue located in Oregon.^[7]

References[]

Coordinates: 45°29′01″N 122°42′21″W / 45.4835°N 122.7059°W / 45.4835; -122.7059

Further reading[]

• Miranda, Gary. Following A River: Portland's Congregation Neveh Shalom, 1869-1989. Jewish Historical Society of Oregon, 1989.