Temple De Hirsch Sinai photograph collection, circa 1870-1990

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Temple De Hirsch Sinai (Seattle, Washington)
Title
Temple De Hirsch Sinai photograph collection
Dates
circa 1870-1990 (inclusive)
Quantity
54 photographs (1 box )
Collection Number
PH1476
Summary
Photographs of Temple De Hirsch Sinai activities
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Entire collection can be viewed on the Libraries' Digital Collections website. Permission of Visual Materials curator is required to view originals. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Request at UW

Languages
English

Historical BackgroundReturn to Top

Temple De Hirsch Sinai, the first and largest Jewish Reform congregation in Seattle, was founded in 1899 by a group of 70 area families. Originally named Temple de Hirsch after Jewish philanthropist Baron de Hirsch, the congregation was renamed after merging with Temple Sinai of Bellevue, Washington, in 1971.

The location for the first proposed sanctuary of Temple De Hirsch Sinai was Boylston Avenue and Marion Street in Seattle, and a cornerstone containing the congregation's founding documents and other time capsule materials was laid there in 1901. However, after rapid growth of the congregation warranted a larger facility, this site was abandoned in favor of Union Street and 15th Avenue, where the first sanctuary was completed in 1907. In 1924 the adjacent Temple Center was built to house the new Religion School and other subordinate organizations. Steady growth required further expansion, and in 1951, an addition for the school was built next to the Temple Center. By 1959, sufficient funds had been raised to build a new sanctuary, and although many Jewish families were moving into suburban areas, the congregation chose to keep a central location in downtown Seattle. A new temple with a 1000-member capacity was built on the corner of 16th Avenue and Pike Street in 1960, located on the same block as the original sanctuary, which was eventually demolished in 1993.

The first spiritual leader of Temple De Hirsch Sinai, Rabbi Theodore Joseph from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, oversaw the establishment of the religious school in 1899, which began with an enrollment of 65 students.

Rabbi Samuel Koch, senior rabbi from 1906 to 1942, established Temple De Hirsch Sinai as an important and steadily expanding congregation. Particularly committed to the growth and development of the Religion School, he welcomed all students, regardless of whether their parents were Reform Jews. Koch was also civically active, with memberships in or associations with numerous Seattle agencies and organizations. In 1909 he established the congregation's newsletter, Temple Tidings , initially a weekly and later a monthly publication. Koch became Rabbi Emeritus on his retirement.

Rabbi Raphael Levine, senior rabbi from 1942 to 1970, developed many ecumenical programs, including "Challenge," a television program he co-hosted with a Catholic priest and a Protestant minister. Addressing theological issues from different schools of religious thought, "Challenge" ran on local station for 14 years, appearing first on KOMO-TV and later on KING-TV. Levine was the founder of Camp Brotherhood, a religious, educational, and cultural center for Christians and Jews, and a co-founder of Camp Swig, an educational and recreational camp for Jewish youth. He served on boards and committees for many social service organizations and related groups, and founded the Pacific Association of Reform Rabbis.¶ Rabbi Earl Stanton Starr, senior rabbi from 1970 to 2001, perpetuated the temple's long tradition of community service and outreach through his involvement in a wide variety of organizations, boards and committees.

Samuel Goldfarb, composer of the well-known Chanukah song "I Have a Little Dreidl," was music director of Temple De Hirsch Sinai from 1930 to 1968. He employed a system of training his singers based on the farm system in baseball, advancing children into higher choir "leagues" as they matured. Under Goldfarb's direction, the temple's choirs were considered among the finest in the country.

Long-standing organizations within Temple De Hirsch Sinai include the Sisterhood, formerly the Ladies Auxiliary, which was established a few months after the congregation was founded, and the Brotherhood, formerly the Temple Men's Club, established in 1920. Both groups organize, sponsor, and promote services and activities for the Temple De Hirsch Sinai congregation and the Jewish community.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Photographs of the Temple De Hirsch Jr. Youth group's interviews with Council House residents. There are biographical texts attached to some photographs.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Alternative Forms Available

View the digital version of the collection

Restrictions on Use

Status of creator's copyrights is unknown; restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Users are responsible for researching copyright status before use.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Acquisition Information

Donors: Temple De Hirsch Sinai, 1981, 1984; Clara Eichenwald Bender, 1986.

Processing Note

Processed by Don Romero, 2018.

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Temple De HirschReturn to Top

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/1 1
Caroline Kline Galland
Written on photo: Caroline Kline Galland, the poor will ever bless her.
between 1870 and 1905
box:oversize
JOS2 2 1908?
Box/Folder
1/1 3
Rabbi Raphael Levine as a young man
Dworshak, Duluth, Minnesota (photographer)
between 1910 and 1920
1/1 4 1920?
1/1 5
Exterior of Morris Hall at 9th Avenue and Jefferson Street, Seattle, at 30th anniversary of Temple De Hirsch
Morris Hall was the first meeting place of Congregation Temple De Hirsch in 1899.
1929
1/1 6
Graduating confirmation class on Shavuot, at 30th anniversary of Temple De Hirsch
Front row: Emma Adatto, Helen Brown, Florence Silverstone. Back row: Frances Ostrow (?), Annie Feinberg.
1929
1/1 7 1958

Council House InterviewsReturn to Top

The Temple De Hirsch Youth Group conducted interviews with residents of Council House about their lives. Some of the photos include cards with the original notes and summary of the interview.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box/Folder item
1/2 8-9 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 10-11 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 12 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 13 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 14 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 15 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 16 between 1980 and 1990
1/2 17 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 18 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 19 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 20
Stefanie Fleischer with either Ian Mahler or Brian Roth
between 1980 and 1990
1/3 21 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 22 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 23 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 24 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 25 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 26 between 1980 and 1990
1/3 27-28 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 29 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 30
Council House resident sitting on couch
between 1980 and 1990
1/4 31 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 32 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 33 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 34 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 35 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 36 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 37 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 38 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 39 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 40 between 1980 and 1990
1/4 41 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 42 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 43 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 44
Ralph Schwartz
between 1980 and 1990
1/5 45 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 46 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 47 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 48 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 49 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 50 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 51 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 52 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 53 between 1980 and 1990
1/5 54 between 1980 and 1990

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Visual Materials Collections (University of Washington)