Brief History of Temple Emanuel
Although no official records were kept until 1893, the congregation of Temple Emanuel had its origins in 1889 when eighteen Roanoke families met in an upstairs room on Henry Street. In 1905, a Franklin Road church was purchased and dedicated, and thirty-two years later, in 1937, the first building erected by the Temple Emanuel congregation was built on McClanahan Place with Rabbi Maurice Goldblatt occupying the pulpit. On October 30, 1959, the approximately one hundred family congregation of Temple Emanuel gathered for the dedication of a new and beautiful house of worship on Persinger Road.
Over the past thirty-five years the congregation of Temple Emanuel has been privileged to be associated with the following rabbis: Abraham Sheingold, 1960-65; Donald Berlin, 1965-71; Barry Silberg, 1971-74; Gerry Walter, 1974-1984; and Frank Muller, 1985-1995. Rabbi Kathy Cohen, our present rabbi, began her service to our congregation on May 1, 1996.
During these more than three decades, major changes and innovations have taken place reflecting the trend within American Reform Judaism and the Roanoke community as a whole. In 1968, Allen S. Levin became the first full time cantor to serve the congregation. He became Cantor Emeritus in 1982. In 1979, Rabbi Gerry Walter became the first rabbi in Roanoke to be elected President of the Roanoke Ministerial Conference, which, in the past, did not accept rabbis as members. There has been a transition from purely classical Reform to more traditional observances.
A close relationship has existed between Temple Emanuel and the Conservative congregation, Beth Israel Synagogue. Since 1979, we have shared the responsibility of the Jewish Community Religious School. While our building is undergoing a major renovation, their congregation has graciously offered their facilities for our services and other gatherings.
We are proud to have a very supportive and successful Sisterhood consisting of approximately ninety members. Through the decades, the Sisterhood has been the backbone of this congregation. Our newly formed Brotherhood is a growing source of support and pride for us all.
Temple Emanuel enters this new millennium with optimism and enthusiasm, confident that our first one hundred years are but a prelude to an even richer, nobler future.
