My
parents were very active members of the synagogue, and that is where I celebrated
my bar mitzvah. I was president of Junior Congregation in the months before my
family made aliyah and moved to Israel.
I
remember the balcony overlooking the pulpit and getting into trouble as a young
boy for making noise up there while the congregation was praying down below. I
remember Sunday school classes; there were only six of us in our class. I
remember bringing Jodie and our one-year-old daughter to see the synagogue on our
trip to the States in 1981. I gave a short talk about our lives on a kibbutz
and we joined a small group for an Oneg Shabbat.
I
remember fondly the congregation's spiritual leaders. Rabbi Hyman Rabinowitz (the
synagogue's first rabbi in 1925!) made aliyah and we visited him
frequently in Jerusalem. Rabbi Philip Silverstein was the rabbi after him. Rabbi
David Zisenwine, who also made aliyah and was a close friend of my family in
Israel, and Cantor Harry Sterling both played such an important part of my
upbringing, especially as I prepared for my bar mitzvah.
Rabbi
Rabinowitz officiated at my brit milah; Rabbis Rabinowitz and Zisenwine attended
my wedding.
Shaare Zion's colorful history
My
father wrote a book called A History of the Sioux City Jewish Community 1869-1969. The book, although listed on Amazon, is long out-of-print. Among
other things in the community's storied past, the book relates part of Shaare
Zion Synagogue's colorful history.
"New
Synagogue to Be Erected" declared a headline in the Sioux City Journal on
March 22, 1923. The article reported that plans for the erection of the
synagogue, costing $125,000, had been announced by members of the Modern
Orthodox Hebrew Church. The 60 founding members of the synagogue had struggled
for nine years to get the building constructed, according to the article. It
was only starting April 18, 1926, that the first funds were raised for the
construction, and the cornerstone was ceremoniously laid on May 1, 1927.
Fast
forward many, many decades. The Mount Olive Missionary Baptist Church purchased
the building in 1994, and it was later owned by Ciudad Cristiana Ministerio
Nueva Jerusalem. According to the Sioux City Journal, "due to declining
membership … the church could not afford to fix leaks in the roof and make
necessary repairs."
In
May 2021, the Sioux City Council determined that the structure was unsafe for
use or occupancy. The city put out bids
for the demolition project, including removal of debris and site work.
As
can be seen in these photographs, the demolition has taken place and Shaare
Zion Synagogue is no more, except in my memories and in the history of Sioux
City's Jewish community.
Shaare Zion Synagogue, as I remember it |
Images shared by George Lindblade of Sioux City Gifts on Facebook.
such fond memories!
ReplyDeleteJust came across this post. My mom was from Sioux City and her family was a member of Adath Jeshurum and her mom's family was a member of Shaare Zion. Going to read the book about the Jewish Community in Sioux City which is in the library in New York City, where I live.
ReplyDeleteAmazing! What was your mother's family name? Thanks for stopping by!
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