Congregation Anshai Emeth
Congregation Anshai Emeth is a Reform synagogue located in Peoria, Illinois, established in 1859. The synagogue is the second oldest Jewish congregation in Illinois, and as of 2019 has the largest membership of any Jewish congregation in Peoria.
| Congregation Anshai Emeth | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Leadership | Rabbi Bryna Milkow |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 5614 N University St, Peoria, Illinois,  United States |
| Architecture | |
| Completed | 1967 |
| Direction of façade | South |
| Website | |
| anshaiemeth.org | |
It has been the spiritual home of many notable Jewish Peorians, such as Betty Friedan[1] and Susan G. Komen[2] (as well as her family, parents Marvin and Eleanor Goodman,[3] and widower Stanley Komen).
History
In about 1847, Anshai Emeth was founded when several Jewish families, immigrants from Western Europe affiliated with the Reform movement, came together to establish an organized religious community in the Peoria area. At first they gathered in either members houses or various buildings around Peoria. Later, services were held in various places such as Washington House on North Washington Street.[4]
Religious classes were organized in 1852.[4] The congregation also purchased land for a cemetery in 1852.[4]
On May 2, 1863 they purchased a former Presbyterian church as the first synagogue in Peoria on Fulton, between Adams and Jefferson.[5][4] The congregation had about 34 members in 1863.[4]
On October 2, 1874, new Jewish immigrants from Russia, Poland and Hungary affiliated with the Orthodox movement left Anshai Emeth to found their own congregation, named Beth Israel. They purchased the church on Seventh Street near Franklin, originally the Central Christian Church built in 1855.[5] After years of tensions between the two synagogues, in 1886 the two were united again, with Beth Israel selling their building and turning over their accounts to Anshai Emeth. Members of the community who did not wish to join the Reform congregation continued to hold services on their own where they could. That community would later create Congregation Agudas Achim, at first affiliated with the Orthodox movement.[6]
In 1896, the temple on Fulton was destroyed by fire.[4][5] A new temple was erected on the corner of Monroe and Hancock.[5] Erected in 1898 of Lake Superior sandstone, the cornerstone was laid on March 2, 1898 and was dedicated on September 9, 1898.[4] This Gothic Revival style temple served the congregation until 1967.[5][7] The Fulton building was sold to the Christian Assembly Church.[5]
A new facility was dedicated on September 8, 1967.[4]
The Peoria Hebrew Day School, a private Jewish school, was established in 1971 and is housed in the lower half the building.[8] It is the only Jewish Day School in downstate Illinois.[9]
As of 1994, Congregation Agudas Achim, the Peoria traditional Jewish congregation, was invited to move into the building housing Anshai Emeth as well.[10]
References
- Daniel Horowitz "Betty Friedan And the Making of 'The Feminine Mystique' The American Left, the Cold War, and Modern Feminism", University of Massachusetts Press, 2000. pp. 19
- Anshai Emeth Directory 1976-1977. Peoria, IL: Congregation Anshai Emeth
- "Obituary for Eleanor Newman Goodman on". dignitymemeorial.com.
- "Anshai Emeth History". Congregation Anshai Emeth. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- "Community – Bradley University Hillel | Your Jewish Connection at Bradley University". Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- David McCulloch History of Peoria County, Bell & Howell Company, 1902. pp. 337-338.
- Gordon, Mark W. (1986). "Rediscovering Jewish Infrastructure: The Legacy of U.S. 19th Century Synagogues". American Jewish History. 75 (3): 296–306. ISSN 0164-0178.
- "About Us on". peoriahebrewdayschool.org. Retrieved 2019-11-01.
- "About PHDS". Peoria Hebrew. Retrieved 2023-09-18.
- "Our History on". agudasachim.wordpress.com. Retrieved 2019-11-01.