Beth Israel History

Building Years

The dedication ceremonies were held on February 22, 1931, Washington's Birthday. Louis Piker was chairman of the day and the guest speaker was Rabbi Feinberg of Cincinnati. The honor of breaking the ground went to Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Leshner, Edward Cohen laid the cornerstone into which Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Bertman deposited the blue prints and earliest official records of the Synagogue. The spirit and attitude of its builders was well summed up in the words of the President of Beth Israel, Mr. Morris Mostow: We want this building to have a great influence on the lives of our people, we want to build a better Jewish manhood and womanhood in Hamilton; we want it to be a stepping stone to the goal of spiritual growth for coming generations.

However, when this great day was over and the celebrating quieted down, came the black months and years. The Great Depression grinded on into its second and third and fourth year. Growing terrible poverty spread through the land. The Rabbi's salary was reduced from 50 to 25 dollars a week. Then still later, the Rabbi was asked to stay from month to month without a contract, the congregation was no longer able to assume a long term responsibility.

In 1933 Rabbi Zacuto left and was replaced by Rabbi Bernard Kalchman. Presidents during those years were Harry Schloss, Harry Strauss, both who served more than one term, Sidney Piker and William Cohen. Times were changing. Fewer people kept kosher so the rabbi no longer needed to be a shochet. The Shule made its first attempt at modernization by opening its own Religious school in 1939. Sidney Piker was superintendent and Boris Petricoff the assistant, teachers included Mrs. Sam Udelman, Miss Esther Mostow, now Mrs. Jack Savitz, Miss Mildred Feldman, now Mrs. Ruben Bayliss, Mr. Herman Petricoff, Daniel Cohen and Janet Kalchman.

Rabbi Kalchman resigned in 1946 and congregation was without a Rabbi for a year. During that year, it acquired its own cemetery and sought a new Rabbi. At last Rabbi Murray Gerson was elected in 1947, he was a single man and handsome. He started late Friday night services, a modern innovation. It had a good start, but like a delicate flower, it wilted all too soon. Borris Petricoff became President. In September of 1948, the congregation hired Rabbi Joseph Krickstein who served the congregation until his retirement.

On September 11, 1960, the cornerstone was laid for the new wing containing offices, a Rabbi's Study, a Library and classrooms used for the instruction of Judaism and the Hebrew language. In 1964, an addition to the Education Building, the Leshner Memorial Chapel was completed. This beautiful chapel serves for our Junior Congregation as well as giving additional classroom space as needed.

The years have witnessed a number of significant developments in the life of Beth Israel. The founders of Beth Israel came from Eastern Europe and followed traditonal practices. After three quarters of a century, changes were coming. The Jewish population of Hamilton shrank and the Reform Temple, which was founded before Beth Israel, closed its doors and sold its Main Street building to a church. The Synagogue became affiliated with the Conservative Movement. Rabbis serving Beth Israel during this time were Rabbis Mark Warshofsky and Bruce Adler.

In 1985, Beth Israel elected Rita Ringel its first woman president and voted to call women to the bima (readers platform) for aliyot, the blessings over the reading of the Torah. The congregation voted to count women in minyans, the quorum of ten Jewish adults needed for public worship. Differences over the nature of change itself in the Congregation led to a period of unhappiness and Rabbi Adler left the Congregation. Under the leadership of President Walter Berkey, the Congregation had to define itself and set new goals.

Rabbi Slaton began serving the congregation in 1999. Property next to the Synagogue was purchased and for the first time in 68 years, the Synagogue had a parking lot. Leslie Berkey was hired as Synagogue programmer and introduced many new ideas. The social hall and chapel were remodeled. The chapel was renamed the Friedlander Hall, in honor of Morry Friedlander, long time Treasurer of the Congregation who helped established a firm foundation. High Holiday Hazzan Naftali Frankel became ill and was no longer able to lead services. Sadly he died the following year. Hazzan Frankel was a musician who composed original music for the liturgy of the High Holydays and had served Beth Israel for over 40 years. Hazzan Frankel's grandson David became Religious School director for two years until he and his family moved from the area. Dr Alan Issacson took over as Hazzan, later aided by Dr Peter Boxer. Post Bar and Bat Mitzvah students serve as paid teaching aids and tutors, almost every student has participated in this program until graduation from High School. Phyllis Binik-Thomas who, in addition to being an artist and calligrapher, has worked within the Jewish community for many years, became Religious School director and brought new ideas and a new energy to the Religious school. Phyllis has been recognized nationally as a outstanding educator and will receive the 2009 Grinspoon-Steinhardt Excellence in Jewish Education Award. Designed to recognize, honor, and support educators who have made a commitment to Jewish education, Phyllis was selected for the award along with award recipients from more than 60 other Jewish communities from across North America.