ca. 1931. The first Jewish synagogue in Tacoma was built in 1893 at the corner of So. 10th and So. I St. (921-23 So. I St.) Nineteen years later, the new Temple Beth Israel shown in this photograph was built at 324 No. J St. This building was the home of Tacoma's reform congregation from 1922 until the 1960 merger with Talmud Torah Synagogue. In 1965 it was sold to the Apostolic Faith Church. It still looks very much like it did when this photograph was taken in 1931, and it still retains its beautiful stain glass windows. Bowen# CHU-019

ca. 1931. Talmud Torah Synagogue, 901 So. 4th, Tacoma. Architects Hill & Mock designed this "Romanesque Italian Renaissance" structure, which was constructed in 1925. It was renamed Sinai Temple in 1947. In 1960, Talmud Torah merged with the reformists at Temple Beth Israel. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregations. They built a new synagogue, Temple Beth El, at 5975 So. 12th St. Talmud Torah was sold in 1968 to the Tacoma Blood Bank. It was later demolished and its site used as a parking lot for Tacoma General Hospital. Bowen # CHU-025

Studio portrait of Rabbi Richard Rosenthal. The leader of Temple Beth El for many years, Rabbi Rosenthal was a German immigrant who graduated from both Centenary College and Hebrew Union College. Besides his rabbinical duties, he also taught at the University of Puget Sound. He passed away at the age of 69 on March 3, 1999. Many lauded the man who united Tacoma's Jewish community and called him a "truly holy man."

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma;

Exterior exposure of Temple Beth El's South Temple, formerly known as Talmud Torah Synagogue and Sinai Temple. Designed by architects Hill & Mock, and built by contractors Knoell & Westerfield in 1925, the Italian Renaissance Romanesque Talmud Torah Synagogue was located at So. 4th & I Sts. Its congregation was more traditionally minded than Temple Beth Israel's reformists, however in 1960 both congregations voted to merge. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregations, now called Temple Beth El. Temple Beth Israel on No. 4th St. was sold in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church and Talmud Torah, the South Temple, was sold in 1968 to the Tacoma Blood Bank. The Talmud Torah was demolished and its site used as a parking lot for Tacoma General Hospital. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Realty. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15) TPL-8677

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Interior view of the Temple Beth El's South Temple on May 28, 1964. The Star of David is carved onto the many pews in the sanctuary as well as on the large circular window behind the curtained Ark. Two menorahs flank the bimah. Temple Beth El's South Temple was known as the Talmud Torah Synagogue. It was built in 1925 in the classic Italian Renaissance style with arched ceilings and glass windows. Talmud Torah Synagogue, although more traditionally minded, had merged with Temple Beth Israel in 1960. Now called Temple Beth El, it would sell its North Temple on No. 4th & J in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church; four years later, the Tacoma Blood Bank would acquire the Talmud Torah property. It was demolished and a parking lot established in its place. A new synagogue for the combined congregations was dedicated in 1968 at So. 12th & Vassault. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15) Photograph ordered by Tacoma Realty.

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Confirmation class. Rabbi Richard Rosenthal stands among the May, 1964, confirmation class at Temple Beth Israel. The fourteen young men and women are dressed in robes with the males wearing talliths with a striped design.

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma; Confirmations--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma; Temple Beth El (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;

Rabbi Richard Rosenthal poses with a wide-eyed group of nine children, seven boys and two girls, at the Temple Beth Israel Synagogue on October 23, 1959.

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma; Temple Beth Israel Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma; Children--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Studio portrait of Rabbi Richard Rosenthal. In 1956, Rabbi Richard Rosenthal replaced Rabbi Bernard Rosenberg at Temple Beth Israel. This first Jewish congregation in the Tacoma area was organized in 1892 and identified itself with the reform movement in Judaism. Later in 1960, Temple Beth Israel and another more traditionally-minded congregation, Talmud Torah (later renamed Sinai Temple) merged into one community, Temple Beth Israel. Rabbi Rosenthal was elected to lead the combined congregation. Rabbi Rosenthal was a well-known community leader and well respected by all faiths. Besides leading Temple Beth Israel, he also taught at the University of Puget Sound. He was a German immigrant, coming to the U.S. in 1939, and a graduate of the Centenary College of Shreveport, La. and the Hebrew Union College in Cincinatti. He and his wife Barbara resided at 409 No. Sheridan Ave. (History of Pierce County, Vol. 1, p. 15 and TNT 8/17/1956, pg. 4)

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma;

Nine children, 7 boys and 2 girls, posed for their Consecration photograph with Rabbi Richard Rosenthal at Temple Beth Israel, No. 4th & J Sts, in September of 1956, a month after he had arrived from Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, where he had served as an army chaplain for two years. They were: back row, left to right: Doug Kleiner, unidentified, Rabbi Rosenthal, Marc Blau, Larry Heiman and Marty Lyon. Front row, left to right: Glen Barde, Stacey Simon, Jonathan Hurst and Lisa Drost. Many of the children's parents were well known in the community, both in business and civic activities. Born in Germany, Rabbi Rosenthal came to the U.S. in 1939 and settled in Shreveport, La. He was a graduate of the Centenary College in Shreveport and was ordained at the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati in 1954. He and his wife Barbara lived at 409 North Sheridan Ave. Temple Beth Israel identified itself with the reform movement in Judaism. In 1960, it merged with the more Orthodox Congregation Talmud Torah. Rabbi Rosenthal led the combined congregations. The temple at 4th & J was sold in 1964 to the Apostolic Faith Church and the congregation moved to a new temple at So. 12th and Vassault. The old temple was known for its unusual stained glass windows, created as memorials to pioneer families. ("The History of Pierce County, Vol 1;" TNT 8/17/1956, pg. 4-article on Rabbi Rosenthal) (Additional identification provided by a reader)

Rosenthal, Richard; Rabbis--Tacoma; Judaism--Tacoma; Temple Beth Israel Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma; Kleiner, Doug; Blau, Marc; Heiman, Larry; Lyon, Marty; Barde, Glen; Simon, Stacey; Hurst, Jonathan; Drost, Lisa;

This group of children and young adults is probably celebrating Purim in March of 1928 at the Talmud Torah Synagogue, 901 South 4th St. The News Tribune noted that a play entitled "The Festival of the Feasts with the cast of 12 under the direction of Miss Lillian Friedman, will be presented. G20.1-022 (TNT 03/05/1928) The date in the photographer's daybook indicates the time of Passover, but that is likely in error.

Talmud Torah Synagogue (Tacoma); Synagogues--Tacoma;