THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF ALAMEDA IN RETROSPECT 1880-1980
For the dedication of the new building on Harbor Bay Isle
by Robert Garfinkle
During the first 75 years of the settlement of Alameda, the pioneer Jewish community of our city encountered numerous hurdles in its efforts to organize a permanent congregation and to build a synagogue. During the 1880's, several Jewish families moved to Alameda. Since there was no synagogue here to attend, they went to Oakland for services. In 1896, these people helped organize the first Jewish congregation in Alameda. This Reform "First Hebrew Congregation of Alameda" held its Friday evening services, High Holy Day services, and religious school in Encinal Hall, corner of Bay and Lincoln streets. This congregation planned to construct a synagogue, but failed to raise the necessary funds. They disbanded sometime around the turn of the century.
In 1903, a second Reform congregation was organized. This group also called themselves "First Hebrew Congregation of Alameda." They hoped to raise $10,000 with which they planned to build a synagogue near Grand or Chestnut. They also failed to raise the money needed for the project. They disbanded sometime in 1906 or 1907.
"Congregation E. Emanuel" was established in 1908. This Orthodox congregation held its services in Linderman Hall (across from the old Post Office on Central), for several years and then for a time they rented space in the Masonic Hall. Like their predecessors here, they hired rabbis to perform the High Holy Day services. David Kouff was an active member of this group until it disbanded in 1915.
From 1915 to early 1918, there was no organized Jewish congregation in Alameda. In 1918, a group of approximately 14 families got together in a room above Miller's Drug Store and formed our present congregation. In November 1920, the "First Hebrew Congregation of Alameda" filed its Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State. On this document, Frank Jacobs signed as President and Gustave Kapler signed as Vice-President. The other men listed on the Articles as directors of the congregation are: Sam Applebaum, Benjamin Borsuk, Adolf Feldhammer, Daniel Fisher, David Garfinkle, Louis Glaiberman, Abe Hellman, and Max Sheramsky.
Abraham Auslin acted as the spiritual leader for the congregation while they held services in either the Native Sons Hall or the Masonic Hall. In 1920, a lot and small house on the corner of Alameda and Oak streets were purchased, and plans drawn up for a synagogue. Difficulties in raising the necessary capital slowed the project until on July 15, 1924, when ground was broken for the first synagogue in Alameda. The members of the congregation built most of the synagogue with their own hands. Adolf Feldhammer and his contractor friend Conrad Roth led the work crews. The children helped in any way that they could and the women prepared meals for all of the workers.
The partially completed Temple Israel was dedicated on September 21, 1924, at a ceremony attended by many civic and religious leaders. Cantor J. L. Abramowitz served as the first spiritual leader in the new building.
Some of the other families that were members of Temple Israel in those early years were:
Alexanders, Bahrs, Bardoffs, Bermans, Cohens, Craners, Dorfmans, Ferros, Frankels, Freidmans, Gardners, Goldfarbs, Greenbergs, Greenwalds, Jacobys, Kouff, Morris, Wolfs, Zimmermans, and Mildred Strauss.
In 1925, Joseph Davidson was hired to serve as cantor and to teach religious school. Many volunteers during the years also taught religious lessons.
During the 1930's, the temple suffered through the Depression along with the rest of America. For long periods the synagogue was closed due to a lack of funds to pay for its operation. The membership dwindled to a handful, but they tried each year to open the doors for High Holy Day services.
World War II brought a rapid influx of people to Alameda. Many new Jewish families joined the congregation. We were able to repoen the synagogue and by 1944, enough money was raised to pay off the orginal mortgage. Abe Kofman spearheaded this fund--raising drive. He was also instrumental in obtaining our two full-time rabbis. Cantor Samuel Cohen led the last High Holy Day services to be conducted by a part-time leader, for in February 1946, Rabbi John Zuker was hired as our first full-time spiritual leader. He left in 1947 for the pulpit in San Leandro from which he recently retired.
In July 1947, we hired Rabbi Gunther G. Gates, an escapee from Hitler's Germany. Rabbi Gates was then a fresh arrival from Shanghai where he had spent most of the war years studying and teaching Judaism. He divided his time between serving as our rabbi, teaching at Alameda High School, building relationships with other Alameda religious and civic groups, and raising his family.
In the early 1950's, it was decided that we were ready to expand our facilities. All religious and social functions were being held in the sanctuary and it was becoming a problem to conduct religious school in it. The kitchen was small and inadequate. In February 1955, ground was broken for the social hall. Wilfred Garfinkle was building chairman. In the following year the sanctuary was remodeled by replacing the old benches and building a new wooden Ark.
In 1963, the addition of the upstairs classrooms was completed under the direction of Wilfred Garfinkle and the generous donations of the Kapler, Kapchan, Kofman, and Schwartz families, and Irving Silberberg. During the early 1970's the classrooms were empty due to the lack of young children in the congregation, but with the increase in the number of third and fourth generation members and many new members, we were once again able to conduct Sunday School lessons.
Things were looking bright for Temple Israel until 1977, when we were forced to sell our beloved synagogue to the Alameda Unified School District and to locate a new site for ourselves. A location was secured at Harbor Bay Isle and today we open a new chapter in our history with the dedication of our new synagogue.
