Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel (Philadelphia)

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Reform Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia, USA Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel is the sixth oldest Reform Jewish synagogue in the United States. It began in Philadelphia in 1847, and was at a number of locations in the city before building a large structure on North Broad Street in 1891. In 1900 KI, as it is known, was one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States. It remained at the North Broad Street address until 1956 when it moved north of the city to suburban Elkins Park, Pennsylvania . It has had very few Senior Rabbis – only eight since the first one was hired in 1861 – and most have been prominent both in the Reform Jewish movement and in other areas of American culture. Its first ordained rabbi, David Einhorn (1809-1879), was the most prominent Jewish opponent of slavery when the Civil War began, and from that point on KI was known as the "Abolitionist Temple." Its third rabbi, Joseph Krauskopf (1858-1923), was the founder of what is today Delaware Valley University and was a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt . The fifth rabbi, Bertram Korn (1918-1979), was the author of the leading book on Jewish participation in the American Civil War, served as chaplain in the Naval Reserves, and was the first Jewish Chaplain to achieve the rank of a Flag officer in any of the armed forces, when he became a Rear Admiral in 1975. The sixth rabbi, Simeon Maslin (b. 1931), served as president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis from 1995 to 1997. The current rabbi, Lance Sussman (b. 1954), is a Ph.D. historian and the author of numerous books on American Jewish history. Prominent members of the congregation include Judge Arlin Adams (1921-2015), president of the congregation (1955–57) and served on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit; Edward R. Becker (1933-2006), a U.S. District Judge before being elevated to the Third Circuit; Jan E. DuBois (B. 1931), who served as president of KI (1985–87), was a U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and is currently on senior status. Horace Stern (1878-1969), who was also an officer of KI, was the first Jew to serve on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court and ended his judicial career as Chief Justice of Pennsylvania. Other prominent members included Adam Gimbel who founded the Gimbels Department Stores, which was at one time the largest department store chain in the nation; Lessing Rosenwald (1891-1979), the president and chairman of the board of Sears and Roebuck who was also a leading philanthropist and a collector of art and rare books; William S. Paley (1901-1990), the founder of CBS ; Simon Guggenheim (1867-1941), the industrialist and philanthropist; and Walter Hubert Annenberg (1908-2002), the publishing magnate, ambassador, and philanthropist. In 1934 Albert Einstein accepted an honorary membership in Keneseth Israel. staff. Central Conference of American Rabbis .

Reform Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia, USA ( Learn how and when to remove this message ) Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel , abbreviated as KI , is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 8339 Old York Road, Elkins Park , just outside the city of Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , in the United States. Founded in Philadelphia in 1847, it is the sixth oldest Reform congregation in the United States, and, by 1900, it was one of the largest Reform congregations in the United States. The synagogue was at a number of locations in the city before building a large structure on North Broad Street in 1891, until 1956 when it moved north of the city to suburban Elkins Park. The congregation has been led by eight rabbis since its first rabbi commenced in 1861 – and most have been prominent both in the Reform Jewish movement and in other areas of American culture. Rabbi David Einhorn was the most prominent Jewish opponent of slavery when the Civil War began, and from that point on KI was known as the "Abolitionist Temple." Its third rabbi, Joseph Krauskopf was the founder of the Delaware Valley University and was a friend of President Theodore Roosevelt . The fifth rabbi, Bertram Korn was the author of the leading book on Jewish participation in the American Civil War, served as chaplain in the Naval Reserves, and was the first Jewish Chaplain to achieve the rank of a Flag officer in any of the armed forces, when he became a Rear Admiral in 1975. The sixth rabbi, Simeon Maslin served as president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis from 1995 to 1997. The current rabbi, Lance Sussman is an historian and the author of numerous books on American Jewish history. Prominent members of the congregation include Judges Arlin Adams , Edward R. DuBois , and Horace Stern , members of the Gimbel family, and businessmen Lessing Rosenwald , William S. Paley , Simon Guggenheim , and Walter Hubert Annenberg . Albert Einstein accepted an honorary membership in 1934. Central Conference of American Rabbis .