EXHIBITS
100 Years of Congregation Brith Sholem: Honoring the Jewish Community in Ogden, Utah: The History of Congregation Brith Sholem and Synagogue
The History of Congregation Brith Sholem and Synagogue
While August 21, 2021, marks the hundredth anniversary of the construction of the synagogue for Congregation Brith Sholem (Covenant of Peace), the history of Ogden’s Jewish community extends back to 1890 with the formation of Congregation Ohab Sholem (Love of Peace). Without a synagogue to hold religious services, local Jews held services in various locations around Twenty-Fifth Street, including Rosenbluth and Oppman (R & O) Clothes Shop, Knights of Pythias Hall, and Independent Order of Odd Fellows (IOOF) hall, which shared the same space at 2535 Grant Avenue.[1] Samuel Rosenbluth, part owner of Rosenbluth and Oppman Clothes Shop, was the first president of the congregation from 1890 to 1891.[2] Other early members included Ben Oppman, David Kreines, Joseph Kraines, Jacob Greenband, Isaak Kuchler, Jacob Kertz, the Kuhn brothers, Abraham Siner, and their families. Congregation Ohab Sholem sustained its religious services and small Jewish community through the twentieth century.
In 1911 members of Congregation Ohab Sholem gathered to celebrate Purim, a Jewish holiday that celebrates Queen Esther’s courageous efforts of saving countless Jews from the principle minister of the king Haman’s murderous plans. This event marked the moment that the Ogden Jewish community announced plans to construct a synagogue. Over 150 Jews attended the festivities, which demonstrated the increase of Jews residing in or near Ogden. This growth also showed the need for the Jewish community of Ogden to establish their own synagogue since they were renting halls or holding services in small store shops. At the large gathering, the congregation president, B. Wolf, set the funding donation for the construction of a synagogue at $10,000.[3] Unfortunately, Wolf did not witness the erection of the Jewish synagogue, as he and his family moved to Salt Lake City in 1913.[4]
The name of the congregation was altered to Congregation Brith Sholem in 1917, although various sources state its existence began in 1916. The earliest mention of the new congregation’s name exists in an article from the Ogden Daily Standard published March 8, 1917. “Hebrews of Ogden Start a Fund for Synagogue to Be Erected in This City” discusses Ogden’s Jewish community’s plans to form a financial foundation to raise funds to build a new synagogue for Congregation “B’rith Sholen [sic].”[5] For newly established Jewish communities in the West, “the synagogue became the architectural expression of [their] status as a pillar of the new society.”[6] Because of this belief, Jews in Ogden desired a synagogue that would provide a holy place to practice Judaism and hold communal gatherings.
Rabbi Samuel Alkow was the first recorded rabbi of Ogden’s Jewish congregation from 1914 to 1917. Though it is uncertain if Rabbi Alkow was fully in charge of activities for Congregation Brith Sholem, as he was also rabbi for Congregation Montefiore in Salt Lake City.[7]
The year 1921 was a crucial year for Congregation Brith Sholem as it marked the year the synagogue was finally built. Several news articles reported that over 2,000 persons of various denominations gathered around 2750 Grant Avenue to witness the laying of the cornerstone for the synagogue of Congregation Brith Sholem. A copper box was placed in the cornerstone that included the first list of members of the first congregation in Ogden and a list of its members in 1921. Former governor of Utah Simon Bamberger, the first and only Jewish governor of Utah, gave the principal address followed by a speech from Ogden mayor Frank Francis. Local religious leaders from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and the First Presbyterian Church also spoke at the ceremony.[8] The synagogue was finalized by October 1, 1921, as The Ogden Standard reported the celebration of Rosh Hashanah in the new synagogue with services led by Rabbi Lehrer, who became rabbi of the congregation in 1919.[9]
The estimated cost for the planned two-story building was $12,000.[10] Ben Oppman, Rabbi Lazhras Lehrer, Emil Rosenberg, Joseph Kraines, William Benowitz, and Abraham Siner, including his wife, Rosa, played a significant role in organizing and establishing the synagogue. Ben Oppman oversaw fundraising efforts, chaired the building committee, and headed other Jewish-related events. Oppman also hosted many of these events, including religious services at his clothing store Rosenbluth & Oppman on Twenty-Fifth Street. Abraham Siner secured the lot for the synagogue along Grant Avenue.[11] Unfortunately, Siner’s unexpected death in January 1919 prevented him from seeing the completion of the synagogue. His wife, Rosa, donated the funds for the synagogue’s cornerstone in honor of her late husband.[12]
Congregation Brith Sholem began as an Orthodox-practicing religion and continued that into their synagogue construction in plans to build a second floor. This addition would separate men and women during religious services to observe Orthodox traditions: men would sit on the first floor while women and children sat on the second-floor balcony. The second floor of the structure was never built due to lack of growth within the congregation.[13] A hardwood floor was built for the second floor of the synagogue. However, to accommodate Orthodox beliefs, early members of the synagogue divided men and women during worship by sitting on different sides of the main floor.[14] Today Congregation Brith Sholem is a Reform synagogue, and there is no longer required seating arrangements for religious services. Reform Judaism continues to celebrate and honor Jewish religious traditions while encompassing diversity and inclusion within their religious leadership roles as well as with members of their congregation.