Dedication of Our Duke Street Temple

In less than 30 years, Congregation Shaarai Shomayim outgrew its small Orange Street synagogue.  In February 1894, the congregation purchased a large property at the corner of North Duke and East James Streets and constructed our current building.  It was to be dedicated on April 24, 1896 with great celebration.

In only 40 years the congregation had grown from worshipping in homes or a room in a store to a magnificent building; from barely a minyan to a membership of about 70.  Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, the father of American Reform Judaism, was to dedicate the building on Friday, April 24, 1896.

The day before the dedication a gas odor was detected in the building and a plumber was called to locate the gas leak.  As he struck a match to pass over the gas jet in the sanctuary to find the leak, there was a terrific explosion.  Smoke and flames shot up from the floor.  The janitor, in the sanctuary to get it ready for the dedication that evening, was seriously injured.  While the plumber stayed behind to try to put out the flames, the contractor ran down to the car barns on North Queen Street to send in a call from the fire department call box there.  The fire did small damage, but the effects of the explosion were terrible: pews were ripped from their fastenings, the chandelier was thrown from the ceiling; panes in the building’s magnificent stained glass windows shattered; carpet and furniture had been torn up and tossed about.  The temple was a sad sight.

The dinner for visiting clergy, including the “father” of American Reform Judaism Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, who had already gathered in Lancaster for the dedication went on as scheduled as did the celebratory ball the following Monday night.  When all the repairs were made Temple Shaarai Shomayim was finally dedicated on September 8, 1896.

Continue reading, Classic Reform Judaism; or view the previous section, Establishing Our Congregation.