Inventory to the Records of the Institutional Synagogue, 1917-1986

About This Guide

Finding aid created by Marlene Braten.

Finding aid revised in January, 2008 and February, 2022 to include additional synagogue bulletins acquired since collection was originally processed.

Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, March 1999.

File converted from EAD 1.0 to EAD 2002, updated to current markup standards, and revised as noted above, January, 2008.

Encoding is in English.

Historical Sketch

The Institutional Synagogue was established in 1917 as a center for religious, cultural and social programs in Harlem. Vital services similar to those offered in the three types of institutions already existing separately in Harlem, namely the synagogue, the Talmud Torah and the YMHA-YWHA, were to be provided in one facility, under orthodox auspices. Rabbi Herbert S. Goldstein was its founder and first spiritual leader.

In spite of a changing environment, the Harlem synagogue remained in operation through 1943. By 1928, however, most of the main supporters of the Harlem site had relocated to the West Side of Manhattan, so a hall was rented for services in that vicinity. Within the same year members living on the West Side formed an associate board of directors.

In 1937, Rabbi Goldstein transferred from the Harlem synagogue to the West Side branch, where he was active until his death in 1970. Rabbi Phillip Goodman remained to officiate at the Harlem site. Rabbi Oscar Asher Reichel, the spiritual leader at the current West 76th Street location, has been affiliated with the synagogue as of 1947.

Of all the activities offered throughout the synagogue's existence in Harlem, religious services were given priority. Prayer services were conducted regularly as of March 6, 1917. During its first years several temporary locations were utilized until 37-43 West 116th Street became the permanent Harlem facility in 1919.

Cultural and social activities sponsored by the synagogue took the forms of a Talmud Torah, adult education classes (in both secular and religious subjects), gymnastics programs and clubs. Different committees were responsible for the co-ordination of these programs and innovative events were often planned for fund raising purposes. By 1936, however, the recommendation was made to do away with the Harlem branch, because of increasing financial problems and decreasing membership.

In 1943 a public junior high school, the tenant of the building owned and occupied by the Institutional Synagogue, moved into its own facilities. This forced the Synagogue to sell its Harlem building. However, the Institutional Synagogue containued to function in Harlem by conducting its activities in neighboring institutions such as the Home and Hospital for the Daughters of Israel. In fact, the board of directors continued to meet through the 1960's.

Throughout the existence of the Institutional Synagogue, at least one Congressman served on the board of directors, at any given time. The three Congressmen were Isaac Siegel, Samuel Marx and Sol Bloom. Isaac Siegel was also the president of the synagogue for the years 1917-1947.

This history of the Institutional Synagogue has been compiled in part from the thesis “An American Experiment--The Institutional Synagogue During Its First Score of Years 1917-1937” by Aaron Reichel and the dissertation “The History of the Jewish Community of Harlem 1870-1930” by Jeffrey Gurock.

Scope and Contents

The records of the Institutional Synagogue span the years 1917-1967, with the bulk dated 1928-1943. It contains minutes of meetings, reports, legal documents and synagogue bulletins, reflecting various stages of growth.

The largest series in this collection is comprised of minutes of meetings, covering the years 1927-1967 including annual membership meetings at which the board of directors were elected and records of the directors' meetings at which the synagogue's problems, plans and programs were discussed. These minutes contain frequent references to both the Harlem and West Side branches of the synagogue.

Committee chairmen's reports and financial reports submitted at the meetings of the board form part of the collection. Although the minutes refer to other reports, only those dated 1938-1941 are included. Committees on Center activities, Lincoln Celebration Day, Health and Cemetery illustrate the variety of services offered by the Institutional Synagogue.

Such legal records as the synagogue's Constitution and By-Laws, deeds and other materials which validate agreements, can supply the researcher with accurate documentation of the purpose of the synagogue as well as its development. The records in this series cover periods of the synagogue's expansion and decline. These materials also refer to the West Side branch.

The synagogue bulletin, The Institutional, provides information about the synagogue's goals and its many activities. Membership statistics are often quoted within the articles. The bulletin includes a series of articles on the Jewish contribution to America. This theme coincides with the basic ideal held by the founders of the Institutional Synagogue, which was to maintain a commitment to orthodoxy simultaneously encouraging the Americanization of its immigrant members. The collection contains issues of The Institutional from 1924-1940 and of its branch/successor, The West Side Institutional Review, from 1937-1986.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into 5 series.

Index Terms

This collection has been indexed under the following terms:

Related Material

Provenance

Acquisition Information

The collection was acquired by Yeshiva University Archives from Annie N. Siegel in 1977.

Additional bulletins acquired from Aaron Reichel, January, 2022.

Conditions Governing Access and Use

Conditions Governing Access

Available to researchers deemed to be qualified by the Archivist.

Conditions Governing Use

Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of materials in this collection. Please contact the Curator of Special Collections for information regarding Yeshiva University's reproduction policies and fees.

Alternative Form Available

This collection is available on microfilm, except for the majority of the bulletins. Users may be requested to view microfilm instead of handling original materials.

Digital versions of synagogue bulletins through from November 1937 through June 1940 can be viewed here.

Preferred Citation

A suggested form for the citation is: Description of Item, Date (if known), Records of the Institutional Synagogue, Box Number, Folder Number, Yeshiva University Archives, Mendel Gottesman Library, New York, NY.

Detailed Description of the Collection