The Story of the Temple     

Temple Beth Israel had its humble beginning from a religious school conducted in the rear of a furniture store. Pioneering Fresno Jews nurtured this congregation by providing instruction for Jewish children in the homes of various members, and by engaging on the High Holy Days rabbinical leaders to conduct religious services. When the community grew in numbers, the Parlor Lecture Club was rented for the purpose of conducting weekly services. The Unitarian Church later extended its hospitality by granting Fresno Jewry the use of its edifice. A mass meeting was held on May 8, 1919, when the Jews of Fresno voted to become an incorporated congregation. The charter was granted in the month of November 1919. The Calaveras site of the Temple was purchased on February 20, 1922, and on December 10, 1922, the ground breaking ceremonies were held.

The first president was the late Louis M. Mendelsohn who was a moving spirit in the creation and establishment of the congregation. It was necessary due to a financial depression in the community to complete only the social hall, the lodge rooms, dining room, class rooms and kitchens.

The work was resumed in 1936 under the leadership of Ben Maisler as head of the building program with Louis E. Brown as chairman of the finance committee, and Louis Slater, chairman of the Seat Sale. They were supported by the Board of Directors and were able to secure funds to complete the Temple Sanctuary.

The Temple property was purchased from the estate of Nancy S. Peterson by David Newman; a then bachelor with a profound interest in the Fresno Jewish community on February 23, 1922, for the sum of $1,333.13. Mr. Newman then transferred the property to Temple Beth Israel, Inc., "for less than $100," according to the records: The site for the Calaveras Temple building was therefore in essence a gift.

A letter from Anna Rosenberg dated June 5, 1952, wife of Leon -.~Iosenberg, tells how Temple Beth Israel was organized. Prior to 1919 Leon Rosenberg, a lay person, who was well versed in Hebrew and in the rituals of the Synagogue was asked by a few members of the then Jewish community to conduct High Holy Day Services. He consented and the first Holy Day observances were held in back of "Mr. Kaplan's Tailor Shop on Broadway." There is not much information available on "Mr. Kaplan"; nor do we know the exact location of his place of business.

After these first services, Mr. Rosenberg told the congregants some plans must be made for Jewish community life in Fresno.

Louis Mendelsohn and Harry Coffee, the early presidents of the Temple were most responsive. The result of their efforts were plans for the organization of the Temple, the B'nai B'rith, a cemetery committee, the Jewish Benevolent Society and the committee to raise funds to assist European Jewry.

TO SEEK OR NOT TO SEEK A RABBI This was the issue which divided the Temple congregation and came to the point of decision early in 1931. Rabbi Alexander Segal had resigned on August 24, 1926. Five years passed when Fresno was without a Rabbi with the exception of a period of nine months when Rabbi Morris Urich, a World War I veteran, occupied the pulpit. On March 24, 1931, matters came to a head when the then President Maurice A. Penny sent in his letter of resignation as president of the congregation. He represented a segment of the community who felt that the Jewish community could not afford to engage a full time rabbi and still pay its obligations to the bank which held the mortgage on the Temple, and maintain the religious school and kindred activities. The budget then was less than $7,500. Mr. Penny in his letter of March 24, 1931, stated in detail the indebtedness and income of the Temple. The mortgage due the bank was $7,850. The interest payments per month were $39.00. He claimed engaging a rabbi would create a deficit of $4,000 per year, and therefore recommended not to seek a rabbi.

It seemed that the men of the community agreed with him; but their wives contended that if the Temple had a full time rabbinical leader the community would have leadership, the religious school would have better direction and Fresno Jewry would have a spokesman; and the membership would have therefore increased support. As it happened, the wives prevailed. The Temple then had 45 members. A new board of directors and officers were elected, charged with the obligation to find a rabbi to occupy the pulpit of Temple Beth Israel.

The Temple building as a whole was dedicated to the will of the Jewish people of Fresno to fulfill and achieve their obligations as Jews with dignity and respect. The Calaveras building was an expression of Fresno Jewry's contribution to the religious life of the community, and a declaration of its purpose to teach to its people the highest principles of ethics and religion, as well as community living. It tells a story of sacrifice and of many years of devotion to a community cause by a small band of people. Temple Beth Israel will always be a monument to their memory and an inspiration to their posterity.