OUR FIRST SYNAGOGUE BUILDING

First Synagogue building on the corner of Reno and Dewey circa 1917.

In 1917, our first Synagogue building was dedicated on the corner of Reno and Dewey Streets, the center of the city's Jewish community at that time. Spiritual leadership continued to be provided by lay members until 1921, when the first professional Rabbi joined the congregation.

In 1937 the Cemetery Association was formed, and the Emanuel Hebrew Cemetery was established in 1938. In 1940 the Ladies Benevolent Society changed its name to the Ladies Auxiliary. 

Over its first half century, the Synagogue had been small and orthodox, but the congregation was growing and gradually becoming more liberal. In 1946, the Synagogue embraced the Conservative movement and joined the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism. 

Our present building at 900 NW 47th Street was dedicated in 1949 (seeSynagogue Tour for photos). In the 1950s our first Bat Mitzvah ceremonies were held and the Emanuel Men's Club was formed. The Ladies Auxiliary changed its name to the Emanuel Sisterhood.

In 1960 women were given the right to vote at annual meetings and sit on the Board of Directors. In 1962 the new sanctuary was added to the building.

In 1970 the Israel Pilgrimage Program was established, a scholarship to send students to Israel during the summer after their confirmation. In 1978 the first annual Israeli Festival was held at the Synagogue, a popular Oklahoma City event for 20 years.

The cornerstone of our Mikvah was laid in 1987; it's now used by the entire Jewish community. In 1989 the Inter-congregational Sunday School was started in cooperation with Temple B'nai Israel, Oklahoma City's Reform synagogue, to educate young members of both congregations.