O H I O
"AMERICAN SYNAGOGUES: A PHOTOGRAPHIC JOURNEY"
A New E-Book Available on CD-ROM
> > OHIO SAMPLE PAGE < <
When the first professing Jew settled in Cincinnati in 1817, he was met with widespread curiosity. Joseph Jonas, an Englishman, was not the earliest Jew in the area, but he was the first to remain a Jew. A few other Jews came to settle in Cincinnati and by 1821 the community celebrated its first native born Jew.
It was not until 1824 that the first Jewish congregation was formed in the West. Kahal Kadosh Bene Israel is now known as the Rockdale Temple. When this congregation was formed there were no other organized Jewish Communities beyond the Alleghenies and no Jewish congregation within 500 miles of Cincinnati. Ohio's second Jewish congregation was formed in Cleveland in 1839 and is known today as The Fairmount Temple-Congregation Anshe Chesed.
Jews settled in most of the larger cities and towns in Ohio. The 1902 American Jewish Year Book reported that almost every town of importance in Ohio has some Jewish organization. Other early Jewish Communities were formed in Akron, Circleville, Columbus, Elyria, Dayton, Hamilton, Piqua, and Portsmouth.
Today, the largest Jewish Communities in the state are, in order: Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Columbus. The present Jewish population of Ohio is approximately 145,000 people.
'Click' on Thumbnail Photographs for the Larger Image
Beth El Congregation
464 South Hawkins Avenue - Akron, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1946 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Joel S. Kent
Current Building: 1951 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Revere Road Synagogue
646 Revere Road - Akron, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1915 ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Joel S. Kent
Current Building: ca. 1970's ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Temple Israel
133 Merriman Road - Akron, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1865 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Joel S. Kent
Current Building: 1911/1954 ♦ Style of Architecture: Classical Revival
Originally known as the Akron Hebrew Congregation
Tifereth Israel Congregation
713 West Prospect Road - Ashtabula, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1920 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Elizabeth & Steven Hudson
Current Building: 1930 ♦ Style of Architecture: Vernacular
The Fairmount Temple - Congregation Anshe Chesed
23737 Fairmount Boulevard - Beachwood, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1842 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1957 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Former Building: 1912 - 8206 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland ♦ Style of Architecture: Moorish-Byzantine Revival
Congregation Shaarey Tikvah
26811 Fairmount Boulevard - Beachwood, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1948 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1954 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Photographs By Louis J. Joseph and Author
Suburban Temple - Kol Ami
22401 Chagrin Boulevard - Beachwood, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1940 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs 2007
Current Building: 1986 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Green Road Synagogue
2437 South Green Road - Beachwood, Ohio
Congregation established in 1910 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Style of Architecture: Contemporary ♦ Current Building: 1972
Established as the First Marmaresher B'nai Jacob Society and later known as the Anshe Marmaresher Congregation
The Temple - Tifereth Israel Congregation
26000 Shaker Boulevard - Beachwood, Ohio
Congregation established in 1850 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2000 & 2007
Style of Architecture: Richardsonian Romanesque ♦ Former Building: 1894 - E. 55th Street & Central
Style of Architecture: Byzantine Revival ♦ University Circle Temple Building: 1924
Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern/Contemporary ♦ Beachwood Temple Building: 1969
Photographs By Author, Mark Gordon and Louis J. Joseph
The University Circle Temple of Tifereth Israel Congregation is a historic landmark. The Temple is one of the oldest Jewish congregations in Ohio
Shaaray Torah Synagogue
432 30th Street, Northwest - Canton, Ohio
Congregation established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern ♦ Current Building: 1958
Style of Architecture: Romanesque Revival/Eclectic ♦ Former Building: 1920's ? - 1013 Walnut Street, Northeast
The Congregation of Shaaray Torah Synagogue is currently planning to sell their synagogue
Temple Israel
333 25th Street, Northwest - Canton, Ohio
Congregation established in 1885 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern ♦ Current Building: 1954
Style of Architecture: Classical Revival ♦ Former Building: 1919 - 950 McKinley Avenue
Congregation Adath Israel
3201 East Galbraith Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1847 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 1995
Current Building: 1967 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Agudath Achim Roselawn Congregation
7600 Reading Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1952 ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 1995
Former Building: Date Unknown ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
This Congregation closed in 2006 due to declining membership
Kneseth Israel Synagogue
1515 Section Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photograph: 1995
Current Building: 1950's or 60's ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Northern Hills Synagogue - Congregation B'nai Avraham
5714 Fields Ertel Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Date Congregation Established in 1960 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: n.d. & 2007
Current Building: 2004 ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Former Building: 1964/1973 - 715 Fleming Road ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Photographs Courtesy of Gayna Bassin and Northern Hills Synagogue
Congregation Ohav Sholom
1834 Section Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photograph: 1995
Current Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Congregation Ohav Sholom recently relocated to 8100 Cornell Road in suburban Cincinnati
Congregation K. K. Bene Israel - Rockdale Temple
8501 Ridge Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1824 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 1995 & 2007
Current Building: 1969 ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Photographs By Author and also Courtesy of the Rockdale Temple
Rockdale Temple is the oldest Jewish Congregation in Ohio and west of the Allegheny Mountains
North Avondale Synagogue - Yad Charutzim-Tiferes Israel
3870 Ridge Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photograph: 1995
Former Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Adaptive Re-Use
This congregation was a merger of Yad Charutzim and Tifereth Israel (f. 1906). It closed sometime after 1995
Sherith Israel Temple
Ruth Lyons Way and Walnut Street - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established ca. 1855 ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 Wikipedia
Former Building: 1861 ♦ Style of Architecture: Vernacular
This building was in use as a synagogue from 1861 to 1882 and is currently condominiums
Temple Sholom
3100 Longmeadow Lane - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1954 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photograph: 1995
Current Building: 1967 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Isaac M. Wise Temple
8329 Ridge Road - Cincinnati, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1842 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 1995 & 2006
Ridge Road Building: 1976 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Plum Street Temple Building: 1866 ♦ Style of Architecture: Moorish-Eclectic
Photographs By Author and Alan Lee
Beth Israel - The West Temple
14308 Triskett Road - Cleveland, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1954 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1957 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Congregation Beth Israel merged with the West Side Jewish Center-B'nai Israel (f. 1910) located on Triskett Road in 1957.
Beth Israel-The West Temple is planning to build a new temple center in a west suburban location.
The Park Synagogue - Anshe Emeth Beth Tefiloh
3300 Mayfield Road - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1869 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Mayfield Building: 1950/1968 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Pepper Pike Building: 1986 - 27575 Shaker Boulevard ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
The main Mayfield synagogue building was designed by the noted German-Jewish architect Erich Mendelsohn
Beth El - The Heights Synagogue
3246 Desota Avenue - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in 2000 ♦ Affiliation: Traditional/Egalitarian Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1953 ♦ Style of Architecture: Modern/Eclectic
Beth El - the Heights Synagogue was formed by the merger of Temple Beth El (f. 1940's) and The Heights Synagogue (f. 1998).
The congregation purchased the former Sinai Synagogue building in 2003 which was originally built as Beth Hamedrosh Anshe Galicia
K'hal Yereim Synagogue
1771 South Taylor Road - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1970's ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Shomre Shaboth Synagogue
1801 South Taylor Road - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1950's ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
This congregation apparently is no longer a functioning Jewish congregation
Taylor Road Synagogue - Oheb Zedek
1970 South Taylor Road - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1904 ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1951 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
The synagogue was sold in 2003 or 2004 to a private school & day care center. The synagogue still has use of the Sanctuary and offices
Young Israel Synagogue of Greater Cleveland
14141 Cedar Road - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Former Building: 1957 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
The synagogue was demolished in December after the photo was taken in June. The Congregation is now located in Beachwood
Agudas Achim Congregation
2767 East Broad Street - Columbus, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1881 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2004 & 2007
Current Building: 1951/2004 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern/Contemporary
Photographs By Author and Joel S. Kent
Originally established as an Orthodox congregation, Agudas Achim joined the Conservative Movement in 2004
Congregation Ahavas Sholom
2568 East Broad Street - Columbus, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1913 ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Joel S. Kent
Current Building: 1963 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Congregation Beth Jacob
1223 College Avenue - Columbus, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1899 ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 1991 & 2007
Current Building: 1968 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Former Building: 1952 - Bulen Avenue - Mid-Century Modern-Functional
Photographs By Author and By Joel S. Kent
Temple Israel
5419 East Broad Street - Columbus, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1846 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs 2006 & 2007
Current Building: 1959 & 2000 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern & Contemporary
Photographs By Dania Hurley and Joel S. Kent
Temple Israel is the oldest Jewish Congregation in Columbus and traces its roots to the original Bene Jeshuren/B'nai Israel.
Temple Israel was the location of the Author's Bar Mitzvah in 1977
Congregation Tifereth Israel
1354 East Broad Street - Columbus, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1901 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Joel S. Kent
Current Building: 1926/1990 ♦ Style of Architecture: Byzantine Revival/Contemporary
Beth Abraham Synagogue Center
1306 Salem Avenue - Dayton, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1894 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1949 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Photographs by Cindy & John Cramer and Pat Jones
The current Beth Abraham Synagogue Center is for sale and the Congregation will relocate to suburban Oakwood in 2008
Beth Jacob Synagogue
7020 North Main Street - Dayton, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1887 ♦ Affiliation: Traditional Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1978 ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Former Building: 1944 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern - 1350 Kumler Avenue
Photographs of the Current Synagogue Courtesy of Beth Jacob & Cantor Jason Green
Photographs of the Former Synagogue Courtesy of Cindy & John Cramer
Temple Israel
130 Riverside Drive - Dayton, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1850 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1974 ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Former Building: 1953 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern - 1821 Emerson Avenue
Photographs of New Temple Courtesy of Temple Israel ♦ Photographs of Former Temple By Cindy & John Cramer
Beth Shalom Congregation
401 West Fifth Street - East Liverpool, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2004
Current Building: 1921 ♦ Style of Architecture: Classical Revival
This building was originally built for Temple B'nai Israel which no longer exists
Temple B'nai Abraham
530 Gulf Road - Elyria, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1910 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Gail Traxler
Current Building: 1955 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Originally established as an Orthodox congregation, B'nai Abraham was also part of the Conservative movement before becoming Reform
Beth Israel Congregation
50 North Sixth Street - Hamilton, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1901 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs Courtesy of Beth Israel
Current Building: 1931 ♦ Style of Architecture: Revivalist/Moderne
Temple Beth Shalom
50 Division Street - Hudson, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1977 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photograph: 2007 By Louis J. Joseph
Current Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Eclectic/Vernacular - Originally built as a Church
Temple Beth Israel - Shaare Zedek
2105 Lakewood Avenue - Lima, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1903 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs 2007
Current Building: 1949 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Photographs Courtesy of Beth Israel-Shaare Zedek, Etta Weintraub and Anne Handley
The other Lima synagogue, Congregation Shaare Zedek merged with Beth Israel around 1967
Congregation Shaare Zedek
125 South McDonel Street - Lima, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs 2007 By Etta Weintraub
Current Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Art Moderne
Congregation Shaare Zedek merged with Temple Beth Israel around 1967 to form Temple Beth Israel Shaare Zedek
Congregation Agudath B'nai Israel
1715 Meister Road - Lorain, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1902 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs 2007 By Kaye M. Coller
Current Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Current Building: 1932 ♦ Style of Architecture: Byzantine Revival - 8th Street & Reid Avenue
Beth Adam Humanistic Congregation
10001Loveland-Madeira Road - Loveland, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1980 ♦ Affiliation: Humanistic Judaism ♦ Photographs 2007 By Ray Miller
Current Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Emanuel Jacob Congregation
973 Larchwood Road - Mansfield, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Sunda Peters
Current Building: 1957 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern - Built for B'nai Jacob
Former Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern - Built for Temple Emanuel
Present Congregation was formed through the merger of Temple Emanuel & B'nai Jacob Congregation
Temple Israel
850 Mount Vernon Avenue - Marion, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Dianne Peters
Current Building: 1953 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Temple Israel Ner Tamid
1732 Lander Road - Mayfield Heights, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1997 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1953 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Temple Ner Tamid of Euclid merged with Temple Israel of Mayfield Heights to form the present congregation
Temple Am Shalom
7599 Center Street - Mentor, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1971 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1987 - When Purchased By Am Shalom ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern - Former Church
Photographs Courtesy of Temple Am Shalom and Lee Hawthorne
Temple Beth Shalom
5089 Johnstown Road - New Albany, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1977 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Joel S. Kent
Current Building: ca. 2000 ♦ Style of Architecture: Colonial Revival
Ohev Israel Congregation
Woods & Selby - Newark, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Jon Crockford
Current Building: 1950 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
The Temple on the Heights - Congregation B'nai Jeshurun
27501 Fairmount Boulevard - Pepper Pike, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1866 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1976 ♦ Style of Architecture: Contemporary
Former Building: 1926 - 3130 Mayfield Avenue, Cleveland Heights ♦ Style of Architecture: Byzantine Revival
Congregation Anshe Emeth
320 Caldwell Street - Piqua, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1858 ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs 2007
Current Building: 1923 ♦ Style of Architecture: Classical Revival-Eclectic
Photographs Courtesy of Mike Feinstein, Eileen Litchfield and Congregation Anshe Emeth
Oheb Shalom Congregation
1521 East Perkins Avenue - Sandusky, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Norma J. Miller
Current Building: ???? ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Temple Sholom
2424 North Limestone Street - Springfield, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Amber M. North
Current Building: 1958 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Former Building: 1917 - 536 South Fountain Avenue ♦ Style of Architecture: Eclectic/Classical Revival
Temple Beth Israel
300 Lovers Lane - Steubenville, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Reform Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007
Current Building: 1966 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
Former Building: 1927 ♦ Style of Architecture: Eclectic - B'nai Israel - 128 South 5th Street
Former Building: 1924 ♦ Style of Architecture: Classical Revival/Eclectic - Beth El - 608 North 5th Street
Temple Beth Israel was formed by the merger of Temple Beth El and B'nai Israel Congregation
Congregation B'nai Israel
2727 Kenwood Boulevard - Toledo, Ohio
Congregation Established in 1866 ♦ Affiliation: Conservative Judaism ♦ Photograph: 1991
Former Building: 1955 ♦ Style of Architecture: Mid-Century Modern
The Congregation dedicated a new synagogue in suburban Sylvania in 2007
Congregation Etz Chaim
3853 Woodley Road - Toledo, Ohio
Congregation Established in ???? ♦ Affiliation: Orthodox Judaism ♦ Photographs: 2007 By Terri in Toledo
Current Building: 1974 ♦ Style of Architecture: Modern/Contemporary
