[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 51 (Wednesday, May 3, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E696-E697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     SINAI TEMPLE 75TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. RICHARD E. NEAL

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 3, 2006

  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize on 
the House floor that 2006 marks the seventy-fifth anniversary of the 
Sinai Temple in Springfield, Massachusetts. I congratulate the members 
and leaders of the temple for the important role it plays in the Jewish 
community throughout the Springfield area. I hope the spiritual 
services and community cohesion the temple brings to its members will 
continue well into the future. I would like to insert into the Record a 
brief history of the Sinai Temple that honors its founders and leaders 
throughout the years.

                    A Brief History of Sinai Temple

       Sinai Temple began in 1931 when newlyweds Samuel and Helen 
     Simons decided that

[[Page E697]]

     Springfield, Massachusetts needed an alternative to the 
     Orthodox and Conservative synagogues in the area. The last 
     major congregation to have been founded in the community was 
     Temple Beth El, which came into being in 1910. Although Sam 
     Simons had grown up in Springfield without a Reform presence, 
     Helen had grown up in a large Reform congregation in West 
     Hartford. She and Sam wanted to bring that kind of religious 
     opportunity to Springfield.
       Services began in individual homes. After that a home was 
     purchased on Sumner Avenue and remodeled to serve as home for 
     the growing congregation. During the beginning years of the 
     congregation, Rabbis David Eichhorn, Judah Cohn, and Hershel 
     Levin led the congregation. Then, with the arrival of Rabbi 
     Herman Elliot Snyder in 1947, a building drive led to the 
     purchase of land at what was then the ``outskirts'' of 
     Springfield. Ground was broken for the building Sinai now 
     occupies on August 15, 1949. The building at 1100 Dickinson 
     Street was completed in 1950. Not too long after that, the 
     other Jewish institutions of Springfield followed Sinai so 
     that they are now familiar landmarks at the Dickinson Street/
     Converse Street intersection: The Jewish Community Center, 
     Jewish Geriatric Services, Heritage Academy plus Temple Beth 
     El and Congregation Bnai Jacob.
       Rabbi Snyder's era, from 1947 to 1970, saw the congregation 
     grow from 100 families to 450 families. With that growth came 
     a Religious School, Hebrew and Bar/Bat Mitzvah instruction, a 
     Cantor and choir, a well stocked library, and a commitment to 
     community.
       When Rabbi Snyder became Rabbi Emeritus, Rabbi Bernard 
     Cohen guided the congregation through a year of transition. 
     He was followed by Rabbi Stanley Davids (1971-1977), Rabbi 
     Howard Kaplansky (1977-1983), and Rabbi Bernard Bloomstone 
     (1983-1988). In 1979, Emily Sleeper Mekler came to the 
     congregation as Cantor.
       In 1988, Rabbi Mark Dov Shapiro arrived in our community. 
     Rabbi Shapiro brought enthusiasm, a can-do spirit, along with 
     a heartfelt traditional way of embracing Judaism, tzedakah, 
     Torah, and social action. Rabbi Shapiro has overseen the 
     beautification of the Temple; the establishment of a second 
     endowment fund; the enrichment of our Religious School and 
     the expansion of our social action programming. The Rabbi is 
     also devoted to Torah Study and offers a weekly Shabbat 
     morning class. During the Rabbi's tenure at Sinai, many 
     innovations have also taken place in the style of our 
     worship.
       Sinai Temple has also been blessed with excellent lay 
     leadership, both male and female. Throughout the years, each 
     president and his or her Board of Trustees have contributed 
     much to the tenor and health of the Temple.
       We hope you'll want to learn more about Sinai. Call us, 
     please. We are eager to welcome you into our community.

                          ____________________