Congregation Kesher Israel (Philadelphia)

The documented use of the name Kesher 'Israel begins with the August 1894 union of Bene Ya'acob and Rodephe Tsedek, Anshe Szager. The new congregation obtained a charter and retained the former Bene Ya'acob synagogue on Lombard Street.[1] In a 2012 letter, Rabbi Fred Kazan described Kesher Israel as a historic congregation in Society Hill and wrote that it had been established in 1889; the surviving sources do not explain the relationship between that date and the documented 1894 merger.[2][1] A library catalog also records a 2006 lecture by Harry Boonin titled "Kesher Israel: A Philadelphia Landmark," but supplies no further historical details.[3]

The congregation's documented roots lie in two South Philadelphia congregations. Bene Ya'acob was organized in 1883 at 725 Lombard Street. Members initially worshiped in rented rooms and a hall before purchasing a synagogue in 1888 for $9,000. The building could accommodate more than 700 worshipers and included a Beth Hammedrash in another room.[1]

The other constituent body, Rodephe Tsedek, Anshe Szager — "Followers of Righteousness, Men of Szager," referring to a city in Russia — worshiped at 337 South Seventh Street.[1] In August 1894, the two congregations united, adopted the name Kesher 'Israel, obtained a charter, and continued worship in the former Bene Ya'acob synagogue on the south side of Lombard Street, west of Fourth Street. The building was to be enlarged and altered.[1]

Rev. Mordecai Schatz remained as reader after the union, while Rev. Hyman Brodsky, formerly rabbi of Bene Ya'acob, resigned. The officers of the united congregation were President Louis Glickman, Vice President Philip Werner, Financial Secretary Isaac Binder, Corresponding Secretary Abraham Selig, Treasurer Harris Rosenthal, and a board of twenty-four directors; Jacob Rosenthal served as sexton.[1]

The congregation's known history includes a major setback. The American Jewish Year Book's record for 5680, covering June 1, 1919, through May 31, 1920, reports that the Kesher Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia was wrecked by fire.[4] The entry gives no precise date or details about the damage.

Surviving membership figures are historical rather than current. Bene Ya'acob began with thirteen members and later had more than 300 names, including seat-holders, on its rolls. Rodephe Tsedek, Anshe Szager had about 100 members before the merger, which considerably increased the united congregation's general membership.[1] A cemetery-organization list reproduced by JewishGen labels "Kesher Israel" as active as of 1999, but the entry does not establish the congregation's later status.[5]

The surviving record is richer on religious culture than on economics. Bene Ya'acob's $9,000 purchase of a permanent synagogue in 1888 and its maintenance of a Beth Hammedrash in the same building show the congregation's investment in communal worship and study.[1] In a 2012 letter, Rabbi Fred Kazan presented Kesher Israel's central bimah as a continuation of traditional synagogue design.[2]

The historically documented worship site was the former Bene Ya'acob synagogue on the south side of Lombard Street west of Fourth Street. At the 1894 merger, the united congregation planned to enlarge and alter the building.[1] Rabbi Fred Kazan's 2012 letter places the congregation in Society Hill and notes that its sanctuary had a central bimah.[2]

Rabbi Fred Kazan argued that the central bimah provides a meaningful contrast with the empty central spaces of many post–World War II synagogues, where, he wrote, a bar mitzvah celebrant is directed to face the audience. His letter presents the central bimah as a link between sanctuary layout and traditional liturgical focus.[2]

Congregation Kesher Israel is distinct from Keneseth Israel Congregation. A contemporaneous history records Keneseth Israel as instituted in March 1847, while the name Kesher 'Israel was adopted by a merger in August 1894.[1] A later directory lists Keneseth Israel at 1717 North Broad Street but has no exact-name Philadelphia entry for Kesher Israel or Keser Israel.[6] JewishGen's cemetery records separately contain the labels "Kesher Israel-Active" and "Kesher Israel Congregation-A," but do not explain how those entries relate.[5]