Bloomfield Hills in Oakland County, Michigan — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Congregation Beth El
⎯⎯⎯
Temple Beth El

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 28, 2021

1. Congregation Beth El / Temple Beth El Marker

Side 1

Inscription. Congregation Beth El In 1850 twelve German immigrant families founded Michigan’s oldest Jewish organization, the Beth El Society, at the Detroit home of Isaac and Sarah Cozens. Beth El was first led by Orthodox Rabbi Samuel Marcus. During the 1850s, as social and political turmoil gripped the nation, Judaism faced change. In 1856, Beth El members moved away from strict Orthodox doctrine by adopting new bylaws and embracing Reform Judaism. The changes permitted men and women to sit together during services and sing together in choirs. Rabbis taught services in English rather than in German. In 1873, Beth El helped charter the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, which brought together Reform synagogues across the nation.

Temple Beth El Built in 1973, Temple Beth El is one of two synagogues designed by internationally acclaimed architect Minoru Yamasaki, who designed New York City’s World Trade Center. Yamasaki designed the soaring temple to represent the meeting tents of the ancient Israelites. The two hundred panels, created by steel cables dissecting the concrete walls, symbolize the number of times per day Jews

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are to thank God. Organized in Detroit in 1850, the Beth El Society met in homes and storefronts before purchasing its first house of worship in 1861. Beth El member Albert Kahn designed two of the congregation’s former synagogues, built in Detroit in 1903 and 1922. Beth El erected this building in Bloomfield Hills to accommodate its members, many of whom had moved to the suburbs.

Erected 2001 by Michigan Historical Commission - Michigan Historical Center. (Marker Number S0673.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Michigan Historical Commission, and the Synagogues series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 42° 31.948′ N, 83° 17.236′ W. Marker is in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, in Oakland County. It is on Pauline Levy Road, on the right when traveling south. Located in the parking lot on the back side of the Temple. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7400 Telegraph Rd, Bloomfield Hills MI 48301, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 28, 2021

2. Congregation Beth El / Temple Beth El Marker

Side 2

Southeast Michigan

and in Greater Detroit.

It is also in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Van Every Gristmill (approx. 0.9 miles away); Franklin Village (approx. 1.1 miles away); Kreger Farm Buildings (approx. 1.1 miles away); Franklin Village School (approx. 1.1 miles away); Robert E. Cornillie's Vision (approx. 1.1 miles away); Franklin Community Church (approx. 1.1 miles away); Franklin Cemetery (approx. 1.2 miles away); St. Vincent and Sarah Fisher Center (approx. 2.8 miles away).

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 28, 2021

3. Congregation Beth El / Temple Beth El Marker

Marker in parking lot on north side of Temple

View of Temple Beth El from Telegraph Road. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J.T. Lambrou, May 28, 2021

4. View of Temple Beth El from Telegraph Road.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 29, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. This page has been viewed 762 times since then and 60 times this year. Last updated on September 2, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 29, 2021, by J.T. Lambrou of New Boston, Michigan. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.

Congregation Beth El⎯⎯⎯Temple Beth El

Congregation Beth El
⎯⎯⎯
Temple Beth El