- Congregation Beth El (Voorhees, New Jersey)
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Congregation Beth El Basic information Location 8000 Main Street,
Voorhees, New Jersey,
United StatesAffiliation Conservative Judaism Status Active Leadership Senior Rabbi: Aaron Krupnick
Assistant Rabbi: Noah Arnow
Rabbi Isaac Furman
Cantor: Alisa Pomerantz-BoroWebsite www.bethelsnj.org Architectural description Completed 2009 Congregation Beth El is a Conservative synagogue located in Voorhees, New Jersey. As of 2011, the clergy includes Rabbi Aaron Krupnick, Rabbi Noah Arnow, Rabbi Isaac Furman, and Cantor Alisa Pomerantz-Boro.
It was founded in 1921, in Parkside, Camden, at Park Boulevard and Belleview, opposite Farnham Park.[1][2][3] It was Camden's first conservative synagogue.[3] The congregation had an annual Chanukah Ball beginning in 1922, a religious school beginning two years later, a Hebrew Free Loan Society, a Hebrew ladies charity society, and in the 1930s hosted sorority and fraternity meetings on Tuesday nights.[2] Its synagogue building was demolished in 2000, and a Boys and Girls Club was built in its location.[1]
Beth El relocated in 1967 to 2901 West Chapel Avenue in suburban Cherry Hill.[1][3] William Zorach's sculpture "Memorial to 6,000,000 Jews" (1949) was located at it.[4] Beth El was the oldest conservative synagogue in Cherry Hill.[5] In 2009, Beth El sold its Chapel Avenue property to a 2500-member Christian congregation based in Philadelphia. On April 5, 2009, members of Beth El walked 6½ miles transporting 10 Torahs to the new synagogue in neighboring Voorhees, within the Main Street Complex.[5] With the sale of the Chapel Avenue property, assessed at $9.9 million, the Voorhees campus consists of a 1,200-seat sanctuary, 500-person social hall, coffee bar and administrative offices. The remainder was raised through congregant donations.[6]
References
- ^ a b c Julian H. Preisler. Historic Synagogues of Philadelphia & the Delaware Valley. http://books.google.com/books?id=2UvlpOPBes8C&pg=PA13&dq=%22Congregation+Beth+El%22+%22camden%22&hl=en&ei=twR4Tqi_Ccjj0QHj_7jpCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=%22Congregation%20Beth%20El%22%20%22camden%22&f=false. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Howard Gillette, Jr.. Camden After the Fall: Decline and Renewal in a Post-Industrial City. http://books.google.com/books?id=Y-ZLshzTa9EC&pg=PA29&dq=%22Congregation+Beth+El%22+%22camden%22&hl=en&ei=twR4Tqi_Ccjj0QHj_7jpCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CDkQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=%22Congregation%20Beth%20El%22%20%22camden%22&f=false. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b c Leonard F. Vernon, Allen Meyers (2007). Jewish South Jersey. http://books.google.com/books?id=P9D8lXWACcQC&pg=PA65&dq=%22Congregation+Beth+El%22+%22camden%22&hl=en&ei=twR4Tqi_Ccjj0QHj_7jpCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CD4Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=%22Congregation%20Beth%20El%22%20%22camden%22&f=false. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ Meredith Arms Bzdak, Douglas Petersen. Public sculpture in New Jersey: monuments to collective identity. http://books.google.com/books?id=-eRf38Lbb2IC&pg=PA1955&dq=%22Congregation+Beth+El%22+%22camden%22&hl=en&ei=vgd4To2VNMLb0QHnh8jqCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CC8Q6AEwADgK#v=onepage&q=%22Congregation%20Beth%20El%22%20%22camden%22&f=false. Retrieved September 20, 2011.
- ^ a b Cynthia Henry (April 6, 2009). "A moving day For synagogue, a new home". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/2009-04-06/news/25287522_1_voorhees-million-synagogue-religious-school. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
- ^ Cynthia Henry (January 24, 2009). "Church to buy Beth El property The synagogue will leave Chapel Avenue. It will sell the site to a charismatic Christian congregation.". Philadelphia Inquirer. http://articles.philly.com/2009-01-24/news/25280517_1_synagogue-chapel-avenue-neighbors. Retrieved October 16, 2011.
External links
Coordinates: 39°52′03″N 74°56′44″W / 39.867637°N 74.945447°W
Categories:- Buildings and structures in Camden County, New Jersey
- Conservative synagogues in the United States
- Religious organizations established in 1921
- Synagogues in New Jersey
- Voorhees Township, New Jersey
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