Anshei Sfard (Louisville, Kentucky)
Anshei Sfard, officially affiliated with the Orthodox Union (OU), is the one of two Orthodox synagogues (the other being Chabad of Kentucky) in Louisville, Kentucky.[1] Located at 3700 Dutchman's Lane,[2] the synagogue offers Shabbat, and Yom Tov services; events; and a mikveh. Prayer services are conducted in Nusach Ashkenaz.
History
The congregation was founded by a group of Russian Jewish immigrants in June 1893.[3][4][5] In 1897 and 1898 it occupied a private home owned by Jacob Brownstein on Eighth Street, and for the next few years met in a three-story building at 716 W. Walnut St.[6] In 1903 it purchased the former B'rith Sholom synagogue at 511 South First Street.[1][6] This building no longer exists, but it was located at a spot that would be across First Street from what is today The Brown School. The synagogue was forced to move due to the construction of the I-65 interstate highway.[3] The synagogue purchased a 17.5 acres (7.1 ha) lot adjacent to the Jewish Community Center[3] and held its groundbreaking ceremony in April 1957.[1][4] In 1971 Anshei Sfard absorbed another Orthodox congregation, Agudath Achim, bringing its membership up to 300 families.[1] When another Orthodox congregation, Keneseth Israel, became Conservative in 1994, Anshei Sfard remained as the only Orthodox congregation in Louisville.[1]
On October 18, 2015 the synagogue held a contentious meeting to discuss the sale of the synagogue, resulting in police being called by a member to ensure his safety.[7]
Rabbinic leadership
In 1903 the Orthodox synagogues in Louisville, under the umbrella of a Vaad HaEr (community council), hired a chief rabbi to act as spiritual leader for all of the city's synagogues, in addition to supervising kashrut, a mikveh, and a Talmud Torah.[8] In the 1910s Anshei Sfard went ahead and hired its own rabbi, Rabbi Z. Klavansky,[9] which caused it to be snubbed by the chief rabbi and the other Orthodox congregations in the city.[1] A second synagogue hired its own rabbi in 1927, causing further divisiveness in the city.[1] The post of chief rabbi of Louisville was finally abolished in 1937.[1]
From 1930 to 1945 the congregation was led by Rabbi Charles Chavel, who went on to produce acclaimed critical editions of classical Jewish commentators on the Bible and Talmud.[3][10] He was succeeded by Rabbi Solomon Roodman, who served from 1946 to 1989.[3] Rabbi Avrohom Litvin took the helm in 1989.[3] Rabbi Litvin resigned in 2013 after 24 years citing infighting and the need for growth and acceptance.[11]
The current designated spiritual leader, Dr. Joshua Golding, is a Professor of Philosophy at Bellarmine University, specializing in philosophy of religion and Jewish philosophy.[12]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ http://www.wave3.com/story/30289821/kys-oldest-orthodox-congregation-debates-synagogues-future
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Anshei Sfard Bulletin Aug 2013
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
External links
