Congregation B'nai Emunah (Tulsa, Oklahoma)
| Congregation B'nai Emunah | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Judaism |
| Leadership | Rabbi Daniel Shalom Kaiman President Mark Goldman |
| Location | |
| Location | 1719 S Owasso Ave. Tulsa, OK 74120 |
  Shown within Oklahoma | |
| Geographic coordinates | 36°08′15″N 95°58′34″W / 36.1375°N 95.9762°W |
| Architecture | |
| Date established | 1916 |
| Website | |
| www.tulsagogue.com | |
| Part of a series on |
| Jews and Judaism |
|---|
Congregation B'nai Emunah, a progressive synagogue located at 17th and Peoria in Tulsa, Oklahoma,[1] was founded in 1916[2] as an Orthodox congregation. It originally resided at 919 S Cheyenne Ave.[3]
Currently led by Rabbi Daniel Shalom Kaiman,[4] the synagogue has a rich history of leadership, including notable rabbis like Morris Teller, Harry Epstein, Oscar Fasman, and Norman Shapiro. The congregation outgrew its original facility by the 1930s and built a new synagogue on South Owasso Street, dedicated in 1942.[3] Subsequent expansions and renovations occurred in 1959, 1985, and 1998.[3]
The synagogue houses a NAYEC Accredited Preschool Program, the pro-social Altamont Bakery, the pop-up Seventeenth Street Deli, and a HIAS Affiliated Refugee Resettlement agency.
The congregation has been home to notable individuals such as George Kaiser, Charles Schusterman, Lynn Schusterman, Stacy Schusterman, Tim Blake Nelson, Micah Fitzerman-Blue, Larry Mizel, Henry Kravis, Robert Butkin, Tom Adelson, Janet Levit, and Robert Donaldson.
Early history and founding
[edit]Jewish settlers in Tulsa established a minyan by 1903 and grew to 12 families by 1905. They formed Congregation B'nai Emunah in 1915, with Marion Travis as the first president, and built a synagogue on S. Cheyenne Street. Despite its Orthodox origins, the congregation's use of English in its constitution indicated a move towards assimilation. Rabbi Morris Teller, a Conservative rabbi, was hired in 1916.[3][5][6][7]
Significant developments
[edit]The congregation grew as Tulsa's Jewish population expanded, reaching 2,850 people by 1937.[3] Leadership saw transitions with rabbis like Harry Epstein,[8] Oscar Fasman,[9][10][11] and Norman Shapiro. By 1949, Arthur Kahn's leadership marked significant growth, balancing Orthodox roots with Conservative practices.[12] In 1985, Marc Boone Fitzerman became rabbi, known for his dynamic leadership, interfaith dialogue, and social justice initiatives. His tenure marked the gradual shift from traditionalism to a more inclusive form of Judaism. Musical instrumentation, fully egalitarian worship and liturgy, and experimental religious tradition were embraced by the congregation.[13][14]
Modern era
[edit]Daniel Shalom Kaiman joined in 2013 as Assistant Rabbi, was promoted to Associate Rabbi in 2015, and Rabbi in 2018. He became Principal Rabbi in 2023 after Marc Fitzerman's retirement.[13][15] The present congregation considers itself "aligned" with Conservative Judaism but is no longer an official affiliate of United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.[16]
References
[edit]- ^ Gurock, Jeffrey S. (1999). "An Orthodox Conspiracy Theory: The Travis Family, Bernard Revel, and the Jewish Theological Seminary". Modern Judaism. 19 (3): 241–253. doi:10.1093/mj/19.3.241. ISSN 0276-1114. JSTOR 1396676.
- ^ "Jews | The Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture". Oklahoma Historical Society | OHS. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ a b c d e "ISJL - Oklahoma Tulsa Encyclopedia". Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
- ^ Allen, Mary Willa (2022-04-11). "40 Under 40 2022 | Oklahoma Magazine". okmag.com. Retrieved 2022-05-06.
- ^ "Congregation B'nai Emunah – Synagogues360". synagogues-360.anumuseum.org.il. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Article clipped from The Tulsa Tribune". The Tulsa Tribune. 1917-09-16. p. 7. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Article clipped from Tulsa World". Tulsa World. 1919-04-11. p. 10. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Article clipped from Tulsa World". Tulsa World. 1928-08-05. p. 19. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "Article clipped from Tulsa World". Tulsa World. 1930-09-24. p. 20. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "Article clipped from The Ottawa Citizen". The Ottawa Citizen. 1939-11-03. p. 4. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "Article clipped from Chicago Tribune". Chicago Tribune. 2003-11-26. pp. 2–10. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ "Article clipped from Tulsa World". Tulsa World. 2002-05-23. p. 12. Retrieved 2024-05-16.
- ^ a b World, Tim Stanley Tulsa (2023-05-05). "Tulsa Rabbi Marc Fitzerman retiring after 38 years: 'It all comes down to doing my part'". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ World, Tim Stanley Tulsa (2023-12-10). "Tulsans of the Year: Rabbi Mark Fitzerman leaves legacy of growth in Jewish community". Tulsa World. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "Daniel Shalom Kaiman". The Synagogue. Retrieved 2024-05-15.
- ^ "About". The Synagogue. Retrieved 2024-05-17.