The Early Years

The Temple of Truth (Congregation Beth Emeth) had its beginning in May 1905. A self-constituted committee, whose aims are best expressed in their own words, sent a circular to a number of the Jewish residents of Wilming­ton, reading:

"Dear Friend:

A meeting of those who are desir­ous of organizing a modern Jewish congregation in this city will be held Sunday, May 27, 1905, at 10:30 A. M., at the Young Men’s Hebrew Association rooms, at N. E. Corner Fourth and Shipley Streets.

You are cordially invited."

In answer to this card, thirty-three men met and proceeded to form a congregation known as the Temple of Truth. They subscribed to a fund for the foundation of a new building. A membership committee was ap­pointed and the active work of building the Congregation began.

Within a short time the congreg­ation was honored by the gift of a Torah through the courtesy of Mr. D. L. Levy, and soon after Rabbi J. Korn was selected to guide the re­ligious activities of the congregation. The first place in which services were held was at 504 Market Street. During this time preparations were being made for the purchase of the lot at 904 Washington Street.

 

Read S. Bernard Ableman's account from Sussex to Beth Emeth

904 Washington Street 

An active committee, along with our sec­ond spiritual leader, Rabbi Rubenstein, was at work. May 1908 wit­nessed the laying of the cornerstone of the building at 904 Washington Street.

In 1909 Rabbi George Benedict succeeded Rabbi Rubenstein in the pulpit of the congregation. The fol­lowing year Rabbi Moses J. Abels came to Wilmington. Under Rabbi Abel's guidance the activities of the congregation expanded and began to assume important proportions. Dur­ing his period of leadership, Wil­mington Jewry witnessed its first Confirmation Service. This cere­mony which had long been part of the Reform or Liberal Jewish prac­tice had been frowned upon by orth­odox Jews as an imitation of Christi­anity. But once adopted, it proved valuable and commendable. So much so that even conservative con­gregations introduced the rite into their synagogues.

In 1912, Rabbi Emanuel Schreib­er succeeded Rabbi Abels and was particularly active in communal life. He was instrumental in furthering the interests and ideals of the com­munity in which he lived. His ser­mons on social problems of the day gained him an enviable reputation and he was fearless in proclaiming the wrongs and inequities of the sys­tem under which we lived, whether in factory, office or home. In Janu­ary of 1913 Temple Beth Emeth became a member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

World War I 

Rabbi Samuel Rabinowitz came to Wilmington in 1915. Drawn into the turbulent maelstrom of the first world war, it began to rest upon American Jewry to aid distressed Jews in Europe, and Congrega­tion Beth Emeth responded mag­nificently. Rabbi Rabinowitz warmly, vigor­ously and effectively led the con­gregation in those trying times.

In 1921, Rabbi Moses Baroway followed Rabbi Rabinowitz as guide of the congregation. For the first time in our history, under Rabbi Baroway's leadership, a regular Jewish school was organized and conducted. Sabbath services, too, were introduced and were ably fur­thered. Rabbi Baroway, a young earnest leader, left the congregation in 1922.

In the same year, a critical event occurred in the congregation. In the month of July, a number of the members came to the conclusion that the tendencies observable in the conduct of affairs savored of more radical reforms than they were prepared to adopt. Finding that it was impossible to arrive at an amicable and livable compromise, this group resigned in a body and later formed the conservative Congregation Beth Shalom.

Progressive Judaism 

This event, of course, gave a def­inite sanction and a clear direction to the liberal tendencies of the par­ent congregation. From that time on the change in outward ritual was rapid. It was agreed that hats need not be worn during services. The second days of the festivals, following the tradition of Liberal Judaism, were returned to their old Palestinian status. On the other hand, in 1926, Confirmation was set for the day on which Shavuoth occurs.

In 1925 Rabbi Levinger came to us and remained for three years. During his stay, stress was laid upon the cultural development of the membership. Great strides were made in promoting the interests of the school and in extending the in­fluence of the congregation. During the first few months of his incum­bency the Congregation adopted the Union Prayer Book as its official lit­urgy; and later in the same year re-affirmed affiliation with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. During this period a new constitu­tion and by-laws were adopted which definitely ranged the Con­gregation with the more progressive elements of American Jewry.

In April, 1924, after an intensive appeal, the Temple Center at 911 Washington Street was purchased and remodeled, and a new home was available for the cultural, social and communal interests of the Congrega­tion.

Rabbi Louis Mischkind was chos­en rabbi in the fall of 1927. He developed the life of the congrega­tion in accordance with well-consid­ered and well defined principles of Jewish life. A community Open Forum was established, sponsored by a newly formed Men's Club. Classes for adults in Jewish History, Bible, Hebrew and Modern Philosophy were organized. The activities of the school were extended to include week-day classes in Hebrew. Rabbi Mischkind died in 1929 after being injured in a fall from a horse.

In 1930 Rabbi Henry Tavel came to us as our first leader from Hebrew Union College. Rabbi Tavel served the Congregation until 1946, including four years as a Chaplain in the United States Army. Chaplain Tavel returned to the Ser­vice in 1946 and served with distinction. When Rabbi Tavel enlisted in 1942, Rabbi Alvin Fine came to us for a short time and endeared himself to the congregation. He will always be remembered for his moving sermons. Rabbi Fine also entered the Army as a Chaplain and served overseas.

Rabbi Herbert E. Drooz followed Rabbi Fine in August, 1943 and stayed until the return of Rabbi Tavel in February, 1946. A year later, after Rabbi Tavel re-entered the service, Rabbi Drooz once more returned to us.

During Rabbi Drooz' spiritual leadership there were many changes. A Hebrew School under the direction of Rabbi Simon Krin­sky was developed to an at­tendance of over one hundred chil­dren at weekday classes. More than three hundred children attended Sunday School. At this point, there were now more than three hundred and fifty fam­ilies in our congregation.

Sabbath Morning Services were re-instituted in 1951 as a time when parents may worship with their chil­dren.

The New Building 

When Rabbi Drooz first came to us in 1943 our congregation num­bered one hundred and twenty-three families. We had just begun to have difficulty in seating our members during the High Holy Days, even with a second service being held in the Center. Talk of enlarging the Temple, acquiring the building next door, and finally, of an entirely new building, became commonplace.  Our High Holy Day Services were held at the New Century Club at 1014 Delaware Avenue for the first time in 1944. A building committee was formed; the architectural firm of Bloch and Hess of New York began plans for the new temple; and in 1951, more than $120,000 was pledged on Yom Kippur Eve for the new building.

The Executive Council of the Building Committee presented plans to the congregation at a special meeting on March 1, 1953 and received approval. The construction company of Ernest DiSabatino and Sons was hired and the Groundbreaking Ceremony took place on October 25, 1953. A gift from Mrs. Milton Kutz to provide for the beauty of the chapel and the crown wall was accepted by a resolution passed by the Board of Directors on January 19, 1954: "The Chapel of the new Temple Beth Emeth shall be dedicated to the memory of Milton Kutz and henceforth shall be known and appropriately designated as the Milton Kutz Memorial Chapel of Temple Beth Emeth."

The new building was used for the first time on Rosh Hashanah Eve in 1954. The Torahs were carried from the old Temple to the new Temple and presented to the Congregation officers. Rabbi Drooz and Rabbi Simon R. Krinsky opened the doors of the Holy Ark and placed the Torahs inside. Mrs. Kutz lighted the Eternal Lamp and the Sisterhood president kindled the Yom Tov lights. The choir sang Ma Tovu, and services began.

In May 1955, under the leadership of Rabbi Herbert E. Drooz, Congregation Beth Emeth celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the congregation and the dedication of its new Temple. In a message to the congregation included in the dedication book, President Harry Jacobs wrote, "The vision of our founders is realized in the construction and dedication our new spiritual home." He called on congregants to show their gratitude "to the those many wonderful individuals who made our fifty years of existence and our new Temple a reality, by supporting and participating in the high ideals and spiritual aims of our Temple. "

Today 

Rabbi Peter Grumbacher joined the Congregation as Assistant Rabbi in 1972 upon his ordination from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. In 1976 he  was elevated to Associate Rabbi and in 1982, upon the retirement of Rabbi Drooz, was installed as Senior Rabbi of the congregation.

Cantor Michael M. Mandel was appointed as the first cantor for the Congregation in July 1999. Following his departure from Beth Emeth, the Congregation elected Cantor Mark Stanton as Cantor in July 2003.

Rabbi Sarah Messinger joined Beth Emeth as assistant Rabbi in July 1990. She left the Congregation in June 1993 and then returned in August 2002 and continues to serve the Congregation as Program Director.

During the summer of 2006, work will begin on our most recent and extensive renovation of the Temple building.  Levin/Brown and Associates of Baltimore have been selected as architects for the project.  Plans call for a new education wing enclosing the courtyard where both a Holocaust Memorial Garden and Garden of the Righteous Gentiles will be created.  The chapel, social hall, administrative offices, Judaica shop, library, kitchen, board room, and second floor classrooms will be extensively renovated.  A new memorial alcove will create a space to honor and remember past generations of loved ones. The building exterior will also be enhanced and the main entrance will be relocated adjacent to the expanded and resurfaced parking lot.  Throughout the building, the beauty of Beth Emeth’s past will be tastefully integrated with modern furnishings.