Temple Beth Israel, Reform synagogue in downtown Phoenix, United States
Temple Beth Israel is a Reform Jewish synagogue whose original building, a stuccoed Mission Revival structure with the gable end facing the street, was built in 1921–1922 near Central Avenue and Culver Street in Downtown Phoenix. The architects Lescher, Kibbey and Mahoney designed it, and an annex was added in 1930. The congregation now meets at 10460 North 56th Street in Scottsdale, and the downtown building houses the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center.
Construction of the synagogue took place from 1921 to 1922, after which it gained recognition on the National Register of Historic Places for its architectural and community value. The building emerged during a period of growth for Phoenix's Jewish population and institutions.
The congregation was incorporated in 1920 as Congregation Beth Israel, and its first president was Charles Steinberg. Early services were held in a room above Melczer's saloon, and the synagogue hosted communal Passover Seders when Jews faced discrimination at hotels and other public gathering places. The building is now the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, named for rabbi emeritus Albert Plotkin and donor Lawrence Cutler.
The historic 1921–1922 building stands near Central Avenue and Culver Street in downtown Phoenix, not at the congregation's current Scottsdale address on North 56th Street. It now operates as the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center, so check opening arrangements with the Arizona Jewish Historical Society before visiting. The sanctuary was remodeled after a 1935 fire, and a 1930 annex adjoins the original stuccoed structure.
The structure breaks from traditional synagogue design by running north to south rather than following the east-west orientation common in most Jewish temples. This unusual alignment shows how local conditions and city planning influenced the building's design.
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