Tephereth Israel, New Britain (1924 - closed, 2008?)

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: Synagogue-0011-002-008d

Scope and Contents

Box 1: A-Z

Anniversaries

Buildings

Miscellaneous

Rabbis/Okolica, Henry

Synagogue Restoration

Sisterhood

Box 2: Sisterhood

Sisterhood/Account Books

Artifacts:

Gavel and gavel block in artifacts (gavel from the Sisterhood)

Dates

Creation: 1924-2010s

Biographical / Historical

Congregation Tephereth Israel in New Britain was formed in 1925 when orthodox Lithuanian immigrants withdrew from the conservative Temple B’nai Israel. The synagogue on Winter Street, which combines elements of the Romanesque and Colonial Revival styles, was built in 1925 to 1928 and was designed by Adolf Feinberg, an Austrian-born architect who arrived in the United States in 1921. Feinberg also designed Beth David Synagogue in West Hartford. Congregation Tephereth Israel, which today has a small membership, is undertaking a building repair program. For five decades, Rabbi Henry Okolica has been spiritual leader of the Orthodox synagogue, as well as serving as Jewish chaplain at Central Connecticut State University.