Our Sanctuary

A symbol of tradition adapting itself to change, the magnificent Ark that is the heart of B’nai Sholom’s Sanctuary originally graced the former Congregation Beth Emeth building at Lancaster and South Swan streets in Albany, which was built in 1889. Shaped by hand, the Ark has seen more than a century of turbulent Jewish history, from the emergence of a vital Reform movement through the Holocaust, the most devastating assault on Judaism and civilization, since the destruction of the Second Temple. And it has seen the birth of the State of Israel, a tree of hope for Jews here and all over the world.

Above the handcrafted wood doors are the Hebrew words “Yehi Or,” “Let there be light,” the first words, according to the Torah, God spoke at the creation of the world.  These same words were used by Isaac Mayer Wise, founder of American Reform Judaism, in the title heading of his newspaper “The Israelite,” in 1854.  Rabbi Wise was the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth El (founded in 1858) of Albany.

 As is common in America, neighborhoods change, and the old downtown synagogue was sold to a church. Twenty-five years later when our current building was under design, our congregants heard the old Ark was going to be torn apart and made into cabinets, since after all, churches don’t need fancy closets up front; they needed more room for their choir. The Ark was rescued, dismantled, and rebuilt by Kurt Holsapple in its new home. B’nai Sholom is thus placed at the heart of Reform history: Albany’s Orthodox Temple Beth El, founded in 1838, was the first congregation of Isaac Mayer Wise. A split resulted in his supporters forming Anshe Emeth, the fourth Reform congregation in America.