Congregation Emanu El Collection

Collection

Identifier: MS 0726

Staff Only

Finding aid note: Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Scope and Contents

Six boxes containing administrative materials, bulletins, correspondence, event materials, organization/committee materials, photographs, publications, and transcripts of TV broadcasts document the history of Congregation Emanu El from 1943-2022.

This collection forms part of the South Texas Jewish Archives.

Dates

Creation: 1943 - 2022

Creator

Lamden, David (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This material is open for research.

Stored offsite at the Library Service Center and require 24-hour notice for retrieval. Please contact the Woodson Research Center at 713-348-2586 or woodson@rice.edu for more information.

Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish material from the Congregation Emanu El papers must be obtained from the Woodson Research Center, Fondren Library. The Woodson Research Center use policy is that researchers assume sole responsibility for any infringement of privacy, literary rights, copyrights, or other rights arising from their use of the archival materials. In addition to any restrictions placed by donors, certain kinds of archival materials are restricted for the life of the creator plus 50 years. These materials include, but are not limited to, student grades, transcripts, and any job applications or recommendations.

Biographical / Historical

Congregation Emanu El is a Reform synagogue affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. The name “Emanu El” is a Hebrew phrase meaning “God be with us.” The property at 1500 Sunset Boulevard was purchased in 1945, and the building was dedicated on September 9, 1949. The building, constructed in the modernist style of Frank Lloyd Wright, was designed by congregant Lenard Gabert and MacKie & Kamrath Architects, and has been recognized as one of the most innovative buildings in the country.The first meeting of Congregation Emanu El was held June 8, 1944, attended by 190 families. Rabbi Robert I. Kahn was invited to lead the congregation while serving in the Pacific Theater of World War II. Rabbi Kahn accepted the pulpit and served as the congregation’s Senior Rabbi until 1978, when he was named Rabbi Emeritus and Rabbi Roy A Walter was selected as Senior Rabbi. Rabbi Walter had been hired in 1970 and served as Assistant and then Associate Rabbi prior to his new role. In 2011 Rabbi Walter was named Rabbi Emeritus, and the congregation selected Rabbi Scott Hausman-Weiss as Senior Rabbi. In June of 2015 Rabbi Oren J. Hayon joined Emanu El as Senior Rabbi.

Excerpted from https://www.emanuelhouston.org/about/history/

Extent

4.75 Linear Feet (7 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection is made up of six boxes containing administrative materials, bulletins, correspondence, event materials, organization/committee materials, photographs, publications, and transcripts of TV broadcasts from Congregation Emanu El, spanning the years 1943-2022.

Arrangement

The materials in this collection have been arranged in eleven series as follows: Series I: Administrative; Series II: Bulletins; Series III: Correspondence; Series IV: Event Materials; Series V: General; Series VI: Organizations/Committees; Series VII: Photographs; Series VIII: Publications; Series IX: TV / Radio Broadcasts; Series X: Trips; Series XI: Oversize; Series XII: Addenda

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Materials donated by Barbara & Raymond Kalmans in May 2018 and David Lamden in May 2018 and February 2021. Oral history donated by Rabbi Roy Walter in May 2021.