Plum Street Temple
Kehilat Kesushah B'nai Yeshurun
The Plum Street Temple, constructed in 1866 in downtown Cincinnati, is one of the most remarkable buildings in Cincinnati. The temple was founded by Isaac M. Wise and a group of German Jews from Rockdale Temple whom he had led since 1858. The red brick Byzantine-Moorish style structure is truly rare— one of only two temples of this style in the United States.
The grandeur of the interior is breathtaking. The temple seats 1,400—1,500 people and its walls and thirteen domes are decorated with abstract motifs reminiscent of Islamic mosques, and artistically rendered Hebrew inscriptions in colorful paint and shining gilt.
During his time in Cincinnati, Wise created not only this beautiful house of worship but an entirely new style of Judaic worship as well, one in which the assimilation of Jews into American society whilst simultaneously keeping their faith was of paramount importance. English was preferred to Hebrew and modernization and progress were valued. In short, Wise founded modern American Reform Judaism. Today, this is the largest denomination of Jews in the United States with an estimated 1.1 million members. Wise also started a newspaper entitled “The Israelite” and its German language supplement “Die Deborah.”
Visitors to the temple are welcome, and entertaining and educational tours are given regularly.
Bibliographical Sources:
The Bicentennial Guide to Greater Cincinnati: A Portrait of Two Hundred Years, by Geoffrey J. Giglierano, Deborah A. Overmeyer, with Frederic L. Propas, The Cincinnati Historical Society, 1988, page 72
Cincinnati’s German Heritage, Don Heinrich Tolzmann, Heritage Books Inc. ,Bowie Maryland, 1994, page 72
Above: The main aisle and altar at The Plum Street Temple
Left: The Rockwern Organ at the Plum Street Temple was originally built by German American Johann Heinrich Koehnken in 1866 . It was restored in 2005 by the Noack Organ Co., founded by Fritz Noack who immigrated to the United States from Germany in 1959.
Photos by Laura Laugle
