Mattoon Jewish Community Center

{{Short description|Reform synagogue in Charleston, Illinois, United States}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Mattoon Jewish Community Center | native_name = | native_name_lang = | image = | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = | religious_affiliation = [[Reform Judaism]] | tradition = | sect = | district = | prefecture = | province = | region = | deity = | rite = | festival =  | organisational_status = [[Synagogue]] | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = | bhattaraka = | patron = | consecration_year = | functional_status = Active | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | location = Wesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street, [[Charleston, Illinois|Charleston]], [[Illinois]] 61920 | locale = | municipality = | cercle = | state = | country = United States of America | map_type = Illinois | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location in [[Illinois]] | grid_name = | grid_position = | sector = | territory = | administration = | coordinates = {{coord|39.483106|-88.381603|region:US-IL_type:landmark|format=dms|display=it}} | coordinates_footnotes = | heritage_designation = | architect = | architecture_type = | architecture_style = | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = | established = 1948 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = | construction_cost = | date_demolished =  | facade_direction = | capacity = | length = | width = | width_nave = | interior_area = | height_max = | dome_quantity = | dome_height_outer = | dome_height_inner = | dome_dia_outer = | dome_dia_inner = | minaret_quantity = | minaret_height = | spire_quantity = | spire_height = | site_area = | temple_quantity = | monument_quantity = | shrine_quantity = | inscriptions = | materials = | elevation_m =  | elevation_footnotes = | nrhp = | designated = | added = | refnum = | delisted1_date = | website = | module =  | footnotes = }} The '''Mattoon Jewish Community Center''' (MJCC) is a [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] [[Jewish]] congregation and [[synagogue]] located in [[Mattoon, Illinois]],<ref name="tribune">{{cite news |title=Smallest Jewish congregation in U.S. struggles to survive in central Illinois |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/09/29/smallest-jewish-congregation-in-us-struggles-to-survive-in-central-illinois/ |access-date=2 October 2012 |newspaper=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=29 September 2012 |author=Rubin, Bonnie Miller |pages=1–2 |format=online and hardcopy}}</ref> a city which has had a Jewish community for at least 150 years.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-09-29 |title=Smallest Jewish congregation in U.S. struggles to survive in central Illinois |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2012/09/29/smallest-jewish-congregation-in-us-struggles-to-survive-in-central-illinois-2/ |access-date=2025-12-16 |website=Chicago Tribune |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2012, [[National Post]] reported that MJCC was the smallest Reform congregation in North America, consisting of four households.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Special to National Post |date=October 2, 2012 |title=Smallest Reform Jewish congregation in America fights to hang on |url=https://nationalpost.com/holy-post/smallest-reform-jewish-congregation-in-america-fights-to-hang-on |url-status=live |access-date=December 5, 2025 |work=National Post}}</ref> The next smallest Reform congregation in North America is Temple Beth Tikvah in [[Regina, Saskatchewan]], Canada, with five households.<ref name="tribune" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Union for Reform Judaism |url=http://urj.org/about/union/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090728202303/http://urj.org/about/union/ |archive-date=28 July 2009 |access-date=2 October 2012 |work=urj.org |publisher=[[Union for Reform Judaism]]}}</ref>

As of 2025, the [[Congregationalism|congregation]] has grown to nine households.<ref>{{Cite web |title={{!}} Union for Reform Judaism |url=https://urj.org/congregations/mattoon-jewish-community-ctr-charleston-il |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102062832/https://urj.org/congregations/mattoon-jewish-community-ctr-charleston-il |archive-date=January 2, 2025 |access-date=2025-12-05 |website=urj.org |language=en |url-status=live }}</ref> The congregation's services are held in the [[Wesley United Methodist Church (Austin, Texas)|Wesley United Methodist Church]] at 2206 4th Street in [[Charleston, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mattoon Jewish Community Ctr |url=https://urj.org/congregations/mattoon-jewish-community-ctr-charleston-il |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Union for Reform Judaism}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mattoon Jewish Community Ctr |url=https://rac.org/congregations/mattoon-jewish-community-ctr-charleston-il |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Religious Action Center}}</ref>

== History == {{One source|date=January 2026}} In 1948, the local Jewish community incorporated and established the first organized synagogue in Mattoon.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Directory |url=https://www.churchangel.com/directory/listing/mattoon-jewish-community-center |access-date=2026-01-02 |website=Church Angel |language=en-US}}</ref> A residential house was purchased at 1607 Richmond Avenue for this purpose and was named "The Mattoon Jewish Community Center" (MJCC).{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

MJCC remodeled the interior to include a central assembly and worship area. The [[Torah ark|Ark]], which contained two [[Torah]]s, was at the south end of the room. The [[Ner Tamid|Eternal Light]] hung from the ceiling above the Ark. To its left was the bronze, illuminated Memorial Board, which displayed the names of deceased members of the congregation. An electrical neon sign displaying a [[Magen David]] was in the window and was illuminated during [[Shabbat|Sabbath]] services. The north end of the building featured a professional-style kitchen with a commercial stove and large refrigerator. These facilities were used for community meals and fundraisers.{{Citation needed|date=January 2026}}

In the early 1960s, local businessman and scholar Aaron Steinberg assumed the presidency. For the next 25 years, the MJCC held a regular schedule of worship services and adult education classes. Student [[rabbis]] from the [[Hebrew Union College]] in [[Cincinnati]] led the services and provided adult education.

== Antisemitism == In the spring of 2000, the MJCC was the target of an anti-Semitic organization. [[wanted poster|"Wanted posters"]] were stapled to phone poles and distributed around the neighborhood, threatening messages were left in the mailbox, and a [[swastika]] was spray-painted on the side of the building. In response, Mattoon police provided a visible presence during the [[Passover]] services that year. The MJCC met with local churches and interfaith organizations to organize a public "Not in Our Town" campaign. No further incidents were reported.{{citation needed|date=December 2025}}

== Place of worship == The MJCC congregation currently uses the facilities of the Trinity Episcopal Church at 2200 Western Avenue in Mattoon for Sabbath and the [[High Holy Day]] services.<ref name=tribune /><ref>{{cite web |title=Trinity Episcopal Church, Mattoon, IL |url=http://www.episcopalchurch.org/parish/trinity-episcopal-church-mattoon-il |work=episcopalchurch.org |publisher=The Episcopal Church |access-date=2 October 2012}}</ref> The Ark, containing two Torah [[scrolls]], resides in the [[sanctuary]] next to the altar. The [[Unity Church (Mattoon, Illinois)|Trinity Episcopal Church]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] on March 19, 1982.<ref>{{cite web |author=Small, Dr. Nora Pat |title=Religious Architecture in Coles County: A Timeline |url=http://castle.eiu.edu/~localite/coles/religious.htm |work=castle.eiu.edu |publisher=[[Eastern Illinois University]] |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121212084034/http://castle.eiu.edu/~localite/coles/religious.htm |archive-date=12 December 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=National Register of Historic Places – Trinity Episcopal Church |url=http://mattoonhistory.home.mchsi.com/Leader/HisoricRegister.htm |work=Mattoon History |publisher= |access-date=2 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820194510/http://mattoonhistory.home.mchsi.com/Leader/HisoricRegister.htm |archive-date=20 August 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Larrabee|first=Alice|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Unity Church|url=http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/pdfs/200314.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140320041116/http://gis.hpa.state.il.us/pdfs/200314.pdf|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 20, 2014|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|access-date=March 19, 2014|date=April 30, 1981}}</ref>

== See also == {{stack|{{portal|Chicago|Judaism}}}} * [[History of the Jews in Illinois]] * [[Unity Church (Mattoon, Illinois)]]

== References ==  {{Reflist}}

== External links == * [http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/religion/ct-ct-met-smallest-congregation-b.jpg-20120928,0,45968.photo Photo of Mattoon Jewish Community Center at Trinity Episcopal Church, Yom Kippur, September 2012] * [http://www.chicagotribune.com/videogallery/72554457/News/classified/jobs/classified/jobs/ Video of Mattoon Jewish Community Center at Trinity Episcopal Church, Yom Kippur, September 2012]

[[Category:1948 establishments in Illinois]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1948]] [[Category:Reform synagogues in Illinois]]