Temple Emanuel (Denver)

{{short description|Reform Jewish congregation and historic synagogues in Denver, Colorado, US}} {{Use American English|date=July 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2024}} {{Infobox religious building | name = Temple Emanuel | native_name = {{langx|he|עִמָנוּאֵל}} | native_name_lang = | image = Temple Emanuel Grape Street.JPG | image_upright = 1.4 | alt = | caption = Current Grape Street synagogue, in 2009 | religious_affiliation = [[Reform Judaism]] | tradition = | sect = | district = | prefecture = | province = | region = | deity = | rite = | festival =  | organisational_status = [[Synagogue]] | ownership = | governing_body = | leadership = {{ubl|{{Nowrap|Rabbi Elizabeth Sacks {{small|(Senior Rabbi)}}}}|{{Nowrap|Rabbi Emily Hyatt {{small|(Senior Rabbi)}}}}|Rabbi Joshua Margo {{small|(Associate Rabbi)}}|Steve Brodsky {{small|(Senior Cantor)}}|{{Nowrap|Rabbi Joseph R. Black {{small|(Rabbi Emeritus)}}}}}} | bhattaraka = | patron = | consecration_year = | functional_status = Active | religious_features_label = | religious_features = | location = 51 Grape Street, [[Denver]], [[Colorado]] | locale = | municipality = | cercle = | state = | country = United States | map_type = Colorado | map_size = 250 | map_alt = | map_relief = 1 | map_caption = Location of the current synagogue in [[Colorado]] | grid_name = | grid_position = | sector = | territory = | administration = | coordinates = {{coord|39|43|0|N|104|55|30|W|region:US-CO_type:landmark|display=inline,title}} | coordinates_footnotes = | heritage_designation = | architect = {{nowrap|1882: [[Frank E. Edbrooke]]}} 1898: {{bulleted list|John Humphreys|{{nowrap|Thielman R. Wieger}}}} {{nowrap|1956: [[Percival Goodman]]}} | architecture_type = [[Synagogue architecture]] | architecture_style = 1882: {{bulleted list|Late Victorian|Eclectic Victorian}} 1898: {{bulleted list|[[Moorish Revival architecture|Moorish Revival]]}} 1956: {{bulleted list|[[Modernist architecture|Modernist]]|[[Usonian architecture|Usonian]]}} | founded_by = | creator = | funded_by = | general_contractor = N.G. Petry Construction {{small|(1956)}} | established = 1874 {{small|(as a congregation)}} | groundbreaking = | year_completed = {{ubl|1882 {{small|(Curtis Street)}}|1898 {{small|(Pearl Street)}}|1956 {{small|(Grape Street)}}}} | 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 = {{url|emanueldenver.org}} | module = {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Temple Emanuel ''Grape'' (1956) | nrhp_type = | designated_other1 = Colorado | designated_other1_date = | designated_other1_number = 5DV.144 | designated_other1_num_position = bottom | area = | added = May 19, 2003 | refnum = 03000403 }} {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Temple Emanuel ''Curtis'' (1882) | nrhp_type = | designated_other1 = Colorado | designated_other1_date = | designated_other1_number = 5DV.144 | designated_other1_num_position = bottom | image = TEMPLE EMANUEL-2400 Curtis.JPG | image_size = 250 | caption = Curtis Street former synagogue, in 2009 | location = 24 Curtis Street | coordinates = {{coord|39|45|16|N|104|59|3|W|display=inline}} | added = October 10, 1978 | area = {{convert|0.2|acre|ha}} | refnum = 78000853 }} {{Infobox NRHP | embed = yes | name = Temple Emanuel ''Pearl'' (1898) | nrhp_type = | designated_other1 = Colorado | designated_other1_date = | designated_other1_number = 5DV.715 | designated_other1_num_position = bottom | image = Temple Emanuel Pearl.JPG | image_size = 250 | caption = Pearl Street former synagogue, in 2009 | location = 1595 Pearl Street | coordinates = {{coord|39|44|29|N|104|58|47|W|display=inline}} | added = November 25, 1987 | area = less than one acre | refnum = 87001554 }} | footnotes = <ref name="nris1">{{NRISref|2008a}}</ref><ref name="nris2">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author= |date=n.d. |title=Clergy |url=https://www.emanueldenver.org/about/clergy |website=Temple Emanuel |location= |publisher= |access-date=December 24, 2025}}</ref> }}

The '''Temple Emanuel''' ({{langx|he|עִמָנוּאֵל||God is with us}}), also known as '''Congregation Emanuel''', is a [[Reform Judaism|Reform]] [[Judaism|Jewish]] congregation and [[synagogue]], located at 51 Grape Street, in [[Denver]], [[Colorado]], in the United States.

Established in 1874, it is the first synagogue in Colorado.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Jewish Community of Denver |url=https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/denver |website=Beit Hatfutsot Open Databases Project |publisher=The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot |date=n.d. |access-date=19 July 2018 |archive-date=July 19, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719113533/https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/denver |url-status=dead }}</ref> In addition to its current synagogue building on Grape Street (1956), the congregation's former synagogue buildings, on Curtis Street (1882) and Pearl Street (1898) in Denver, are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] and the [[Colorado State Register of Historic Properties]].

==History== Founded in 1874 with 22 members, the congregation dedicated its first synagogue building at the corner of 19th and Curtis Streets on September 28, 1875. In 1882, Emanuel built a new facility at 24 Curtis Street. It was "the first major Jewish synagogue in the Denver area" when it was built.<ref name="nrhpdoc1">{{cite web |url={{NRHP url|id=78000853}} |work=National Register of Historic Places |title=Inventory/Nomination Form: Temple Emanuel (1882) |publisher=[[National Park Service]] |author=Langdon Morris & Associates |date=June 1977 |access-date=September 16, 2018}} With {{NRHP url|id=78000853|photos=y|title=accompanying two photos from 1977 and c.1900}}</ref> which was gutted by fire in 1897.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.emanueldenver.org/about-us/our-history |title=About us: Our history |work=Temple Emanuel, Denver |date=n.d. |access-date= }}{{self-published-inline|date=January 2024}}</ref> The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.<ref name=nris2/>

The congregation's third synagogue was built in 1898–1899 and expanded in 1924. John J. Humphreys designed the 1898 building. The 1924 building was designed by Thielman Robert Wieger.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1987 |title=Temple Emanuel, Denver, Colorado National Register of Historic Places Registration Form |url=https://catalog.archives.gov/id/84128889 |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=catalog.archives.gov}}</ref> In 1957 the synagogue was sold to First Southern Baptist Church and then LovingWay Pentecostal Church in 1977. In 1986 the building was acquired by the city of Denver because of a foreclosure process. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.<ref name="nris2" />

Its 1987 NRHP nomination states:<blockquote>Temple Emanuel is the only synagogue in Denver and Colorado designed in the Eastern-Islamic Style. The use of Eastern-Islamic design for synagogues was brought to America by German Jews who had been affected by the reform movement in Judaism and anti-Semitism prevalent in 19th century Europe. Use of the design reflects the problem of retaining Jewish cultural identity while fitting into the Christian society. As a result, the style was acceptable for a place of worship but did not immediately mark it as a traditional synagogue. The Eastern-Islamic architectural mode particularly suited this purpose in addition to evoking an association with the Jewish origins in the Near East. When Temple Emanuel was built, the congregation was largely made up of German and American Jews. The building is similar to synagogues built in the eastern United States and may have been styled after those built in Cincinnati ([[Isaac M. Wise Temple]], 1866) and in New York ([[Congregation Emanu-El of New York|Temple Emanuel]], 1868 and [[Central Synagogue (Manhattan)|Central Synagogue]], 1872).<ref name="nrhpdoc">{{cite web|url={{NRHP url|id=87001554}}|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Temple Emanuel / Temple Center|publisher=[[National Park Service]]|author=Haney, Hal |date=January 29, 1987 |access-date=September 21, 2018}}{{PD-notice}} With {{NRHP url|id=87001554|photos=y|title=accompanying 10 photos from 1984}}</ref></blockquote>

The temple is located in Denver's [[North Capitol Hill, Denver|North Capitol Hill]] neighborhood. Pathways Church acquired the building from the City of Denver in 2005. Pathways Church held services at the building and also ran it as a separate business, the Temple Events Center, until 2013. In 2013 the building and property was sold to Denver Community Church. In 2022, the church announced its plan to move to a former basketball practice facility at 333 & 375 S. Zuni Street in Denver and to sell the Pearl Street Temple Emanuel building.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=Denver Community Church Acquires Former Basketball Practice Facility |url=https://milehighcre.com/denver-community-church-acquires-former-basketball-practice-facility/ |access-date=2022-11-23 |website=Mile High CRE |language=en-US}}</ref>

Rabbi [[William S. Friedman]], a founder of the [[United Way of America|United Way]], served as Rabbi of Temple Emanuel from 1890 to 1941.<ref>{{cite news |author=Davidson, Joanne |title=Davidson: Mile High United Way turns 125; Checking in at Janet's Elway's charity, Janet's Camp |work=[[The Denver Post]] |date=July 8, 2012 |url= |access-date= }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author= |title=Forty-year Ministry of Rabbi William Friedman Celebrated in Denver |work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=February 27, 1930 |url= |access-date= }}</ref>

Temple Emanuel officially celebrated its 75th anniversary on November 20, 1949, announcing at the time it was the oldest and largest synagogue between Kansas City and the West Coast.<ref>{{cite news |author= |title=75th Anniversary of Temple Emanuel in Denver Marked; Synagogue is Now Largest in Area |work=[[Jewish Telegraphic Agency]] |date=November 21, 1949 |url= |access-date= }}</ref>

As "Temple Emanuel", the Pearl Street building was designated a [[Denver Landmark]] in 1987.<ref name=DenverLandmarks>{{cite web |url=https://www.denvergov.org/content/dam/denvergov/Portals/646/documents/landmark/Individual_Landmarks_in_Denver.1.27.2020.pdf |title=Individual Landmarks in the City and County of Denver |publisher=[[City and County of Denver]] |access-date=May 22, 2021 |work=Denver Community Planning and Development }}</ref>

==Present day==

The congregation's current home, located on Grape Street in Denver's [[Hilltop, Denver|Hilltop]] neighborhood, was built in 1956 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.<ref name=nris1/>

Rabbi Joseph R. Black has served as Senior Rabbi since 2010. He was preceded by Rabbi Steven E. Foster who served as Temple Emanuel's spiritual leader from 1981 to 2010 and as Assistant or Associate Rabbi from 1970 to 1981.{{cn|date=November 2023}}

== See also == {{stack|{{portal|Judaism|Colorado}}}} * [[History of the Jews in Denver]] * [[Oldest synagogues in the United States]] * [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Denver, Colorado]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *{{official|https://www.emanueldenver.org}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Emanuel (Denver, Colorado)}} [[Category:1874 establishments in Colorado Territory]] [[Category:20th-century synagogues in the United States]] [[Category:Denver landmarks]] [[Category:Former synagogues in Colorado]] [[Category:Jewish organizations established in 1874]] [[Category:Modernist architecture in Colorado]] [[Category:Modernist synagogues]] [[Category:Moorish Revival architecture in Colorado]] [[Category:Moorish Revival synagogues]] [[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Denver]] [[Category:Percival Goodman synagogues]] [[Category:Reform synagogues in Colorado]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1882]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1899]] [[Category:Synagogues completed in 1956]] [[Category:Synagogues in Denver|Emanuel (Grape Street, Denver, Colorado)]] [[Category:Synagogues on the National Register of Historic Places in Colorado|Emanuel (Grape Street, Denver)]] [[Category:Victorian architecture in Colorado]] [[Category:Victorian synagogues]]