THE FOUNDING OF TEMPLE EMANU-EL, 1928 – 1929

The women of Dothan, led by Mrs. Myer Blumberg, started the first official organization of Jews in Dothan with the formation of a Sisterhood chapter.

In 1928, the growing population of Jewish children made the need for a formal congregation more urgent. It was then that Dothan’s Jews formed an organized congregation.

The legally constituted body of Temple Emanu-El of Dothan was formed January 30, 1929, with 14 founding families. Among the founding members were children of Dothan’s earliest Jewish families: Myer Blumberg, Henry Crine, and Joe Kraselsky.

In 1929, under the leadership of its first president, Henry Crine, Temple Emanu-El bought a plot of land to construct its own house of worship.

TEMPLE CONSTRUCTION & OUR FIRST RABBI, 1940 – 1941

Due to the severe economic difficulties of the Great Depression, Temple construction wouldn’t begin until 1940, and wasn’t completed until 1941.

The Dothan Eagle reported on the congregation’s plans to construct Temple Emanu-El, even noting that the “lot has been owned by the Temple Emanu-El organization for more than ten years.” (May 16, 1939.)

In May 1941, Temple Emanu-El welcomed its first full-time rabbi, Rabbi Alfred Wolf, and the congregation participated in service events to support the troops during World War II.

When Rabbi Wolf retired in 1946, the Temple welcomed additional full-time rabbis. Building expansion and improvements continued throughout the mid- and late-twentieth century.

TEMPLE EMANU-EL CELEBRATES GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY, 1979

The Temple’s 50th anniversary was celebrated March 31, 1979 with a luncheon in the Fellowship Hall, followed by an evening party at the Dothan Country Club.

Rabbi Paul Tuchman compiled a unique booklet on the history of Jewish life in Dothan since 1929.

The booklet included letters of reflection from previous rabbis, including a special message from Rabbi Wolf, in which he fondly recalled the early days of Temple Emanu-El.

75th ANNIVERSARY & OUR FIRST FULL-TIME FEMALE RABBI, 2004 – 2017

Temple Emanu-El celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2004. When Rabbi Larry Mahrer retired in 2006, the Temple hired its first full-time female rabbi, Lynne Goldsmith. (Photo: The Dothan Eagle, undated.)

In the fall of 2007, a group of committed members of the Temple, with financial backing from the Blumberg family of Dothan, started the Blumberg Family Jewish Community Services (JCS). The goal, through its Family Relocation Program, was to attract new Jewish families to Dothan.

Rabbi Lynne retired in 2017, after ten years of service. In appreciation of her many contributions, including fostering inter-faith relationships, Dothan Mayor Mike Schmitz (2009-2017) honored Rabbi Lynne and presented her with a key to the city.

CONTINUED GROWTH, 2019 – TODAY

In 2019, for the first time in its history, Temple Emanu-El welcomed a Cantor as its Spiritual Leader. Cantor Neil Schwartz led the our congregation until June 2022.

In recent years, Temple membership has continued to expand and religious school enrollment has grown. Sisterhood, Brotherhood, and Hadassah remain strong and active. Adult education, including weekly Torah study and introductory Hebrew classes, are available to members of all levels of experience.

In 2021, we shared much mazel with the bar mitzvah and confirmation of four of our religious school students. That December, our religious school was named in honor of Edward F. Rudderman, our Temple’s first Bar Mitzvah, and celebrated the completion of a major sanctuary renovation, the first in twenty-five years.

Temple Emanu-El is blessed with a powerful combination of strong lay and spiritual leadership, member involvement, and community support. The result has been a positive, warm, and welcoming congregation.

Members often say that Temple Emanu-El is “small but mighty,” standing tall as the sole Jewish house of worship, study, and assembly within a 90-mile radius.