Standinr;-, as Dr. Szold did, for moderate reform and meeting with success, both immediate and constant, it is not surprising that he met with opposition in various quarters. Dr. Szold's influence was felt not only by his own congregation but also in the community at large. Soon after his arrival he planned a prayer book, "Abodath Israel," which was in accordance with the needs of the times, and supplanted in many congregations throughout America the ritual then in use. In 1866 the Rev. Alois Kaiser, a pupil of the famous Sulzer, was brought to America as Oheb Shalom's Cantor. Szold and Kaiser worked together for several decades the former exerting a telling influence upon the Jewish life of the community by means of the spoken and written word, the latter by means of musical compositions reflecting the spirit of Jewish idealism in song. During Szold's and Kaiser's administration many justifiable innovations were introduced, all of which had but one object in view, namel}^, the greater beauty and inspiring character of the di-
—
vine service.
While much credit for the steady spiritual growth of Oheb Shalom must be bestowed on these two faithful servants of the Lord, who, alas, have gone to their eternal reward, its institutional prosperity must be attributed to the energy and wisdom of Isaac Strouse, who has been President for the past thirty years, and who has always enjoyed the earnest co-operation of men like the late Vice-President William Schloss, the present Vice-President, Henry Sonneborn, and efficient Boards of Directors. It was during Mr. Strouse's presidency that many important movements were launched, among w^hich the construction of the present handsome Temple, representing an investment of $260,000, is the most important. The cornerstone of the
Temple was
laid
on June 29, 1892
;
and on September
3,
1892, Dr. William Eosenau, whom the con-
the present incumbent, was installed as Eabbi to succeed Dr. Szold,
gregation pensioned on account of declining health. Upon the death of the late Alois Kaiser, the present Cantor, Eev. Jacob Schuman, was chosen.
Ko
sketch of the history of the congregation would be complete without
tioning the valuable contribution
made
to its
men-
growth by the excellent choir the con-
gregation has alwaj^s maintained.
Since September, 1893, marking the removal of the congregation to its present its constituency has grown to such an extent that the seating capacity of the building, amounting to 1,950, is almost entirely rented. The congregation belongs to the so-called "Moderate Eeform" wing of the
home,
Synagogue.
Among
its
educational activities the following should be noted.
It
maintains
a religious school meeting every Sunday, with an enrollment of 225 pupils.
riculum covers a course of eight years, and in
it
Its cur-
the several grades are taught by ex-
perienced salaried teachers. A post-confirmation class is in existence for the purpose Two of getting the young people together for the study of current Jewish topics. Bible classes are conducted. In addition to educational activities, the ladies of the
congregation maintain an auxiliary society.
^^Ulf '^'^—^^-
66