LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 85th Anniversary of Temple
Beth-El of Poughkeepsie, New York, to be celebrated on June 10, 2012

WHEREAS, Religious institutions, and the many spiritual, social and
educational benefits they confer, play a vital role in the development
of the moral fabric of a responsible citizenry; and
WHEREAS, It is the tradition of this State and this Nation to pay
tribute to those institutions and individuals who have contributed to
the ethical and spiritual values of their communities; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body takes pleasure in commemorating the
85th Anniversary of Temple Beth-El of Poughkeepsie, New York, to be
celebrated at a Gala on Sunday, June 10, 2012, at Locust Grove in Pough-
keepsie; and
WHEREAS, Temple Beth-El began with a band of 13 families from Pough-
keepsie who were seeking a Conservative Jewish house of worship; these
pioneering individuals included H. Albert, B.T. Braw, I. Fleishman, H.
Goldstein, Dr. M. Katz, D.C. Klein, J. Lass, J. Perlmutter, H. J.
Rosen, Major R. Rosen, I. H. Spitz, and I. Tofel; and
WHEREAS, In 1925 and 1926, this group held Conservative-style services
on the High Holy Days in a meeting hall offered by Mr. I. H. Spitz on
the second floor of the Fallkill Building at the corner of Main and
Washington Streets; and
WHEREAS, During the months that followed, this small group became
increasingly attached to the idea of founding a new synagogue grounded
in the values of the Conservative Movement; and
WHEREAS, In October 1927, the opportunity arose to purchase a building
located at 110-112 Montgomery Street which had previously housed another
religious group called The Society of Friends; and
WHEREAS, At a meeting held on October 9, 1927, with the 13 founders
present, it was unanimously resolved to incorporate Temple Beth-El of
Poughkeepsie, New York; these same parties signed the Certificate of
Incorporation on October 31, 1927; and
WHEREAS, Major R. Rosen became the first elected President of the
newly formed synagogue, and approximately a year later, the new building
was officially opened on Montgomery Street; and
WHEREAS, In 1935 Rabbi Abraham Haselkorn became religious leader of
Temple Beth-El; he remained the synagogue's Rabbi until 1942; from
1942-1946, Rabbi Holtzer served as the synagogue's spiritual leader; and
WHEREAS, Rabbi Erwin Zimet became the congregation's Rabbi in 1946,
his notable tenure lasting for 40 years; Rabbi Zimet and his wife Lilli
were contributors to Temple Beth-El's greatly expanded program of offer-
ings, which included organization of both a High Holiday and a junior
choir; and
WHEREAS, Lilli Zimet took on the responsibilities as principal of the
synagogue's Religious School, overseeing a broad range of programs for
pre-school children through high school seniors; and
WHEREAS, The congregation grew to 350 families by the mid-1950s while
worshiping on Montgomery Street, and the synagogue's leaders recognized
the need for a larger building; and
WHEREAS, In 1957, construction was completed and the congregation
moved to Temple Beth-El's present home at 118 South Grand Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The congregation continued to grow, exceeding 800 families by
the mid-1980s; during this growth phase (in 1967), the congregation
hired Cantor Joseph Wieselman; and
WHEREAS, Twenty-three years later, in 1990, Cantor Wieselman was
succeeded at Temple Beth-El by Cantor Rena E. Shapiro, the synagogue's
first and only female clergy member to date; and

WHEREAS, Since August 2006, Rabbi Neal Joseph Loevinger has served as
Temple Beth-El's spiritual leader; and
WHEREAS, In 2002, Temple Beth-El was awarded a multi-year STAR Syna-
plex grant, one of just eleven synagogues in North America to be so
recognized at the time; and
WHEREAS, The congregation began a three-year journey in which innova-
tive and creative programming was developed to augment traditional
Sabbath offerings and engage a broader share of the area's unaffiliated
Jewish community; and
WHEREAS, Today, Temple Beth-El remains the region's largest Jewish
institution; the vital congregation and its leaders continue to adapt to
the changing needs and demographics of the community while maintaining
the standards of Conservative Judaism that have clearly defined and
distinguished it since its founding 85 years ago; and
WHEREAS, Temple Beth-El of Poughkeepsie stands on the threshold of
tomorrow, prepared to meet the challenges of the coming decades while
retaining that spiritual resolve which characterizes its past; and
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to take note of
enduring religious institutions and to bring such institutions to the
attention of the people of this Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 85th Anniversary of Temple Beth-El of Poughkeepsie, New
York, to be celebrated on June 10, 2012, fully confident that this
commemoration reflects the belief in those values which enhance the
dignity and purpose of life; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Temple Beth-El of Poughkeepsie, New York.