An egalitarian synagogue dedicated to the celebration of Conservative Judaism in Middle Georgia.

Congregation Sha’arey Israel is an egalitarian synagogue dedicated to the celebration of Conservative Judaism and Jewish life in Middle Georgia.

Historical Highlights quoted from Sha’aray Israel’s Website:

On November 10, 1904, fifty-four men petitioned WH. Felton, Jr., Bibb County Superior Court Judge, and were granted a charter incorporating Congregation Sha’arey Israel.

Initially, services were held in rented halls, until a large two-story house on the comer of Oak and Third Streets was purchased for $5,000. Used for services and classes, it also housed the Rabbi and his family. In those early years, the City of Macon gave the congregation the land on Rose Hill for a burial ground. That land is the old part of our present cemetery. The oldest tombstone there is dated 1902.

In 1919 the property on the comer of Plum and First Streets was purchased for $7,000 for the purpose of building a synagogue. Beginning with a fund of $6,000, the forty members of the congregation raised $23,000 among themselves. The building was completed in 1922, and on June 4th of that year a dedication ceremony was held.

From 1922 to 1947 the congregation grew rapidly and religious school enrollment increased. Yet, there were many times that we were without the services of a rabbi. During the war years servicemen stationed here were entertained and public Seders were held by the Ladies Auxiliary. The Auxiliary also adopted two French war orphans and gave them aid until 1950.

In 1948, the two houses on First Street, next to the synagogue, were purchased for $15,000. In 1949, the congregation affiliated with the United Synagogue of America, The campaign to build a center was started in 1950 under the administration of Sidney Backer. In 1953, during the administration of Isidore Goldman, the center was completed. It contained a large auditorium with a stage, a kitchen, ladies lounge, rabbi’s study, library and five classrooms.

In April of 1965, during the administration of Dr Hyman Katz, a total remodeling of the Sanctuary and basement took place. The Plum Street Foyer and the Barnett Chapel were added. The congregation pledged almost the entire sum of $110,000. By December of 1970 the note for remodeling the Synagogue was paid in full.

During 1983 and ’84 a limited remodeling program began. The Rabbi’s study was enlarged and refurbished. With the endowment of the Sarah Mendel Koplin Library Fund in 1984 we were able to relocate and redesign our library. The Fund permitted a significant enlargement of the library collection, and for the first time a systematic cataloging of all library materials was initiated.

During this period three meaningful additions to the Synagogue were made. A Holocaust Memorial Plaque was donated by the Frolich Family and was placed in the sanctuary. The Kessler Torah, smuggled out of Nazi-occupied Austria, was encased in a sealed cabinet and put on permanent display in the Plum Street foyer. 1985 The Synagogue Library won the Solomon Schechter Award for Excellence from the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.