The only synagogue in Wisconsin’s Chippewa Valley.
The gothic revival building was originally constructed in 1916 as Wesleyan Church. It was purchased from the Church in 1960.
The following is courtesy of Temple Sholom:
Jews settled in the Chippewa Valley by 1854. A Jewish cemetery was established in 1885 and the Chippewa Valley Ladies’ Aid Society was established as a Jewish charitable and communal organization in 1897. A religious school was in operation in 1905, probably established some years earlier.
The congregation held High Holy Day services in rented spaces such as the Eau Claire Hotel or the Knights of Pythias and met for other events in members’ homes. The Wesleyan Church was purchased as the first permanent synagogue space and services were first conducted in 1960. In 1969, Temple Sholom formally affiliated with United Synagogue of America, the organization of Conservative Judaism, and continues to maintain that affiliation through the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.
Temple Sholom was in the forefront of introducing gender-equality into ritual practice and the structure of Jewish benevolent organizations. In 1972, Temple Sholom was one of the first Conservative synagogues in the country to allow women to be counted for minyan (10 adult Jews) required for the recitation of certain prayers and to honor women by calling them to recite the blessings on the Torah. Also in 1972, the men’s B’nai Brith chapter voted to drop the clause limiting membership to men, and thus combined the men’s and women’s chapters. This action received national attention.
Over the years, a number of rabbis came from the Minneapolis/St. Paul area to conduct High Holy Day services and for such special events as weddings, funerals and bar mitzvah celebrations.
At the time of this writing, 2016, the congregation numbers approximately 40 member families. Being the only Jewish congregation in the Chippewa Valley, Temple Sholom accepts and enjoys diversity of personality and religious backgrounds, intermarried families and singles are welcomed.
