History: The Beginnings

Sarasota, Florida was a small fishing village in 1913 when Philip and Cecilia Levy decided to make this community their home. Little did they realize that they prompted the gradual migration of Jewish families to this area. By 1925, Charles and Doris Twain, Joseph and Rose Idelson, Harry and Clara Chilik, Mr. and Mrs. Ben Shoor and Family, Harry and Riga Augustine and Ben and Rose Handler had become residents of Sarasota. On December 8th of that year, 20 people formed a social organization called The Community Center of Sarasota and Articles of Incorporation were filed.

In 1926 the Jewish Community celebrated Yom Kippur with the first religious services held in Sarasota, on the 2nd floor of the Tyler Building on 3rd Street. Members of the community at that time recall that Calvin Coolidge was President of the United States, the price of gas was $. 10 per gallon, a postage stamp was $.02, and the average annual family income was $1,313.

For Sarasota, in 1927, the real estate boom-turned-bust previewed the stock market crash and the great depression. However, a major turning point in boosting Sarasota's economy occurred in December of that year. John Ringling brought world-wide recognition to this community when he made Sarasota, Florida the winter headquarters of the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Upon opening its doors to the community and tourists, Mr. Ringling gave the receipts from the admission fee to the John Ringling Community Chest Fund, to be used for charity in the community. Coincidentally, Temple Beth Sholom was raising funds for the new synagogue building on Washington Avenue between 6th and 7th Street. t was John Ringling who made the

largest single contribution to the Temple Beth Sholom Building Fund.

As the world around them was changing so were the lives of the Jewish families in Sarasota. High Holiday services in 1927 were conducted at the Women's Club and Minyanim began. By Rosh Hashanah 1928, services were held in the new Temple at Washington Avenue. In 1929, a new influx of congregants to Temple Beth Sholom enhanced our growing membership.