History: Expansion

Through the mid-1940's, the focus of the community in Sarasota shifted from the Depression to World War II. In 1943, the Jewish Community was involved with the establishment of the new synagogue on Sixth Street which was open only for Friday evening services. The services were conducted by Joe Idelson, one of our founding members, who instructed Nathan Gold and Bud Levy, the first youngsters to become Bar Mitzvah at our new location. The Bar Mitzvah of Mel Augustine followed at the Sabbath services conducted by his grandfather, who traveled here from Atlanta.

Among those families that made Sarasota their home at this time, was the next generation of the Idelson family.Doris and Sam became the 30th Jewish family in 1945 and Si Tobian, an ex-serviceman stationedin Sarasota, married Edith Idelson at Temple Beth Shoiom. Another couple, Hana and Mike Hinden, arrived in 1946 and became active in the Temple. Hana's brother, Mike Mechlowitz, conducted High Holiday services in 1947 and established the first Hebrew School and Bar Mitzvah training for several children in 1948.

By 1953, the population in Sarasota experienced a Post WW II economic boom. Tourists discovered the area, more people became permanent settlers and the Jewish community began to grow again.

In response to the growth of the Jewish community, Temple Beth Shoiom and the Jewish Community Center completed a renovation and expansion of their facilities on Sixth Street to accommodate the Sunday School originally begun by Rabbi Pizer Jacobs, the first spiritual leader of record at the Synagogue in 1948. A service of rededication was held on February 1, 1953, with the dedication sermon given by Rabbi Joseph Asher, the

Temple's spiritual leader at that time.

Joseph Twain, President, and officers of the Temple in 1952-1953 - M. Aurel Rosin, Isidor Ohringer, Cecelia T. Levy, Isidor Edelson and Sherwin Rosenberg - took great pride knowing that there was now a "new Temple" with a tripling of seating capacity, additional classroom space, the doubling of kitchen space and a modern heating system as well as structures for eventual air conditioning.

However, lack of synagogue parking facilities downtown and the trend of the population to move to the south side of town, made it evident that the congregation's 130 families had outgrown its location at Sixth and Washington Boulevard.