Temple Sinai (New Orleans, Louisiana)

For similarly named synagogues, see Temple Sinai.

Temple Sinai is a historic Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 6227 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States.^[1] It is one of Louisiana's largest Jewish congregations, with a congregation of approximately 450 member families, and its oldest Reform congregation.^[2]

Temple Sinai
Temple Sinai building on St. Charles Avenue
Religion
Affiliation	Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status	Synagogue
Leadership	Rabbi Daniel M. Sherman
Status	Active
Location
Location	6227 St. Charles Avenue in Uptown New Orleans, Louisiana
Country	United States
Location in New Orleans, Louisiana
Geographic coordinates	29°55′59″N 90°7′13″W
Architecture
Type	Synagogue architecture
Date established	1870 (as a congregation)
Completed	1872 (Carondelet Street) 1928 (St. Charles Avenue)
Demolished	1977 (Carondelet Street)
Website
templesinainola.com

History

Temple Sinai was founded in 1870.^[3] The original temple building completed in 1872. It was located at Carondelet Street between Delord Street and Calliope Street.^[4] It was used for the initial site of Southern University.

Maximilian Heller was the temple's rabbi from 1887 until his retirement in 1927.^[5]

In 1928, Temple Sinai moved Uptown to St. Charles Avenue and Calhoun Street, where a new temple was completed.^[6]

The old building was sold to the Knights of Pythias. In the 1930s the Motion Picture Advertising Company purchased the old temple building and remodeled it for its headquarters.^[4] It was demolished in 1977 over the objections of preservationists after a court ruling.^[4]

The rabbi is Daniel Sherman and the cantor is Rebecca Garfein.^[7]

Gallery

• 
  Original Temple Sinai building from an 1895 photograph
• 
  Etching of the original Temple Sinai from the Visitors Guide to New Orleans
• 
  View from the rear of the original temple