5015 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205
(615) 352-7620
Judaism has been in the US since colonial times, before we were a nation and even predating the American Revolution. Here in Tennessee, The Temple Synagogue - Ohabai Sholom is the oldest Jewish congregation and it is located in Bellemeade, a suburb of Nashville. It is a beautiful example of how a lovingly practiced religion can celebrate its rich and colorful history through architecture, art and objects while keeping current with the times. So many people are curious about Judaism, and a perfect way to learn about it more is with a tour of a synagogue!
But first a note: As I write this post an attempted shooting has taken place at a Hebrew school in Memphis, and the gunman who committed the deadliest antisemitic attack in US history has been sentenced to death. Hate crimes are sobering, frightful occurrences that happen way too often today, but have been especially perpetrated against Jewish communities in the US. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Antidefamation League, in 2022 there were the largest numbers of incidents ever recorded against Jews in the US, and the numbers are sadly rising. I began this blog in part because I believe that intolerance begins with a choice to see our differences, not the commonalities between us. We can instead choose to appreciate the beauty in someone else’s faith and places of worship. Won’t you please join me as we take a look at both The Temple’s gorgeous synagogue and its significance to the city? Maybe together we can find a way to offer healing and love to those who need it in all of our interfaith communities.
Judaism has a long history in Nashville, dating back to the 1840’a when a small group of Jewish residents began meeting in a home. The community was made up primarily of immigrants from Germany, Russia, and Poland, fleeing the growing oppression and violence of their homelands and seeking refuge in the U.S. By 1851 the group had formed a Benevolent Society, raising money to purchase three acres of land to form a cemetery, and in 1854 a charter was granted to officially name the new Orthodox Jewish community Khal Kodesh Mogen David.
According to the Temple website, the congregation met in various places downtown, dividing into a second congregation along the way. It wasn’t until 1876 that the first dedicated brick and mortar synagogue in Nashville would be built on Vine Street (now Seventh Avenue North). By the time the building was dedicated, the congregation changed from Orthodox to Reform Judaism, and renamed itself Ohabai Sholom. (There are five synagogues in Nashville representing different branches of Judaism which include Orthodox, Reform, Conservative, Progressive, Reconstructionist and Liberal.) The Vine Street Temple was a site to behold, with nine Byzantine style domes, and for 80 years it was a beautiful and dominant building downtown. By 1955, however, with many of the congregation living in the suburbs of West Nashville, the decision was made to build a new synagogue closer to Bellemeade. This lovely building would be named The Temple. (After the congregation moved to West Nashville one of the domes of the downtown synagogue was struck by lightning and the building was demolished. What a terrible loss!)
I entered the Temple for the first time for “A Taste of Judaism” class, one of a series of seminars to introduce people to the faith that was suggested to me by Senior Rabbi Danziger. It was led by a very funny and charismatic Rabbi and was similar to a Bible study class, but with some interesting differences. We studied the Torah (the Old Testament) in the section about Adam and Eve’s fall from grace and discussed it paragraph by paragraph. I learned that the Talmud we studied (the central text and primary source of Jewish religions law and theology) includes the original Hebrew words and their translations, as well as the thoughts of Rabbis from long ago who had considered the meanings of the writings. As with Bibles, there are different versions of the Talmud (as interpretations vary according to its scholars), so you can see where there is lots of possibility for discussion. It illustrated for me quite vividly that Judaism is a living religion, a two-way street between leaders of the faith and the congregation. The Torah itself are kept as scrolls rather than books, and we were also able to see one unscrolled. I was awed by the beauty of the painstakingly handwritten lettering of the sacred script.
I returned a week later for the formal tour led by Sheri Rosenberg, a lovely woman who is the Director of Membership and Inclusion at The Temple. I quickly learned that “inclusion” is, in fact, a serious aspect of the synagogue. The celebration of diversity and a search for connection is alive in this community. I've read that Judaism's core message is to Love God, Love Your Neighbor, and Love The Stranger (my synopsis). Throughout the synagogue I was struck with these commandments found over doorways, etched in glass, and integrated into artwork. (This resonates with me deeply; I understand the wish to connect and live through love.) The Temple synagogue has four primary functions: a House of Learning, a House of Worship, a House of Community and a House of Social Justice, which includes work with Habitat for Humanity and Room At The Inn. A great introduction and Sacred exploration of Judaism that I enjoyed reading is Here All Along: Finding Meaning, Spirituality, and a Deeper Connection to Life – in Judaism*, and I recommend it if you’d like to learn more about the faith.
So, let’s move on to a tour of the synagogue, its art galleries, and Sacred places!
Entering the building I was immediately struck by how much light fills the hallways from the glass roofs, skylights and windows. The way light is used throughout the building, including the chapel and main sanctuary, is absolutely beautiful, and a nod to the talent and artistry of the architects.
My tour began with the Religion School section of the building. It was amazing to see the history of the congregation through pictures of the graduating classes covering nearly a century! From there we visited a room with vaulted glass ceilings where Torahs are displayed, covered with exquisite needlework design. A beautiful stained-glass window representing the Tree of Life frames actual trees on the other side of the glass - a recurring feature in this building that allows the woods outside to be part of the experience inside. (The gorgeous Church of the Disciples in Sewanee is another example of this use of architecture.)
Then on to the library, a gift shop, and a stroll down the lobby with pictures of board members since the non-profit's inception. There are permanent display cases of many historical keepsakes and items, including a Torah, menorahs, and artwork. A stained-glass window from the original Vine Street Temple is here, rescued from a TGI Fridays!
At last, we entered my two favorite spaces: the Chapel, where I took the class, and the main Sanctuary, both of which are absolutely beautiful and so peaceful. The scrolls of Torahs are kept in exquisite covers in an Ark behind the podium, and a representation of the Eternal Flame hangs above them. Every detail of the design of both spaces is so thoughtfully created, and the inclusion of the natural world adds a great deal to the overall aesthetic.
Outside of the main lobby is an enclosed courtyard which also functions as a sculpture garden. This space holds the cornerstone of the original Vine Street Temple, as well as a steel sculpture created by Manuel Zeitlin Architects that is meant to represent the Tree of Life.
I can't speak of this Sacred space without stating the obvious: art is essential to the experience of this synagogue! I have been to churches before that had art exhibits, such as the incredible Downtown Presbyterian Church (which itself is a work of art!), but rarely have I been to a house of worship that has a large gallery. Every one of the pieces installed here feels curated and meaningful. This building was clearly designed to be bathed in light to allow for immersion into the artwork, and into spirit. The way sculptures, glass, mosaics and textiles are displayed inside the Chapel and Sanctuary are stunning and a very deliberate extension of the art gallery just outside their doors. The art collection, religious ornaments and historical pieces are best experienced through a tour; if only we had one...but wait, we do! “The Temple Nashville Art Collection Tour” app is a fabulous way of exploring the art collection room by room, often with narration, and is highly recommended!
I hope that, like me, you’ve come away from this exploration of Judaism with a bit more respect and appreciation than before you started. There’s a great deal to enjoy here, so much tradition and history to value. To me, Judaism is a beautiful old and mystical religion, and to have the opportunity to join in a class, visit the synagogue and immerse myself in the art treasures was fantastic. Thank you, Ohabai Sholom, for welcoming me and others to your light-filled halls and sharing your values of inclusivity and justice! I know this won’t be my last visit and look forward to the next time I’m there.
The Temple is located in Belle Meade on Harding Pike. Use your GPS or look carefully, because this section of Harding Pike is very wooded and it can be easily missed. To arrange for a tour of the Temple, or to sign up for an introductory class to Judaism, please email info@templenashville.org, or call (615) 352-7620.
You may also be interested in reading about The Temple Cemetery in North Nashville here, which is the oldest Jewish Cemetery in Tennessee and is truly fascinating!
* I am an Amazon Associate and I earn from qualifying purchases. I hope you’ll consider purchasing using my link so that I can keep the blog going!
You’re right, like many I’ve always been fascinated by Judaism. Thank you for sharing this wonderful info and introducing me to this beautiful synagogue on the eve of Yom Kippur!