History of Congregation Adath Israel, Cincinnati Ohio

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The cornerstone was laid on June 20th,1926. Dr.Kauvar, of Denver, Colorado, was the principal speaker. The Honorable Murray Seasongood, Mayor of Cincinnati, delivered an inspiring address. Miss Seasongood and Miss Marian Ruth Weiland lowered the century box into the cornerstone.

Among the objects placed in the box for the curious eyes of the future historian were a history of the congregation, a copy of the Standard Prayer Book, copies of current English and Jewish newspapers and periodicals, postage stamps of the United States and of Palestine, and the program and invitation of the cornerstone-laying.

On July 25th of the same year the cornerstone of the Center Building was laid under the auspices of the Adathean Society, with Dr. Louis  A.Lurie, its President, as Chairman. By autumn construction on the Synagogue had advanced far enough to permit the holding of services for the High Holidays.

The plans of the Building Committee were ambitious. This was reflected by the fact that on Jan.26th,1927, at the Committee's invitation, Dr.Boria Schatz, famous artist and sculptor, and head of the Bezalel School of Arts and Crafts in Palestine, met with the Board to make suggestions as to the decorations in the new Synagogue building. A large bronze plate completely covering the front of the reading desk on the pulpit is the product of the Bezalel School of Palestine, now Israel.

One of the striking features of the imposing Synagogue is the large dome overhead. Around its base are to be found a number of passages expressing religious sentiments taken from the Pentateuch, the Psalms, the Prophets, the Mishnah and other works of the poets Solomon Ibn Gabirol and Hayim Nachman Bialik. These were selected and arranged by Rabbi Feinberg. The beautiful stained glass windows designed to represent the Jewish holidays lend another aesthetic touch to this house of worship.

 The building was finally completed in 1927 at a total cost of $445,000. There was an indebtedness of $269, 500, of which $224,500 was in the form of a mortgage and $45,000 was a bank loan.