Forest Avenue Synagogue (k/n/a Golf Manor Synagogue), Cincinnati, Ohio - Golden (50th) Anniversary Book, 1904 - 1954

1954

caption:
ish families and so there seemed only one course—to move the congregation to Avondale.

It was not easy to abandon the little house of worship on Clark street. It had become a little "Beth Hamikdosh" to the survivors of the founders and there was a natural reluctance to leave. That first synagogue where the congregation worshipped from 1924 to 1931 represented so much painful striving that to some of the members it seemed almost sinful to talk about moving to a better locality.

Another merger however was in store before the congregation finally came to safe harbor. The Bnai Jacob Congregation, formed in a cleavage of the Anschei Poland Congregation when the latter moved to Avondale to form the present Beth Midrash Hagodol, obtained as its spiritual leader the late great Rabbi Joseph Mayer Levin. In 1931 Bnai Jacob secured the present property at 521 Forest Avenue. Two years later Anschei Sholom, led by Mr. Jack Horwitz and Beth Jacob Congrega-tion led by Mr. Aaron Wolf, united under the name of Agudas Israel Congregation Beth Hakne-seth Joseph Mayer, thus honoring its great Rabbi Levin who had gone to his reward in 1929. This union was joined later by the Bnai Israel Congregation.

The Rabbis who inspired and led the congregation all were men of rare ability who combined profound learning with qualities of leadership. In addition to Rabbi Levin we had as guide and teacher Rabbi J. Hochstein, Rabbi Bzalel Epstein and at the present time we have as our spiritual leader the sainted beloved Rabbi David I. Indich, who is with us on this felicitous event.

Kol od ba-le-vov, p'ni-moh, Ne'fesh y'hu-di ho-mi-yoh, Ul-fa-asc mizroch ko-di-moh A- yin l'tzi-on tzo-fi-yoh.
Od lo ov-doh sik-vo-se-nu Ha-tik-voh han-no-sho-noh Lo-shuv l'e-rets avo-se-nu Lc-ir boh, Do-vid cho-noh.

HATIKVAH
Kol od d'mo-os me-enei-nu Yiz-lu k'ge-shem n'do-vos, Ur'vo-vos mib-nei a-mei-nu Od hol-chim al kivrei o-vos. Od lo vo-doh. . .
Kol od choy-mas mach-ma-dei-nu L'ei-nei-nu moy-fu-as, V'al churban mik-do-shei-nu A-yin a-chas od doy-mu-as. Od lo vo-doh. . .