In 1868 two Jewish merchants, Simon Barnum and Moses Snattinger, arrived in Topeka, Kansas, according to “The Spirit Unconsumed,” a book written about Temple Beth Sholom. They started a Chevrah Kidisha Bicor Cholim for the community in 1872 to help with the sick and provide burial rites and to acquire land for a cemetery.
In 2018, 150 years later, the Jewish community in Topeka continues. This summer the Jewish community is celebrating the creation of the Jewish community as well as the 90th anniversary of the establishment of Temple Beth Sholom. Throughout the past year, several events have taken place, but the culmination will be on Aug. 18, when an Anniversary Gala will be held in the Temple Beth Sholom Social Hall. The evening will feature a catered dinner and entertainment. Special guests expected to attend include Rabbi Larry Karol, a former rabbi of the congregation, and his wife, Rhonda, as well Topeka Mayor Michelle De La Isla.
“This small congregation has been the home for all of the Jews of Topeka for almost a century,” said Rabbi Debbie Stiel, the current rabbi of the congregation. “It is pretty amazing that Jews coming from all backgrounds — from Orthodox to Reform, have all found a home in this one congregation for so long. And, somehow, we manage to get along very well. This is a very active small congregation and a very warm — the Hebrew word is haimish — one. We have a strong sense of community, and yet we also love to welcome newcomers and spiritual seekers.”
According to old records, the earliest Jewish settlers in Topeka probably held worship services in people’s homes.
“With time, the Topeka Jewish community grew larger and formed two congregations,” according to Rabbi Stiel. Eventually the more traditional (Orthodox) and liberal congregations joined together.”
Jack Wisman and his brother, Alan Wisman, are the third generation of their family to belong to Temple Beth Sholom. Their grandparents, Nathan and Ethel Einstein, came to Topeka at the turn of the 20th century, Ethel around 1903 and Nathan in 1905. They were merchants in Topeka, opening an army/navy store in 1910 with some friends.
At the time there were two synagogues in Topeka, and the Einsteins were active members of the more traditional congregation. When the two congregations merged in 1928 and became Temple Beth Sholom, Nathan was a positive force.
“My mother, Fannie, said that the Orthodox Jews had a difficult time at first because now all the liturgy was based on the Reform movement,” said Alan, a former Temple president and current treasurer of the Temple’s board. “But from our grandfather’s point of view, he felt strongly that having a strong Jewish community was more important, whether Orthodox or Reform.”
Jack, who is also a past president, pointed out that Temple Beth Sholom has always has been more traditional than a typical Reform congregation.
“Even when Reform was at its most reformed, in our congregation men wore yarmukles and tallises. I think it was because they wanted to make the Orthodox feel more comfortable. I expect that is part of the reason. They also kept more Hebrew in the service than is typical in a Reform congregation.”
Current membership rolls show that Jewish families in Topeka are loyal to the congregation. There are families who have been members for four generations.
Rabbi Stiel said the anniversary celebration honors all who have helped the Jewish community in Topeka thrive.
“The Jewish community in Topeka may have had as many as 900 individuals,” Rabbi Stiel said. “Throughout the 1900s many of the business owners on Kansas Avenue and the surrounding downtown area were Jewish.”
Jack said the Menniger Foundation and Clinics also brought many Jewish families to Topeka.
“When they closed here, it was a real loss for the Jewish community in Topeka,” Jack said. “We are still struggling with that.”
But as the only synagogue between Lawrence and Denver, Jack noted that Topeka Beth Sholom has become more of a regional congregation.
“We have members from Lawrence, from KU, from K State, from Emporia State, military folks from Junction City and people who work in state government,” Jack said. “We actively encourage members from all over. We want to be open to everyone. Even short-term members of the community are welcome.”
The congregation is now relatively small, with about 18-24 children in the religious school. But being small, in this time of mobility, can be a positive, according to Rabbi Stiel.
“We love to welcome the new folks, and often they become integral parts of our congregation. I feel that one of the blessings of a small congregation is that truly everyone is needed and everyone can get involved. Being small means we also can be very responsive to the desires of our community. We can fairly easily assess and focus on whatever we, collectively, want to for our adult education, worship, religious school and social action. It is not hard to move a small ship around. In that way the congregation is like a family — we do a lot together as a fairly cohesive group.”
Rabbi Stiel believes having an active Jewish synagogue in the capitol city of Topeka is important.
“For one thing, we are a home for the Jews who work in state government. Many of them would not want to settle in Topeka if there was not a synagogue for them and their families to attend,” she said.
The presence of Temple Beth Sholom in Topeka is significant for another reason as well.
“We are the go-to congregation in this city for Jewish concerns,” Rabbi Stiel added. “For example, the Annual Kansas State Holocaust Commemoration has been chaired by people from our congregation for many years. I am also often called upon for things like welcoming the Israeli Consul General or when someone wants a Jewish prayer offered in the State Legislature. Our congregants also speak to our legislators and attend state rallies on matters that Jews are concerned about such as poverty, religious tolerance, immigration, and abortion rights.
Jack echoes Rabbi Stiel’s comments.
“We are in the capitol of Kansas. So we are more aware and more involved politically. We are aware and know the importance of being representative of the Jews in the state of Kansas and we act knowing that. It is something that we rate highly here. We know our position and we want to be a positive force for the Jewish community.”
“Topeka is a good place,” Jack continued. “We are happy here. My brother and I went elsewhere for college. We never thought we would come back. But we did. And we are happy we did. It is a small place, but we can really make a mark here. With hard work, you can make a real difference in this city and in this congregation. And we and our wives feel good because we have made a difference.”
Like their grandparents, Alan pointed out that the majority of Jewish folks who were in Topeka in the Jewish community’s early years were merchants or became merchants. One of the most important merchant families to the Temple Beth Sholom community was the Pozez family who started Payless Shoe Store.
“The Pozez family were very successful and helped set up an endowment fund, The Temple Beth Sholom Endowment, in the 1960s and ’70s that still helps the community. We are very blessed to have this endowment because it helps sustain us and keep us out of debt,” Alan said.
The Temple has set up a special Anniversary Challenge to help grow the endowment. Three Temple families are matching donations up to $20,000, so every dollar given is being matched three to one. This will help build a strong tomorrow for Jews in Topeka. Donations to this challenge will be acknowledged at the Gala. Send donations to Temple Beth Sholom, 4200 SW Munson Avenue, Topeka, KS 66604.
The Aug.18 celebration is open to members of the Jewish community. The event is $30 for adults and $18 for children under 13. Reservations can be made by calling the Temple at 785-272-6040.
