Bush Street Temple

The former Ohabai Shalome Synagogue (Hebrew: בית הכנסת אוהבי שלום ) is located at address 1881 Bush Street in San Francisco. The building still standing today, that is no longer used as a religious building is under monument protection (San Francisco Landmark # 81). It was founded in 1895 on behalf of the Jewish community Ohabai Shalome (Hebrew אֹהֲבֵי שָׁלוֹם, to German: lovers of peace ) was built according to the architect Moses J. Lyons and consecrated on 15 September 1895. The building is the oldest still existing synagogue in San Francisco.

Prehistory

The municipality was created in 1864 as Ohabai Shalome secession from the congregation Emanu -El, one of two former Jewish communities of San Francisco. Its members established in 1865 a first synagogue in the Mason Street. Because over time attracted many members of the community in other areas of the city, a move the synagogue, land was also considered and to this end sought.

The building

With the planning and execution of the building was probably the first approved Jewish architect of San Francisco, Moses J. Lyon, commissioned, who created an eclectic building in which allied themselves Moorish, Venetian, Romanesque and Gothic elements.

The loggia was modeled on the Doge's Palace in Venice, the two towers of the facade reminiscent of minarets. The aim of the architects was to create a unique, monumental building, which still could not be confused with a church.

Lyon used as building material for the most part worked Redwoodholz, which was designed on the inside with the help of trompe l'œiltechniken as marble.

The building survived the earthquake and the subsequent fire to him in 1906, but was damaged in a storm in 1915. Therefore, after the twin towers were redesigned.

Sale to the Buddhist community and use as Zen Center

After following a series of setbacks for the community Ohabai Shalome the funds were scarce, the municipality sold the building to a native of Japan Zen Buddhists Teruro Kasuga, who established a mission of Soto Shuu- school there. This was until 1942, the year in which the Japanese or japan -born citizens of San Francisco were interned. Following this, a Christian group occupied the building, but this had to be returned to its original owners in 1946.

These use the building until 1973 or 1975; then they gave it up and sold it to an urban development company.

After the abandonment of the building

On April 18, 1976, the building was declared a national monument, renovated in 1978 and 1979 and then served in the short term under the name Pacific Hall as the city's convention and cultural center, and later as a Japanese Go club. An attempt by the local Jewish architect and historian Felix M. Warburg fans in the early 1980s to convert the building into a Jewish cultural center, could not be realized due to lack of financial resources.

Finally, the building in 1996 of the Japanese American Religious Federation ( Jarf ) was awarded, which acquired it in 1997 for the symbolic price of one dollar. In collaboration with architect Steve Suzuki, the building was renewed; subsequent land has been included in the construction with. Since 2003 there is a facility for assisted living for elderly people with Japanese ancestry named Kokoro.

When it was taken on September 21, 2002 as part of the renovation of the foundation stone in 1895, were among the more than 40 documents in it and those which suggest that in 1895 the foundation stone of the first synagogue of the congregation of 1865 in these was recorded.