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Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center

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Coordinates: 34°10′14″N 118°05′52″W / 34.17057°N 118.09779°W / 34.17057; -118.09779
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Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
Religion
AffiliationConservative Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
Leadership
  • Cantor Ruth Berman Harris
  • Rabbi Gilbert Kollin (Emeritus)
StatusActive
Location
Location1434 N. Altadena Drive, Pasadena, California 91107
CountryUnited States
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center is located in the Los Angeles metropolitan area
Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center
Location in Los Angeles, California
Geographic coordinates34°10′14″N 118°05′52″W / 34.17057°N 118.09779°W / 34.17057; -118.09779
Architecture
TypeSynagogue
StyleMission Revival
Date established1921 (as a congregation)
Completed1945
DestroyedJanuary 7, 2025 (Eaton Fire)
Website
pjtc.net
The building shortly after the Eaton Fire in 2025

The Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center (PJTC) is a Conservative Jewish congregation, synagogue and community center located in Pasadena, California, United States. Its buildings were destroyed in the January 2025 Eaton Fire.[1]

History

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Attempts to organize Pasadena’s Jewish community occurred in 1907 and in 1912. Temple B’nai Israel of Pasadena was incorporated in 1921. An initial home for the congregation was completed in 1923,[2] "at the corner of Walnut and Hudson streets in downtown Pasadena".[3] In the 1930s, Albert Einstein visited the community.[3] In 1941, the congregation purchased the Mission Revival-style building on North Altadena Drive.[3] The new building had "a wooden Torah ark carved by the Jewish artist Peter Krasnow".[4]

In 1949 the congregation changed its name from Temple B’nai Israel to the Pasadena Jewish Community, and in c. 1956 to Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center.[2] In the 1970s, the congregation hosted a concert by Van Halen.[3]

In 1997, PJTC merged with Shomrei Emunah of Sunland-Tunjunga, and, in 2009, PJTC merged with Shaarei Torah of Arcadia.[2][3] As of January 2025, the congregation has about 400 member families.[5]

Eaton Fire

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The campus's three buildings were destroyed in the January 2025 Eaton Fire.[1] All 13 Torah scrolls were removed from "the sanctuary, chapel, and classrooms" ahead of the fire and stored in a congregant's home.[5][6]

Affiliates

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Until the Eaton Fire destroyed its campus, PJTC hosted on its campus several organizations including the United Synagogue Youth, the Weizmann Day School (between 1983 and 2020), and, since 2014, housed the B’nai Simcha Jewish Community Preschool.[2][7] The Center has acted as an incubator for the development of Jewish leadership for the wider Pasadena Jewish community.

References

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  1. ^ a b Antoinette Radford; Holly Yan; Andy Rose; Lauren Mascarenhas; Elise Hammond; Aditi Sangal; Rachel Ramirez; Taylor Romine; Tori B. Powell; Emma Tucker; Helen Regan; Karina Tsui; Hanna Park (January 8, 2025). "Live updates: Los Angeles wildfires race through Pacific Palisades and Eaton Canyon". CNN. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d Several, Michael (February 2017). "Our history". Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center. Retrieved November 6, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e "History, community ties anchor Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center on its centennial year". San Gabriel Valley Tribune. April 3, 2022. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  4. ^ Cramer, Philissa (January 8, 2025). "Pasadena synagogue burns down as fires rage across Southern California". The Jerusalem Post. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  5. ^ a b Netburn, Deborah (January 9, 2025). "This Pasadena Temple burned in the Eaton Fire. Leaders vow to keep its spirit alive". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  6. ^ Cohen, Benyamin (January 8, 2025). "'Do you have the Torahs?' Synagogue races LA wildfire to rescue its past and future". The Forward. Retrieved January 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Guzman-Lopez, Adolfo (January 9, 2025). "Eaton Fire destroys campus of Pasadena Jewish Temple and Center". LAist. Retrieved January 9, 2025.

Further reading

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  • Fingerhut, Dr Gene. The Story of PJTC.
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