St. Paul Apostolic Temple Church

Originally Temple Israel, founded in 1941 by Rabbi Leon Fram, the head of a group that split from the congregation of Temple Beth-El, Detroit's oldest Jewish congregation, to start a Reform congregation. Rabbi Fram had previously been an associate rabbi at Temple Beth El where he had been extremely active in liberal causes including labor and politics. The new Temple Israel began holding services at the Detroit Institute of Arts. Although liberal in beliefs, the temple was more traditional than Beth El, and began to revive ceremonies such as bar mitzvahs and the use of Hebrew in services. Temple Israel soon became one of Detroit's largest Jewish congregations with many of its members living in the Palmer Park area. By the late 1940s the congregation was ready to build its new synagogue at 17400 Manderson Road with Louis Schostak as chairman of the Building Committee. The synagogue was a vast complex, built in stages between 1949 and 1961 and designed by architect William E. Kapp. Kapp was a well-known designer with the firm of Smith, Hinchman and Grylls in the 1920s who designed the Music Hall and Meadowbrook Hall in Rochester while with that firm. He went on his own after 1941; designs by his own firm included the Detroit Historical Museum and several public libraries. The first section of Temple Israel, dedicated in 1951, contained an auditorium, offices and social facilities. The dedication extended over four days and was attended by Mayor Albert Cobo and Governor G. Mennen Williams. By the time of completion in 1961 the complex had added a school, chapel, youth hall and library. By the 1970s, the Jewish population had begun to migrate out to the newer suburbs beyond the city's borders. In 1970-71 membership roster of the Temple Israel's Men's Club listed the majority of its members as living in Southfield. In 1979, Temple Israel left the building on Manderson Road for a new synagogue constructed in West Bloomfield. The complex is now owned by Saint Paul Life and Praise Center. (Source: Detroit Historic Designation Advisory Board.)