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THE SOU T H E R N I S RA E LIT E
Atlanta s Magnificent New Temple Dedicated
The imposing structure of the new Tem
ple on Peachtree Road, standing on a
site, 200 feet wide and 500 feet deep, is
graded so that it has a gradual incline 150
feet back from the street.
The structure consists of two buildings
—the synagogue and a Sunday school,
separated by means of a light court on
the second and third floors, but connected
on the first floor by means of passages
and offices. The synagogue building is en
tered by a vestibule, adjacent to which are
separate retiring rooms for men and wo
men, and stairways leading to the balcony.
The auditorium of the synagogue has
as its plan a large square, surmounted by
an ornamental plaster domed ceiling, which
supports a small dome, so that the entire
height of the auditorium at the center is
82 feet. At each side of the square are
transepts, surmounted by an ornamental
plaster arched ceiling. To the rear of the
auditorium, and above the vestibule, is the
balcony, seating 150 people, while the audi
torium proper seats 750.
The apse contains the pulpit platform,
from which rises the ark, resting on a
marble platform about four feet above the
pulpit platform. The ark, housing the
scrolls, is of bronze. To the rear of the
pulpit platform is the choir gallery, en
tirely hidden from view by means of four
marble columns, between which are dra
peries. At each side of the choir loft are
the two organ chambers, housing the
3,451 pipe Pilcher organ.
The Sunday school building has on the
first floor an assembly hall holding 450,
as well as a kitchen and the rabbi’s suite
of offices. The second and third floors have
eight class rooms, as well as a library,
teachers’ and choir room.
The exterior of the building is designed
after the Colonial manner of the late eigh
teenth and the beginning of the nineteenth
centuries, influenced by classical tradition.
It is built of a red, old Virginia hand
made brick, with cornices and columns o
limestone. The building is capped by a cir
cular dome. Both in the exterior and the
interior symbolical ornament has been
freely used. The architects were Hentz,
Adler and Shutze.
Dedication services of The Temple " l 'ie
formally held Friday, October 16, throug
Sunday, October 19, with distinguished
guests and leaders of Jewry participating
Marking a climax of several >' ea1 /'
labor by leaders of the congregation, t
temple received its first dedication r 1 1 j
night, October 17th, when it was op« ^ •
in the words of Dr. David Marx, * :t!) '
“to the worship of God and the sere
humanity.”
News had spread that this new
of the Hebrew Benevolent Congreg
so long led by Rabbi David Marx,
of the most beautiful religious edihe
the country, and to its services on