Rabbi Isserman served Congregation Temple Israel, St. Louis, Missouri for over 34 years (1929-1963) and he is listed along with other rabbis who served St. Louis congregations. You can find the full list at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS.
__________________________________
** EDUCATIONAL AND RABBINATE CHRONOLOGY **
1922
Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, OH
Rabbi ordination
1925-1929
Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
Rabbi
1929-1963
Congregation Temple Israel, St. Louis, MO
Senior Rabbi
__________________________________
In 1929, one year after the death of Dr. Harrison, the search committee, impressed by the outstanding record of the young rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple of Toronto, Canada, called Ferdinand Myron Isserman to the pulpit of Temple Israel. His dynamic ministry in Toronto had been dramatic. He inaugurated Sunday services; he initiated the first pulpit exchange between a rabbi and a Christian minister in the British empire; and both men attracted large numbers of Jews and Christians to their services. A similar ecumenical climate in St. Louis provided the tall, blonde, young preacher with further opportunities for interfaith projects. With his friends Bishop Scarlett (Episcopalian), and Bishop Holt (Methodist), he organized the Social Justice Commission of St. Louis. They faced many social challenges. Among them was the threatened street car strike in St. Louis which they averted and the coal miners strike in Illinois which they tried to settle. Rabbi Isserman took the leadership role in organizing an ecumenical conference which led to the first chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in St. Louis, and in 1936, he initiated the annual Institute on Judaism at Temple Israel where large numbers of Christian clergy came to hear Jewish scholars lecture on Torah. Because three churches stood at Kingshighway and Washington, the intersection became known at Holy Corners. Rabbi Isserman in 1930 began a series of annual dinner meetings, sponsored by the Temple Israel Brotherhood, for the men's clubs of Temple Israel, the Second Baptist Church and St. John's Methodist. Ecumenical programs followed each dinner sponsored by the host congregation. Although Temple Israel and Second Baptist relocated, the annual interfaith dinners continued.
The same zeal with Rabbi Isserman brought to his work with the Christian community was evidenced in his determination to provide enlarged quarters for the congregation. Membership growth caused the congregation to hold High Holy Day services at the Scottish Rite Temple on Lindell and religious school sessions at the Y.M.H.A.- Y.W.H.A. on Union Boulevard. His efforts were rewarded when the Temple House, west of Temple Israel's sanctuary, was dedicated in 1932.
While Still in Toronto, Rabbi Isserman had dreamed of trying to reduce racial tensions by founding at inter-racial nursery. In St. Louis, he shared his feelings with Mrs. Herbert S. Schiele, president of the Sisterhood of Temple Israel. She seized the ball and ran with it. There were many problems to be solved and many personalities were involved. Many worked devotedly, and in February 1951, the Nursery Foundation of St. Louis was given membership in the St. Louis Community Chest, and in February, 1952, the house at 1218 N. Euclid was dedicated at the home for the first inter-racial nursery in Missouri.
Rabbi Isserman was not only an innovator, he was a rebel as well. He wrote REBELS AND SAINTS and THIS IS JUDAISM, books which stressed the message of the Prophets of Israel who where the inspiration for his rabbinate. He fought passionately against minimum dues and assigned seating in the Temple and had both rules eliminated. He gave a series of lectures on radio KSK on Sunday mornings which reached large number of Christians as well as Jews.
Two of his published pamphlets were in demand by rabbis over the country; one was THE JEWISH JESUS AND THE CHRISTIAN CHRIST and the other THE JEWS OF NAZI GERMANY, SENTENCED TO DEATH. He wrote the latter after he had seen first-hand at great personal risk the condition of Jews in Germany after Hitler came to power, and he sounded one of the first alarms of the grave dangers ahead.
During World War II, he served in North Africa with the American Red Cross. Many of his experiences were incorporated in the book he wrote after the War entitled, "A Rabbi with the American Red Cross." He took a leave of absence from his pulpit during this time.
But Rabbi Isserman hated war and loved peace. Temple Israel religious school participated for many years with the children of the neighboring Christian churches in a service for peace. A pamphlet he wrote, "Children's Peace Sermons," was adopted by over twenty-five temple sisterhoods. In 1936, he traveled extensively under the auspices of the peace Emergency Committee speaking vigorously for peace. He made significant contributions to the Jewish Community on a national basis as well as locally. He traveled widely raising funds for the joint Distribution Committee and The Jewish Welfare Fund. He broadcast services on Church of the Air and the World Friendship programs. His speech on the Message of Israel radio series, "Jewish Jesus and Christian Christ," brought the heaviest fan mail in its history.
Written by Samuel Rosencranz, Ph.D. for Temple Israel's booklet titled HISTORY OF TEMPLE ISRAEL 1886-1986...One Hundred Years in the Life of the Congregation 5647-5747. Reprinted with Permission
_________________________
Top photo Courtesy of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES.ORG
_________________________
Scroll down this page and click on the access link on the right to reveal more photos. Double click on any photo image and then scroll down to reveal any captions, sources, or attributions.
_________________________
The rabbi featured on this Find A Grave page is one of many included in a "Virtual Cemetery" of rabbis who've passed but who served on St. Louis pulpits during their rabbinate. The complete "Virtual Cemetery" list can be found at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS. Questions about this "Virtual Cemetery" project may be directed to:
Steven Weinreich
Email: [email protected]
__________________________________
** EDUCATIONAL AND RABBINATE CHRONOLOGY **
1922
Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, OH
Rabbi ordination
1925-1929
Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
Rabbi
1929-1963
Congregation Temple Israel, St. Louis, MO
Senior Rabbi
__________________________________
In 1929, one year after the death of Dr. Harrison, the search committee, impressed by the outstanding record of the young rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple of Toronto, Canada, called Ferdinand Myron Isserman to the pulpit of Temple Israel. His dynamic ministry in Toronto had been dramatic. He inaugurated Sunday services; he initiated the first pulpit exchange between a rabbi and a Christian minister in the British empire; and both men attracted large numbers of Jews and Christians to their services. A similar ecumenical climate in St. Louis provided the tall, blonde, young preacher with further opportunities for interfaith projects. With his friends Bishop Scarlett (Episcopalian), and Bishop Holt (Methodist), he organized the Social Justice Commission of St. Louis. They faced many social challenges. Among them was the threatened street car strike in St. Louis which they averted and the coal miners strike in Illinois which they tried to settle. Rabbi Isserman took the leadership role in organizing an ecumenical conference which led to the first chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in St. Louis, and in 1936, he initiated the annual Institute on Judaism at Temple Israel where large numbers of Christian clergy came to hear Jewish scholars lecture on Torah. Because three churches stood at Kingshighway and Washington, the intersection became known at Holy Corners. Rabbi Isserman in 1930 began a series of annual dinner meetings, sponsored by the Temple Israel Brotherhood, for the men's clubs of Temple Israel, the Second Baptist Church and St. John's Methodist. Ecumenical programs followed each dinner sponsored by the host congregation. Although Temple Israel and Second Baptist relocated, the annual interfaith dinners continued.
The same zeal with Rabbi Isserman brought to his work with the Christian community was evidenced in his determination to provide enlarged quarters for the congregation. Membership growth caused the congregation to hold High Holy Day services at the Scottish Rite Temple on Lindell and religious school sessions at the Y.M.H.A.- Y.W.H.A. on Union Boulevard. His efforts were rewarded when the Temple House, west of Temple Israel's sanctuary, was dedicated in 1932.
While Still in Toronto, Rabbi Isserman had dreamed of trying to reduce racial tensions by founding at inter-racial nursery. In St. Louis, he shared his feelings with Mrs. Herbert S. Schiele, president of the Sisterhood of Temple Israel. She seized the ball and ran with it. There were many problems to be solved and many personalities were involved. Many worked devotedly, and in February 1951, the Nursery Foundation of St. Louis was given membership in the St. Louis Community Chest, and in February, 1952, the house at 1218 N. Euclid was dedicated at the home for the first inter-racial nursery in Missouri.
Rabbi Isserman was not only an innovator, he was a rebel as well. He wrote REBELS AND SAINTS and THIS IS JUDAISM, books which stressed the message of the Prophets of Israel who where the inspiration for his rabbinate. He fought passionately against minimum dues and assigned seating in the Temple and had both rules eliminated. He gave a series of lectures on radio KSK on Sunday mornings which reached large number of Christians as well as Jews.
Two of his published pamphlets were in demand by rabbis over the country; one was THE JEWISH JESUS AND THE CHRISTIAN CHRIST and the other THE JEWS OF NAZI GERMANY, SENTENCED TO DEATH. He wrote the latter after he had seen first-hand at great personal risk the condition of Jews in Germany after Hitler came to power, and he sounded one of the first alarms of the grave dangers ahead.
During World War II, he served in North Africa with the American Red Cross. Many of his experiences were incorporated in the book he wrote after the War entitled, "A Rabbi with the American Red Cross." He took a leave of absence from his pulpit during this time.
But Rabbi Isserman hated war and loved peace. Temple Israel religious school participated for many years with the children of the neighboring Christian churches in a service for peace. A pamphlet he wrote, "Children's Peace Sermons," was adopted by over twenty-five temple sisterhoods. In 1936, he traveled extensively under the auspices of the peace Emergency Committee speaking vigorously for peace. He made significant contributions to the Jewish Community on a national basis as well as locally. He traveled widely raising funds for the joint Distribution Committee and The Jewish Welfare Fund. He broadcast services on Church of the Air and the World Friendship programs. His speech on the Message of Israel radio series, "Jewish Jesus and Christian Christ," brought the heaviest fan mail in its history.
Written by Samuel Rosencranz, Ph.D. for Temple Israel's booklet titled HISTORY OF TEMPLE ISRAEL 1886-1986...One Hundred Years in the Life of the Congregation 5647-5747. Reprinted with Permission
_________________________
Top photo Courtesy of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES.ORG
_________________________
Scroll down this page and click on the access link on the right to reveal more photos. Double click on any photo image and then scroll down to reveal any captions, sources, or attributions.
_________________________
The rabbi featured on this Find A Grave page is one of many included in a "Virtual Cemetery" of rabbis who've passed but who served on St. Louis pulpits during their rabbinate. The complete "Virtual Cemetery" list can be found at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS. Questions about this "Virtual Cemetery" project may be directed to:
Steven Weinreich
Email: [email protected]
Rabbi Isserman served Congregation Temple Israel, St. Louis, Missouri for over 34 years (1929-1963) and he is listed along with other rabbis who served St. Louis congregations. You can find the full list at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS.
__________________________________
** EDUCATIONAL AND RABBINATE CHRONOLOGY **
1922
Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, OH
Rabbi ordination
1925-1929
Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
Rabbi
1929-1963
Congregation Temple Israel, St. Louis, MO
Senior Rabbi
__________________________________
In 1929, one year after the death of Dr. Harrison, the search committee, impressed by the outstanding record of the young rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple of Toronto, Canada, called Ferdinand Myron Isserman to the pulpit of Temple Israel. His dynamic ministry in Toronto had been dramatic. He inaugurated Sunday services; he initiated the first pulpit exchange between a rabbi and a Christian minister in the British empire; and both men attracted large numbers of Jews and Christians to their services. A similar ecumenical climate in St. Louis provided the tall, blonde, young preacher with further opportunities for interfaith projects. With his friends Bishop Scarlett (Episcopalian), and Bishop Holt (Methodist), he organized the Social Justice Commission of St. Louis. They faced many social challenges. Among them was the threatened street car strike in St. Louis which they averted and the coal miners strike in Illinois which they tried to settle. Rabbi Isserman took the leadership role in organizing an ecumenical conference which led to the first chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in St. Louis, and in 1936, he initiated the annual Institute on Judaism at Temple Israel where large numbers of Christian clergy came to hear Jewish scholars lecture on Torah. Because three churches stood at Kingshighway and Washington, the intersection became known at Holy Corners. Rabbi Isserman in 1930 began a series of annual dinner meetings, sponsored by the Temple Israel Brotherhood, for the men's clubs of Temple Israel, the Second Baptist Church and St. John's Methodist. Ecumenical programs followed each dinner sponsored by the host congregation. Although Temple Israel and Second Baptist relocated, the annual interfaith dinners continued.
The same zeal with Rabbi Isserman brought to his work with the Christian community was evidenced in his determination to provide enlarged quarters for the congregation. Membership growth caused the congregation to hold High Holy Day services at the Scottish Rite Temple on Lindell and religious school sessions at the Y.M.H.A.- Y.W.H.A. on Union Boulevard. His efforts were rewarded when the Temple House, west of Temple Israel's sanctuary, was dedicated in 1932.
While Still in Toronto, Rabbi Isserman had dreamed of trying to reduce racial tensions by founding at inter-racial nursery. In St. Louis, he shared his feelings with Mrs. Herbert S. Schiele, president of the Sisterhood of Temple Israel. She seized the ball and ran with it. There were many problems to be solved and many personalities were involved. Many worked devotedly, and in February 1951, the Nursery Foundation of St. Louis was given membership in the St. Louis Community Chest, and in February, 1952, the house at 1218 N. Euclid was dedicated at the home for the first inter-racial nursery in Missouri.
Rabbi Isserman was not only an innovator, he was a rebel as well. He wrote REBELS AND SAINTS and THIS IS JUDAISM, books which stressed the message of the Prophets of Israel who where the inspiration for his rabbinate. He fought passionately against minimum dues and assigned seating in the Temple and had both rules eliminated. He gave a series of lectures on radio KSK on Sunday mornings which reached large number of Christians as well as Jews.
Two of his published pamphlets were in demand by rabbis over the country; one was THE JEWISH JESUS AND THE CHRISTIAN CHRIST and the other THE JEWS OF NAZI GERMANY, SENTENCED TO DEATH. He wrote the latter after he had seen first-hand at great personal risk the condition of Jews in Germany after Hitler came to power, and he sounded one of the first alarms of the grave dangers ahead.
During World War II, he served in North Africa with the American Red Cross. Many of his experiences were incorporated in the book he wrote after the War entitled, "A Rabbi with the American Red Cross." He took a leave of absence from his pulpit during this time.
But Rabbi Isserman hated war and loved peace. Temple Israel religious school participated for many years with the children of the neighboring Christian churches in a service for peace. A pamphlet he wrote, "Children's Peace Sermons," was adopted by over twenty-five temple sisterhoods. In 1936, he traveled extensively under the auspices of the peace Emergency Committee speaking vigorously for peace. He made significant contributions to the Jewish Community on a national basis as well as locally. He traveled widely raising funds for the joint Distribution Committee and The Jewish Welfare Fund. He broadcast services on Church of the Air and the World Friendship programs. His speech on the Message of Israel radio series, "Jewish Jesus and Christian Christ," brought the heaviest fan mail in its history.
Written by Samuel Rosencranz, Ph.D. for Temple Israel's booklet titled HISTORY OF TEMPLE ISRAEL 1886-1986...One Hundred Years in the Life of the Congregation 5647-5747. Reprinted with Permission
_________________________
Top photo Courtesy of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES.ORG
_________________________
Scroll down this page and click on the access link on the right to reveal more photos. Double click on any photo image and then scroll down to reveal any captions, sources, or attributions.
_________________________
The rabbi featured on this Find A Grave page is one of many included in a "Virtual Cemetery" of rabbis who've passed but who served on St. Louis pulpits during their rabbinate. The complete "Virtual Cemetery" list can be found at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS. Questions about this "Virtual Cemetery" project may be directed to:
Steven Weinreich
Email: [email protected]
__________________________________
** EDUCATIONAL AND RABBINATE CHRONOLOGY **
1922
Hebrew Union College, Cincinnati, OH
Rabbi ordination
1925-1929
Holy Blossom Temple, Toronto, Ontario
Rabbi
1929-1963
Congregation Temple Israel, St. Louis, MO
Senior Rabbi
__________________________________
In 1929, one year after the death of Dr. Harrison, the search committee, impressed by the outstanding record of the young rabbi at Holy Blossom Temple of Toronto, Canada, called Ferdinand Myron Isserman to the pulpit of Temple Israel. His dynamic ministry in Toronto had been dramatic. He inaugurated Sunday services; he initiated the first pulpit exchange between a rabbi and a Christian minister in the British empire; and both men attracted large numbers of Jews and Christians to their services. A similar ecumenical climate in St. Louis provided the tall, blonde, young preacher with further opportunities for interfaith projects. With his friends Bishop Scarlett (Episcopalian), and Bishop Holt (Methodist), he organized the Social Justice Commission of St. Louis. They faced many social challenges. Among them was the threatened street car strike in St. Louis which they averted and the coal miners strike in Illinois which they tried to settle. Rabbi Isserman took the leadership role in organizing an ecumenical conference which led to the first chapter of the National Conference of Christians and Jews in St. Louis, and in 1936, he initiated the annual Institute on Judaism at Temple Israel where large numbers of Christian clergy came to hear Jewish scholars lecture on Torah. Because three churches stood at Kingshighway and Washington, the intersection became known at Holy Corners. Rabbi Isserman in 1930 began a series of annual dinner meetings, sponsored by the Temple Israel Brotherhood, for the men's clubs of Temple Israel, the Second Baptist Church and St. John's Methodist. Ecumenical programs followed each dinner sponsored by the host congregation. Although Temple Israel and Second Baptist relocated, the annual interfaith dinners continued.
The same zeal with Rabbi Isserman brought to his work with the Christian community was evidenced in his determination to provide enlarged quarters for the congregation. Membership growth caused the congregation to hold High Holy Day services at the Scottish Rite Temple on Lindell and religious school sessions at the Y.M.H.A.- Y.W.H.A. on Union Boulevard. His efforts were rewarded when the Temple House, west of Temple Israel's sanctuary, was dedicated in 1932.
While Still in Toronto, Rabbi Isserman had dreamed of trying to reduce racial tensions by founding at inter-racial nursery. In St. Louis, he shared his feelings with Mrs. Herbert S. Schiele, president of the Sisterhood of Temple Israel. She seized the ball and ran with it. There were many problems to be solved and many personalities were involved. Many worked devotedly, and in February 1951, the Nursery Foundation of St. Louis was given membership in the St. Louis Community Chest, and in February, 1952, the house at 1218 N. Euclid was dedicated at the home for the first inter-racial nursery in Missouri.
Rabbi Isserman was not only an innovator, he was a rebel as well. He wrote REBELS AND SAINTS and THIS IS JUDAISM, books which stressed the message of the Prophets of Israel who where the inspiration for his rabbinate. He fought passionately against minimum dues and assigned seating in the Temple and had both rules eliminated. He gave a series of lectures on radio KSK on Sunday mornings which reached large number of Christians as well as Jews.
Two of his published pamphlets were in demand by rabbis over the country; one was THE JEWISH JESUS AND THE CHRISTIAN CHRIST and the other THE JEWS OF NAZI GERMANY, SENTENCED TO DEATH. He wrote the latter after he had seen first-hand at great personal risk the condition of Jews in Germany after Hitler came to power, and he sounded one of the first alarms of the grave dangers ahead.
During World War II, he served in North Africa with the American Red Cross. Many of his experiences were incorporated in the book he wrote after the War entitled, "A Rabbi with the American Red Cross." He took a leave of absence from his pulpit during this time.
But Rabbi Isserman hated war and loved peace. Temple Israel religious school participated for many years with the children of the neighboring Christian churches in a service for peace. A pamphlet he wrote, "Children's Peace Sermons," was adopted by over twenty-five temple sisterhoods. In 1936, he traveled extensively under the auspices of the peace Emergency Committee speaking vigorously for peace. He made significant contributions to the Jewish Community on a national basis as well as locally. He traveled widely raising funds for the joint Distribution Committee and The Jewish Welfare Fund. He broadcast services on Church of the Air and the World Friendship programs. His speech on the Message of Israel radio series, "Jewish Jesus and Christian Christ," brought the heaviest fan mail in its history.
Written by Samuel Rosencranz, Ph.D. for Temple Israel's booklet titled HISTORY OF TEMPLE ISRAEL 1886-1986...One Hundred Years in the Life of the Congregation 5647-5747. Reprinted with Permission
_________________________
Top photo Courtesy of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio AMERICAN JEWISH ARCHIVES.ORG
_________________________
Scroll down this page and click on the access link on the right to reveal more photos. Double click on any photo image and then scroll down to reveal any captions, sources, or attributions.
_________________________
The rabbi featured on this Find A Grave page is one of many included in a "Virtual Cemetery" of rabbis who've passed but who served on St. Louis pulpits during their rabbinate. The complete "Virtual Cemetery" list can be found at SAINT LOUIS RABBIS. Questions about this "Virtual Cemetery" project may be directed to:
Steven Weinreich
Email: [email protected]
