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HONORING 100TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CUTLER-PLOTKIN JEWISH HERITAGE CENTER
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HON. GREG STANTON
of arizona
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, October 12, 2021
Mr. STANTON. Madam Speaker, I rise today to celebrate a significant milestone that will be reached in my district on Saturday, October 30: the 100th anniversary of the construction of the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center. It was the first synagogue built in the city of Phoenix and this historic place has deeply enriched our community for a century.
In the spring of 1920, a group of 32 residents joined together to form Phoenix's first Jewish congregation, Congregation Beth Israel. The next year, on October 30, 1921, they broke ground and began to the lay the cornerstone for a place of worship, Temple Beth Israel.
Madam Speaker, the early days for this congregation were not easy, particularly when you consider they had no air conditioning during the sweltering heat of an Arizona summer. But these individuals were united by their deep-rooted faith and unwavering commitment to the values of Judaism.
Temple Beth Israel was a place of worship, but it was also a place where members of our community came together to celebrate culture, faith and education. It hosted meetings with members of the B'nai B'rith and the National Council of Jewish Women, and frequently held Passover Seders and special dances.
In 1949, Congregation Beth Israel sold the property to the Southern Baptist Convention and the building became home to Phoenix's first Chinese-speaking Christian Church. In 1981, the property was sold again, this time to a Spanish-speaking Baptist Church. It remained under their care until purchased by the Jewish Historical Society in 2002, upon which time it was bestowed its present-day name: the Cutler-
Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center.
Today, the building serves as an important religious and cultural archive, housing more than 50,000 artifacts of Jewish history in Arizona and the Southwest United States. It also continues to host forums and educational events, and remains a regional nexus of the Jewish faith.
I am proud to recognize the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center's extraordinary accomplishment and ask that my colleagues join me in expressing deep gratitude to the many individuals who have called this building home, including the late Rabbi Albert Plotkin and the Arizona Jewish Historical Society's Executive Director Lawrence Bell, Treasurer Lawrence Cutler, and Founder Jerry Lewkowitz. Mr. Lewkowitz's parents were original leaders of Congregation Beth Israel and fifth generation family members will be celebrating at this year's centennial.
The leadership of these individuals and so many others will ensure the Cutler-Plotkin Jewish Heritage Center remains a positive influence in our community for years to come. Collectively, they helped make Phoenix the culturally rich and diverse place that it is today. Best wishes for the next 100 years.
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SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 179
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