Rodfei Sholom, located in Northwest San Antonio, was founded in 1908.
The
congregation grew steadily and by the time it reached its tenth anniversary, the
membership
included 100 families. The adobe house on Wyoming Street where
services were first held was
torn down to make way for a permanent two-story
brick building with a mikvah. A synagogue
cemetery was then established on
Division Avenue. During the next twenty years, the Jewish
population, which
had grown and prospered in San Antonio, began to move away from the
Wyoming
Street neighborhood into the suburbs. It became apparent that the synagogue
would
have to relocate in order to serve its congregants. On January 12, 1942, a
two-story house at the
corner of Laurel and Ogden Streets was purchased and nine
years later in 1951 a new synagogue
was dedicated on the site. The highlight of
the dedication ceremony was a processional of eight
founding members carrying a
Torah from the rear of the building to the front where a grandson of
each of them
accepted the Torah and placed it in the Ark. The symbolism of the generations
was a
touching reminder of the continuity of the Jewish people and the legacy of
the community’s
Orthodox tradition.
During the first years at the Laurel-Ogden location, the spiritual leaders were
Rabbi Jonah Caplan and Cantor Irving Dean. The cantor formed a choir
which eventually became
well-known as the largest male choir in the
Southwest.
By 1970, the membership at Rodfei Sholom
was in sharp decline and the
leadership of the congregation began a search for a new, dynamic
rabbi.
The choice of Aryeh Scheinberg was well suited to the task of reenergizing
the synagogue.
It was a time of strong revitalization of Jewish tradition in America and
Rabbi Scheinberg
became a
magnet for those searching for a connection to
rituals and observance.
His principle of
inclusiveness extended beyond San
Antonio and soon he became known
as the regional orthodox
rabbi for
Austin, Laredo, Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley.
In 1971, with the help of the
Chaplain at Fort Sam Houston, a formal
Hebrew school and educational program was established
uniting children
from the military base with members’ children. Within a year, membership
slowly
began to grow. But the synagogue was again faced with a
demographic problem. Members no
longer lived in close proximity.
Most of the congregation was concentrated in the Northwest
quadrant of the
city. It was important to find a location that was easily accessible. A site
was
selected off of Northwest Military Highway. The groundbreaking for
the new synagogue took place
on May 13, 1990. Less then a year later on
March 24, 1991, Rodfei Sholom formally dedicated its
beautiful new
synagogue at 3003 Sholom Drive.
Blessed with a charismatic rabbi and visionary lay
leaders, Rodfei Sholom
began a pattern of growth and influence that continues today. Families with
young children have become part of the Rodfei community and educational
programs have
expanded to meet their needs.
In 2001, an independent organization, i.e. the Torah Learning Center,
was
established in San Antonio with the assistance and backing of Rodfei
Sholom to expand
opportunities for learning to the whole community.
Rabbi Yaakov Cohen was chosen to act as the
coordinator of the various
programs that were offered.
Rodfei Sholom’s membership has
continued to grow which has necessitated
a renovation project. In the summer of 2007, the
synagogue embarked on a
five-million dollar expansion and remodeling project, which is projected
for
completion in the summer of 2008.
The new facility will include a new sanctuary with a fixed
seating capacity
of five-hundred people; an auditorium that will seat five-hundred people; a
brand
new kitchen and eight classrooms. Additionally, the existing
sanctuary will become the day chapel,
study hall, and library.
We engaged an assistant Rabbi to meet Rodfei Sholom’s expanding growth.
Rabbi Michael Sunshine was hired to assist
with rabbinical duties.
Under the direction of Rabbi Yaakov Cohen the NCSY youth program is
very active. On any Shabbat
morning of the year, the sanctuary of Rodfei
Sholom is filled with men, women and children who
have come together to
daven and to enjoy the companionship of community. The morning
services are followed by a Kiddush Luncheon. There is a very active Junior
Congregation and other youth
activities are held throughout the day.
Rodfei Sholom is a diverse, caring family united in its love of
Judaism and
tradition.
