Temple Emanuel's archives date back to the mid-1800s. They include the 500 volume personal library of Julius Houseman, one of our founders and the first Jewish mayor of Grand Rapids. A recent gift includes two scrap books from the Amberg family, a prominent family in the development of Grand Rapids, also a founding family of Temple Emanuel in 1857.
Since our 150th Anniversary year, 2006-2007, there have been many events featuring displays and information from the Peg and Mort Finkelstein Archives.
Displays of artifacts and articles from our archives are located prominently throughout our building. Two walls of our lobby have rotating exhibits from the archives. Additional displays fill the back entry hallway to the building and include a 350 + year old Torah that the Nazi's confiscated from Czechoslovakia. Additional items on display include photos from our past, a letter to Temple from Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise and many religious artifacts from the collection.
Contact the Temple office at 616.459.5976 for information regarding access to the archives.