The congregation was founded in May 1903 but it met at St. Luke's Methodist church and other local churches until it constructed its own building in 1907. This building was located at 50 Broadway Circle and was dedicated on January 17, 1908. For the congregation's first high holiday services in 1903, the service was led by a student rabbi from the Reform movement's Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Harry Friedman, while regular Shabbat services were led by Gus Paul. The following year, the congregation hired its first full-time rabbi, Arthur Lewisohn, but his tenure was short as he tragically died in 1905. Lewisohn's death did not stop the congregation from holding its first confirmation service for six graduates, said at the time to be the first Jewish confirmation services held in the Oklahoma and Indian territories. The congregation called its longest serving rabbi, Joseph Blatt in 1906 who served until 1946. Rabbi Blatt is remembered for his classical reform approach, interfaith efforts, but also for his strident defense of the Jewish community in the face of anti-semitic accusations by the Guthrie Daily Leader newspaper. Rabbi Blatt responded that the newspaper's claims were slanderous and that they were a “a disgrace to the civilization of our state.”
Mid 20th century
Joseph Levenson served as rabbi for 30 years, from 1946-1976. Major events during his rabbinate included the congregation's move into its current building in 1955, as well as a tornado hitting the synagogue in 1970; necessitating significant repairs. It was during the rabinnate of Rabbi Levenson that the congregation moved decided towards a zionist orientation, in contrast to the classical reform's non-zionist tradition.
Late 20th century
David A. Packman served as rabbi of the Temple from 1976-2004 His years of service were marked by increased involvement by the congregation in interfaith efforts, most notably Oklahoma City's annual Interfaith Thanksgiving service.
21st century
Rabbi Barry Cohen began his rabbinate in Oklahoma in 2004 and served until 2012. It was also in 2004 that synagogue building was bombed by a member of the Aryan Nation but only minor damage was done to the building with no injuries. The assailant was later sentenced to 39 years in prison. During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the congregation began holding all of its worship services and educational programming via online streaming services, as well as providing resources to enable members in social isolation to have the needed supplies to celebrate Passoverat home.
Current Programs
Today the congregation holds weekly Shabbat evening services, monthly Shabbat morning services and a variety of special observances for Jewish holidays. It is led by Rabbi Vered Harris. The congregation also hosts a pre-school, a Hebrew school and works in cooperation with Emanuel Synagogue to operate an Inter-congregational Sunday School. Hebrew and other educational programming is provided for adult learners and the congregation has an active social justice program which focuses on issues related to hunger, poverty and the rights of refugees.
