In
1994 we were zipping along at high speed on the interstate swiftly
passing exit after exit in a rush to get to our destination, Crested
Butte, Colorado. Suddenly a landmark unusual for this landscape
popped up on the horizon. Driving along I25North toward Denver
as we were, people might be in such a hurry, they would bypass
one of Colorado’s best treasures, Temple Aaron of Trinidad.
But of course, I brake for synagogues.
My husband begrudgingly got off the highway and
we drove the three or four blocks to the commanding red brick
and sandstone Temple. Excited at finding such an elegant old synagogue
in this small (pop. 7,000) city in the Rockies, I jumped out of
the car and began snapping pictures from all angles with several
cameras. Once I coaxed Ron into moving the car from in front of
the building (something he has since learned to do from the get-go),
even he agreed that this synagogue, the oldest still operating
in Colorado, is one of the most beautiful we have explored.
Let’s look at how Trinidad became the home
of enough Jews to build Temple Aaron. Jewish traders had been
active along the Santa Fe Trail, on which Trinidad lies, for many
years. In 1867, after Abraham Jacobs extended his stagecoach line
from Denver to Trinidad, Jewish merchant Maurice Wise set up shop
on Main Street. The Jaffa brothers, Henry, Sol, and Sam (later
Mayor of Trinidad) soon followed and by 1878 there were enough
Jews to form a B’nai B’rith lodge. As the city’s
industrial enterprises resulting from coal-production and iron
ore smelting grew, more Jews moved to Trinidad from the U.S. and
Europe.
By 1883, Congregation Aaron was officially founded
with 24 members; first holding services at the Odd Fellows Hall,
and then at the new Jaffa Opera House. In 1887 they hired their
first full-time rabbi, a Rev. Dr. Gluck, who remained for two
years. By 1889 Temple Aaron Congregation, now numbering 54 members,
hired Rabbi Leopold Freudenthal. A native of Germany and graduate
of Heidelberg University, Rabbi Freudenthal had been ordained
in America in one of the early classes of Hebrew Union College
in Cincinnati. This was unusual at the time as most rabbis in
America up to this point were educated and ordained in Europe
and sometimes came to America under questionable circumstances,
often sporting Old World traditions. The congregation was Reform
from the very beginning. Freudenthal conducted the service in
both German and English for a number of years, and gradually introduced
moderate Reform practice.
He was charged with a great many tasks including
the weekly services, direction of the Sunday school, and counseling.
He also traveled southern Colorado and New Mexico officiating
at weddings, burials, and Bar Mitzvah services. His circumcision
record book shows that he officiated at the brit of about 200
Jewish infants during his 27-year tenure. He was devoted to encouraging
Jewish practice and values throughout the region.
Near the turn of the century demand for Trinidad’s
natural resources declined and many Jewish merchants left to find
opportunity elsewhere. As the congregation decreased Rabbi Freudenthal
twice agreed to salary cuts. He died in Trinidad in 1916, leaving
with his sons, an astounding legacy for Temple Aaron.
Freudenthal’s sons Samuel, a prominent Colorado
attorney, and Alfred a Trinidad surgeon, had a joint will with
their father that stated that upon the death of the last of the
three of them, a foundation was to be created. When Alfred died,
his estate, estimated at between $400,000 and $1,000,000 was left
to Temple Aaron in the form of the Alfred Freudenthal Memorial
Trust Fund,to perpetuate Judaism in the area. The majority of
the money is to provide for continuing maintenance and repairs
of Temple Aaron. The remaining funds are to support a variety
of important community social services and education as well as
to “teach understanding, good will, and tolerance of all
people regardless of nationality or religion.” Over the
years the fund has benefited an estimated 24 non-profit institutions
in the area, including neighboring churches.
The synagogue building was designed by Trinidad
architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp who is known to have originated
the “Santa Fe style”. The large social hall and two
classrooms are on the bottom floor. On the floor above this is
the sanctuary, which seats 250. The design of this substantial
structure is described as eclectic Victorian, with a Moslem minaret
(or onion dome) opposite a German tower on the front; Romanesque
Gothic windows, and Moorish detail. The stained glass windows
are original to the temple. Such lavishness of design indicates
a prosperous era for the Jews of 1880s Trinidad. According to
present day member Kathryn Rubin of Raton, New Mexico, the inside
is even more beautiful than the outside. It boasts an extensively
detailed hand-carved pulpit. The original cost of the temple was
$11,915.36.
The Rubin family members have belonged to Temple
Aaron since Barney Rubin opened his retail store in neighboring
Raton, New Mexico in 1916. Kathryn Rubin says that in the 55 years
since she married Leon and moved from Albuquerque to Raton, the
congregation has always engaged an ordained rabbi to come to Trinidad
on High Holy Days. These have included prestigious, even famous
rabbis such as Dr. Jacob Rader Marcus, Sylvan Schwartzman, and
presently Ken Erlich, the Dean of Admissions at HUC.
Kathryn Rubin recalled a day decades ago when
she and her husband Leon took Dr. Marcus on an outing. As Leon
filled the car with gas Dr. Marcus said, “You know your
children won’t marry Jews” (because they were the
only Jews in Raton). Kathryn replied, “They will go away
to college and hopefully they will meet someone nice”; nice
being a synonym for Jewish. Her premonition was correct. All three
of the Rubins’ babyboomer aged children are married to Jews.
In fact, in 1993 her granddaughter celebrated Temple Aaron’s
only Bat Mitzvah in its 119-year history. Her grandson followed
with his Bar Mitzvah in 1995.
Today there are only 15 members and they come
from a geographically wide-spread radius. The Temple is perfectly
maintained as it always has been because they have the Freudenthal
funds and most importantly, the upbeat spirit and care of the
Rubins and other congregants to make sure Temple Aaron continues
its traditions. Kathryn Rubin says the service is Reform only,
as it is “our duty to carry it on as it was started –
Reform”. She asked me to say that she invites all nice Jewish
people who are interested, to come to Trinidad and visit, or better
yet, join the congregation. So, if you are ever driving on I25
in southern Colorado, I can assure you it will be worth taking
the time to stop. And now you have a personal invitation.
Sources for this article: Congregation Aaron brochure;
Trinidad, Colorado Summer Guide; Pioneer Jews by Harriett and
Fred Rochlin; American Jewish Landmarks by Postal and Koppman;
phone interview with Kathryn Rubin.
|