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Chattanooga, TN
Mizpah
Temple
923 McCallie Avenue
Chattanooga, TN
423-267-9771
www.mizpahcongregation.org
Since its founding in 1866, Mizpah Congregation,
Chattanooga’s Reform Jewish congregation, has occupied three temples. The first permanent worship facility was located on Walnut Street and was dedicated in 1882. The second temple, which was used from 1904 until 1928, is located at the corner of Oak and Lindsey.
In keeping with a familial tradition of generosity and congregational involvement, Adolph Ochs, Mizpah Congregation member and publisher of both the Chattanooga Times and the New York Times, donated funds for a third temple that was completed in 1928 and is still occupied by the Mizpah Congregation today. Ochs made the gift as a memorial to his parents, Julius and Bertha Ochs, who were influential members of
Chattanooga
’s early Jewish community.
In addition to the Ochs family, Mizpah Congregation was home to several members of the Issac Wise family. Known as ‘the father of Reform Judaism in
America
,’ Wise was founder of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Union for Reform Judaism), and
Hebrew
Union
College
.
The Congregation cares for several pieces of rare art, numerous artifacts, and the sanctuary is home to eight art glass windows depicting various Jewish holidays and the Sabbath. The current temple, which incorporates characteristics of the Colonial and Georgian styles, was designated as a Tennessee Historic Preservation site in 1979.
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