Anniversary brings special focus to Rodef Shalom building

Tuesday, October 16, 2007
By Patricia Lowry,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Rodef Shalom Congregation will mark the 100th anniversary of its building and the 150th birthday of the congregation with an afternoon of lectures and discussions open to the community.

At the free event, titled “Historical Symposium: Honoring Our Builders and Building,” Brandeis University professor Jonathan Sarna will give the keynote address: “The Place of Rodef Shalom in the History of American Judaism.” Two panel discussions will follow. The first, on Rodef Shalom’s building designed by Henry Hornbostel, features Eliza Smith Brown, author of “Pittsburgh Legends and Visions: An Illustrated History”; Charles Rosenblum, assistant professor of architecture, Carnegie Mellon University; and Albert M. Tannler, Historical Collections Director of Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation. The second panel will discuss the congregation’s builders and early members who made significant contributions to the development of Rodef Shalom and the Pittsburgh community.

The event will be at 1 p.m. Nov. 4 at Rodef Shalom, corner of Fifth and Morewood avenues, Oakland.