Death Knell for Temple Beth El?

West Hollywood is better known for its dens of inequity than its houses of worship, which may be why the troubles of Temple Beth-el have often been overlooked. This beautiful building has served the Jewish community from its location on Crescent Heights Blvd. for half a century, which may not be enough to save it from the wrecking ball. Alas, the temple’s days as a temple seem to be numbered.

It’s pretty common knowledge that the movie industry was founded by a group of mostly Jewish merchants who moved their business from the NYC area to LA in search of sunny weather that allowed year-round filming outdoors. Louis Mayer, Carl Laemmle, Lewis Selznick, Samuel Goldfish (Goldwyn) and Adolph Zukor were among the early pioneers who brought their Jewish faith with them to the West Coast, bringing the need for a new synagogue serving the Hollywood community. 

Temple Beth El had its beginnings back in 1920 when services were first held in a bungalow located at 1414 North Wilton Place, which is now the site of a Home Depot. In 1922 a brand new synagogue was erected at 1508 North Wilton Place, a location not far from the very successful new Hollywood movie studios. An early president of Temple Beth El was Benjamin Warner, patriarch of the family that founded Warner Brothers Studios. Contributors to a New Year’s tribute book honoring him included Loretta Young, Joan Blondell, Edward G Robinson, Joe E. Brown, Barbara Stanwyck and many more. 

 This site was well-suited for its purpose until the 1950s, when the state of California began building a brand new freeway system. Unfortunately, 1508 North Wilton Place sat at the exit ramp of the 101, the Hollywood Freeway. This is when plans began for moving Temple Beth El to a less congested neighborhood. In 1952, a brand new, much larger Temple Beth El opened at 1317 North Crescent Heights Blvd., on the corner of Fountain Ave. An addition was built in 1972. 

Over the following years, the temple hosted a religious studies program, a nursery school and various social programs in addition to Jewish learning and worship. Temple Beth El has also been the site of many banquets, weddings and Bar Mitzvahs. The temple has received numerous honors for its service to the community.

Change came in 1997 when the building was acquired by the Iranian American Jewish Federation. In February 2020, the IAJF submitted a request to develop the site and in November received permission to redevelop Temple Beth El into a five-story, 90-unit residential building. Appeals were filed stating the building’s rich history and the fact that the temple serves many elderly Holocaust survivors.

Surprisingly, a 2016 Commercial Historic Resources Survey failed to declare Temple Beth El a historic landmark, a decision questioned by Victor Omelczenko, board president of the West Hollywood Preservation Alliance. He stated, “Temple Beth El warrants having a specific historic resource assessment conducted before any decisions are made about its demolition.”

No historical designation was forthcoming and, as our esteemed editor Brandon Garcia reported on July 18, “In a move that underscores the tension between preserving local history and addressing pressing housing needs, West Hollywood City Council voted to deny an appeal and approve a residential development at a site that currently hosts a building of community and historic significance.”

This isn’t a major shock since “development” trumps history any day of the week in today’s West Hollywood as another piece of our history is destroyed. I’m sure that some of our WeHoville readers have opinions about the demolition of a beloved landmark, so let’s hear them. Fortunately, Rabbi Doctor Norbert Weinberg has lovingly documented the long history of Temple Beth El and has recorded it on his website, http://www.rabbinorbert.com/.