This Jazz Age Temple In Cleveland Is Now A Performing Arts Center You Have To See To Believe
By Nikki Rhoades|Published June 05, 2019
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Nikki Rhoades
Author
Nikki is a lifelong Ohioan with a love for literature. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of Akron and has enjoyed publishing her written work since 2007. She has a love of travel and does so frequently, though she believes that home is where the heart is — she continues to work in and around Cleveland as a digital content specialist to this day, working on everything from commercial scripts and social media posts to grassroots marketing initiatives.
Cleveland is a city with an enriching history, particularly when it comes to places of worship. The city’s religious history began with the area’s indigenous cultures, and early settlers would go on to establish one of the first churches in the Western Reserve in 1807, in an area that we now know as East Cleveland. Some of the area’s oldest congregations were formed in the early 1800s, and some of their earliest structures continue to grace the city today (as is the case with Old Stone Church). However, our rich roots are ever-expanding, and places of interest continue to pop up and evolve. In some cases, this means that the past, present, and future interact in a way that’s downright breathtaking. Prepare to be rendered speechless, because the features of this historic synagogue in Cleveland will take your breath away.
It's hard to miss the grand facade of Maltz Performing Arts Center when you pass through University Circle.
The past and future interact in a downright magical way at this breathtaking space. Visitors to University Circle are always intrigued by its beauty, but many still have yet to step inside its grand halls.
This incredible synagogue was built in 1924, but it has grown to so much more than a house of worship.
This stunning building on Ansel Road was built to house the Tifereth Israel (Glory of God), a Reform Jewish congregation founded in 1850. When they outgrew their former place of worship, the group employed Charles Greco, a Boston architect, to design this breathtaking building.
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While The Temple - Tifereth Israel still owns and worships in the building, a partnership with Case Western Reserve University has allowed the building to foster the arts.
When ground was broken at this site in 1922, no one could have known the extent to which this Byzantine-style edifice would impact the community. While many recognized it as a landmark and masterpiece, it was Milton and Tamar Maltz and the Maltz Family Foundation of the Jewish Federation of Cleveland that transformed it into an integral piece of Cleveland's identity.
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The building underwent extensive renovation before it opened as the Milton and Tamar Maltz Performing Arts Center, and the end result is a historic building with a bright future.
The grand dome of this temple is easy to spot throughout the neighborhood. While it is a stunning landmark, it also has created a lofty interior space. Silver Hall is overflowing with gorgeous acoustics and can easily seat 1,200 visitors.
This stunning space retains elements of the building's history, and it also provides a showcase for the talent of Case Western Reserve’s music department. As Phase Two of its renovation moves toward completion, the building will come to include additional performing spaces.
This space now hosts musical performances, lectures, and other shows geared toward cultural enhancement.
From its historic roots to its one-of-a-kind partnership between Case Western Reserve University and The Temple – Tifereth Israel, there is much to learn at this local gem. The building's Silver Hall continues to host The Temple's congregation during major religious observances, and all members of the community have grown to love its enriching and inspiring milieu.
There is no place in the nation quite like this historic destination.
University Circle has always abounded with rich local history, but the past and future truly intersect at this historic synagogue. Have you ever seen a performance or attended a religious service in this beautiful building?
