Rabbi Israel Goldstein (B’nai Jeshurun’s rabbi from 1918–1950) was instrumental in formulating the centennial celebration. In his words:

As early as 1923, the President in his annual report sketched the preliminary plans. The beautification of the sanctuary was the first step. In the summer of 1924…the decoration of the front wall was completed… During the following summer, the rest of the interior was completed… In many details its beauty was enhanced by the addition of rich symbolism upon the walls of the Synagogue. The work was carried through in the spirit which guided the architects (and overseen by the artist E. Phillipson in consultation with the Rabbi).

The celebration had its official inception at the One Hundredth Annual Meeting held on December 14, 1924, and concluded on November 26, 1925—the 100th anniversary of the November 28, 1825, signing of the original Charter of Incorporation.

Highlights of the year in honor of the centennial included:

December 15-17, 1924: A Centennial Charity Bazaar was conducted by the women’s organization at the Hotel McAlpin under the chairmanship of Mrs. Lottie Schwartz. $18,000 was raised for the Centenary Memorial Fund, to be used for the education of poor Jewish children. The bazaar concluded with a pre-Hanukkah dance; the Mayor of New York City was among its guests.

January 2, 1925: The special Sabbath eve services included addresses by Dr. David de Sola Pool of BJ’s parent Shearith Israel, also known as the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue; Dr. Joseph Silverman, rabbi emeritus of Temple Emanu-El; and Dr. Frederick de Sola Mendes, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Shaaray Tefila, which had broken away from BJ in 1845.

January 7, 1925: Installation of the new organ with a musical program led by Cantor Jacob Schwartz.

February 7, 1925. Meeting of the American Jewish Historical Society with a paper on the founding of the congregation delivered by Rabbi Israel Goldstein.

February 20, 1925. Address by Rabbi Stephen Wise on his ministry in the congregation from 1893–1900.

March 20, 1925. Friday evening Service address by Dr. Nathan Krass, Rabbi of Temple Emanu-el.

April 29, 1925. Public meeting of the Rabbinical Assembly of the Jewish Theological Seminary held at BJ in honor of its Centenary. Dr. Cyrus Adler presided.

May 29–30, 1925. Centennial Shavuot. The theme of the annual Confirmation exercises centered around the story of the congregation’s history and residence in various Manhattan locations.

September 18–19, 1925. Centennial Rosh Hashanah and the completion of the interior decoration of the Synagogue. The sermons dealt with historical themes, “The Jew of 1825” for the first day and “The Jew of 1925” for the second day.

September 27, 1925. Kol Nidre Appeal for the Centennial Memorial Fund.

October 7, 1925. Sisterhood Centennial Harvest Luncheon at the Hotel Astor with addresses by Mrs. R. Kohut and Dr. Stephen Wise who organized the Sisterhood in 1894.

October 10, 1925. Centennial Simhat Torah Children’s Pageant. 350 children carrying American and Zion flags marched through floral arches and were led by Centennial Year Confirmation Girls and Centennial Year Bar Mitzvah boys. Sisterhood members presented participants with miniature scrolls as souvenirs of the occasion.

November 6, 1925. Dedication of the Asher and Bertha Rosenblatt Memorial Window.

November 26, 1925. Centennial Thanksgiving Service at Shearith Israel, aka the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue, where BJ was the guest. Addresses were delivered by Shearith Israel’s Dr. David de Sola Pool and B’nai Jeshurun’s Rabbi Israel Goldstein.

November 26, 1925. Centennial Banquet and Dance in the Grand Ballroom of the Hotel Astor bringing the Centennial year celebrations to a close.

Source

Israel Goldstein, A Century of Judaism in New York: B’nai Jeshurun 1825–1925