Temple Shalom - History -

Our History
Temple Shalom History 1961 – 2019

1961	The idea of a Port Charlotte congregation is born
	Group begins to meet at the home of Allen and Judy Levin
	General Development Corporation makes Scout House at Olean and Conway Blvd. available.
	Articles of Incorporation are adopted for Port Charlotte Jewish community Group, Inc.
	Charter from the State of Florida is received
1962	First Presbyterian Church offers venue for religious services and meetings
	Constitution and By-Lawsare adopted
	First Purim Party at the Port Charlotte Community Center
	General Development Corporation donates 4.75 acres of land
	First High Holy Day Services in Charlotte County
	Temple Shalom's Sisterhood is formed
1963	Deed to the land where Temple now stands is received
	$25,000 Bond issued to pay for construction of building in the shape of a Star of David
	President Abe Golden pledges personal assets for a mortgage
	Ground broken with Rabbi Joseph Liberles of Temple Beth Ell officiating and Reverend Henry Stout, Pastor of First Presbyterian church giving the benediction
	Building designed by Ray Griffith, Architect
	George Wright, Contractor, working at cost
	First Sabbath Services in new building
	First High Holy Days Services in new building
1964	Dedication of The Port Charlotte Jewish Center
1964-1974	Mortgage paid off.
	Bonds redeemed.
	Men's Club is formed,
	Hebrew School begins under the tutelage of Mitchell Goldsmith and Jules Taylor
1973	The "Shalom" (monthly bulletin) was born, Harry Friedman, Editor
1974	First Youth Group Service
	November 29, 1974 Temple's first Bat Mitzvah - Joy Tehrani
1975	Charter from the Union of American Hebrew congregations was received
	First full-time religious leader, Cantor Simcha Ben Gail
	May 23, 1975 Temple's first Bar Mitzvah - David Levin
	In October the Children's Hebrew School started
	Sisterhood's Judaica Gift Shop
	First Memorial Tablet was installed

1976	The name "Temple Shalom" was adopted
1977	Storage and conference room/class room was completed (Now the Rabbi's office)
1978	Construction of new Sanctuary began
	First High Holy Day Services in the new Sanctuary, Rabbi Lewis E Bogage officiating
1979	Cantor Samuel Kligfeld becomes new religious leader
	Hebrew and Sunday school starts under Robert Burke
	A library was established
1982	The kitchen was expanded
	Entry was redesigned
	New Ark and Bima were completed
1983	First B'Nai Mitzvah Class
	Original Tree of Life was installed
	Sunday Night Study Group was formed
	Chavurah and Saturday Morning Sabbath Services began
1984	First woman president was installed
	Blood Bank was instituted
	Monthly Family Night Service began
1986	Rabbi Lewis E. Bogage assumed pulpit responsibilities.
1986-1987	The new building was constructed under the guidance of Phillip and Lucille Kallenberg.
2003	Rabbi Solomon Agin D.D. started as rabbi in Temple Shalom.
	The Katz family underwrote expenses for renovations in our sanctuary
2004	We were visited by Hurricane Charley, which necessitated extensive repairs to our building
2005-2009	Major remodeling of bathrooms
2010-2012	Harry Kramer Memorial Fund Grant -security system, fortified doors, hurricane improvements, cameras, exterior lighting Harry Kramer Memorial Fund Grant- Asbestos removal, office improvements, mold mitigation, storage of sacred texts Harry Kramer Memorial Fund Grant- Shabbat T'ilah, art projects for adults and youth, music specialist, kiddush lunches
2017	New tree of life plaques installed
2019	New memorial tables are being installed