Mattoon Jewish Community Center

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Mattoon Jewish Community Center
Religion
Affiliation Reform Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organisational status Synagogue
StatusActive
Location
LocationWesley United Methodist Church, 2206 4th Street, Charleston, Illinois 61920
CountryUnited States of America
USA Illinois relief location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Location in Illinois
Coordinates 39°28′59″N88°22′54″W / 39.483106°N 88.381603°W / 39.483106; -88.381603
Architecture
Established1948 (as a congregation)

The Mattoon Jewish Community Center (MJCC) is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue located in Mattoon, Illinois, [1] a city which has had a Jewish community for at least 150 years. [2]

Contents

In 2012, National Post reported that MJCC was the smallest Reform congregation in North America, consisting of four households. [3] The next smallest Reform congregation in North America is Temple Beth Tikvah in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, with five households. [1] [4]

As of 2025, the congregation has grown to nine households. [5] The congregation's services are held in the Wesley United Methodist Church at 2206 4th Street in Charleston, Illinois. [6] [7]

History

In 1948, the local Jewish community incorporated and established the first organized synagogue in Mattoon. [8] A residential house was purchased at 1607 Richmond Avenue for this purpose and was named "The Mattoon Jewish Community Center" (MJCC).[ citation needed ]

The MJCC interior was remodeled to include a central assembly and worship area. Located at the south end of the room was the Ark, which contained two Torahs. Hanging from the ceiling above the Ark was the Eternal Light. To its left was the bronze, illuminated Memorial Board, which displayed the names of deceased members of the congregation. An electrical neon sign displaying a Magen David was in the window and was illuminated during Sabbath services. The north end of the building featured a professional-style kitchen with a commercial stove and large refrigerator. These facilities were used for community meals and fundraisers.[ citation needed ]

In the early 1960s, local businessman and scholar Aaron Steinberg assumed the presidency. For the next 25 years, the MJCC held a regular schedule of worship services and adult education classes. Student rabbis from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati led the services and provided adult education.

By the late 1980s, the MJCC had a declining and aging congregation and no families with children. The congregation shrank in size until there were only five member families. Because they were no longer able to afford the maintenance of their building, the decision was made to sell the MJCC and relocate. Eventually the Trinity Episcopal Church became the host of the congregation.[ citation needed ]

Antisemitism

In the spring of 2000, the MJCC was the target of an anti-Semitic organization. ”Wanted posters” were stapled to phone poles and distributed around the neighborhood, threatening messages were left in the mailbox, and a swastika was spray-painted on the side of the building. In response, Mattoon police provided a visible presence during the Passover services that year. The MJCC met with local churches and interfaith organizations to organize a public "Not in Our Town" campaign. No further incidents were reported.[ citation needed ]

Place of worship

The MJCC congregation currently uses the facilities of the Trinity Episcopal Church at 2200 Western Avenue in Mattoon for Sabbath and the High Holy Day services. [1] [9] The Ark, containing two Torah scrolls, resides in the sanctuary next to the altar. The Trinity Episcopal Church was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 19, 1982. [10] [11] [12]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Rubin, Bonnie Miller (September 29, 2012). "Smallest Jewish congregation in U.S. struggles to survive in central Illinois" (online and hardcopy). Chicago Tribune . pp. 1–2. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Smallest Jewish congregation in U.S. struggles to survive in central Illinois". Chicago Tribune. September 29, 2012. Retrieved December 16, 2025.
  3. ↑ Special to National Post (October 2, 2012). "Smallest Reform Jewish congregation in America fights to hang on". National Post. Retrieved December 5, 2025.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Union for Reform Judaism". urj.org. Union for Reform Judaism. Archived from the original on July 28, 2009. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  5. ↑ "| Union for Reform Judaism". urj.org. Archived from the original on January 2, 2025. Retrieved December 5, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Mattoon Jewish Community Ctr". Union for Reform Judaism. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Mattoon Jewish Community Ctr". Religious Action Center. Retrieved November 7, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Directory". Church Angel. Retrieved January 2, 2026.
  9. ↑ "Trinity Episcopal Church, Mattoon, IL". episcopalchurch.org. The Episcopal Church. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  10. ↑ Small, Dr. Nora Pat. "Religious Architecture in Coles County: A Timeline". castle.eiu.edu. Eastern Illinois University. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  11. ↑ "National Register of Historic Places – Trinity Episcopal Church". Mattoon History. Archived from the original on August 20, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2012.
  12. ↑ Larrabee, Alice (April 30, 1981). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form: Unity Church" (PDF). National Park Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 19, 2014.
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