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The history of Congregation Degel
Israel
Congregation Degel Israel was founded in the early 1890s.
Services were either conducted in private homes or places
of business, without a rabbi. In 1903, the budding congregation
leased rooms in the Doolittle & Hall Block, now the
Lincoln Building, Public Square. The congregation
was called Standard of Israel.
In November 1907, the present Congregation
Degel Israel was incorporated. The old Synagogue,
located on Prospect Street, was purchased and dedicated
on November 13, 1907. On March 11, 1922, a fire caused extensive
damage. The building was repaired and rededicated on July
3, 1922. This building served the community until April
1953.
Ground was broken for a new building at 557 Thompson
Boulevard on June 3, 1952, and dedicated on August 31, 1953.
An amendment to the Synagogue by-laws in 1984 granted
women the right of full participation in ritual, social,
and business activities of the Synagogue. A year later,
the Synagogue changed its status from Traditional Conservative
to Egalitarian.
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We
are Congregation Degel Israel of Watertown, New York.