Temple Beth El

Title of Building: Temple Beth El
Address: 525 W. Jackson Street
Year Built: 1922
Architectural Style: Classical Revival
National Register: Old West End Historic District; NR # 86002721; Listed 9/22/1986.

Temple Beth El is the first and only purpose-built synagogue in Muncie. The temple was designed by Houck & Smenner with additional design assistance from Lee Glass.[1] The Classical Revival-style building features a warm orange brick veneer, Byzantine and Romanesque motifs, and elongated stained-glass windows. The symmetrical façade showcases a central entry with rounded arches supported by limestone Corinthian columns. Above the entry are roundels with stained-glass centers, and a limestone band bears the inscription "Mine House is a House of Prayer for All Peoples." The sanctuary is a large rectangular space with high paneled ceilings, intricate dark wood detailing, and a prominent Ark. The lofty stained-glass windows adorn the walls, filling the room with light. Renovations and expansions over the years have added a community room, kitchen, restrooms, and an elevator.[2] The temple remains an active synagogue serving Muncie’s Jewish community.

[1] Indiana Construction Recorder, February 25, 1922, p. 20; “Contract Awarded for $30,000 Beth-El Temple.” The Star Press, February 2, 1922, p. 12; Indiana Construction Recorder, October 7, 1922, p. 21.

[2] "A Brief History of Temple Beth El" Edited by Laura Ann Schwartz from separate histories compiled by Dr. Kenneth Davis and Sylvia Plank. Additional research by Andrew Seager. Temple Beth El Directory, 2016-2017. Collection of Temple Beth El.