Encyclopedia Of Detroit
Franklin, Rabbi Leo
Born March 5th, 1870 in Cambridge City, Indiana, Leo Morris Franklin was an influential rabbi who was committed to improving interfaith relations in Detroit. Franklin simultaneously attended the University of Cincinnati and Hebrew Union College, graduating from both in 1892, and was then ordained as a rabbi. Invited to serve the Temple Israel in Omaha, Nebraska, Franklin spent seven years there until he was invited to serve at Temple Beth El in Detroit in 1899. While at Beth El, Franklin organized the United Jewish Charities, folding several existing organizations into one to help poor members of the Jewish community and immigrants from Europe.
In 1912, he began an annual service for students from the University of Michigan and established a forerunner of the Hillel Society at the University in 1914. In 1919, Franklin was named president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Franklin’s congregation significantly increased over time and he convinced the Beth El community to build two new temples during his time as rabbi. The first was built in 1902 on Woodward Avenue near Eliot Street. George Mason was the architect, aided by a young Beth El congregant, Albert Khan. Used as a temple until 1922, the building now serves as Wayne State University’s Bonstelle Theatre. The congregation outgrew its 1902 location, and Beth El contracted Kahn as the architect for the new temple on Woodward and Gladstone Avenue. The congregation moved once more, to Bloomfield Township, in 1973.
Throughout his time in Detroit, Franklin was active in numerous groups and was on many boards. He received honorary Doctor of Law degrees from the University of Detroit in 1923, Wayne State University in 1939, and that same year, an honorary Doctor of Divinity from his alma mater, Hebrew Union College.
Franklin died on August 8th, 1948 in Detroit. He is buried in Woodmere Cemetery in Detroit. In 1981, the archives at Temple Beth El were named in his memory.
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