Congregation Beth Israel (Houston)

Congregation Beth Israel

Congregation Beth Israel of Houston, the oldest Jewish congregation in Texas, was founded in Houston in 1854.

History

Temple Beth Israel

Temple Beth Israel building, 1925–1967
Location in Texas
Location 3517 Austin St., Midtown Houston, Texas
Coordinates 29°44′14″N 95°22′30″W / 29.73735°N 95.37496°W / 29.73735; -95.37496
Built 1924
Architect Finger,Joseph
Architectural style Moderne
NRHP Reference # 84001826[1]
RTHL # 14339
Significant dates
Added to NRHP March 1, 1984
Designated RTHL 1974

The congregation was founded in 1854 as an Orthodox Jewish kehilla and legally chartered in 1859.[2] The Orthodox Beth Israel Congregation in Houston opened in a former house that had been converted to a synagogue.[3] In 1874 the congregation voted to change their affiliation to Reform Judaism, sparking the foundation of Congregation Adath Yeshurun, now known as Congregation Beth Yeshurun.[2] Hyman Judah Schachtel was a past rabbi.

Beth Israel's Franklin Avenue Temple building was completed in 1874.[4][5] The temple was at Crawford Street at Franklin Street in what is now Downtown Houston. In 1908 the congregation moved into a new temple at Crawford at Lamar Street, in an area that was a Jewish community; as of 2011 The Grove at Discovery Green occupies the Downtown Houston site.[6]

A new temple at Austin Street and Holman Avenue was dedicated in 1925.[4][5] Originally it was considered to be a part of the Third Ward.[7]

The Moderne style, 1924-built Austin Street building, designed by congregant Joseph Finger, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and was awarded Recorded Texas Historical Landmark status in 2009.[1]

In 1943 Temple Beth Israel announced that people who espoused Zionist ideals were not allowed to be members, so Emanu-El was formed by people who disagreed with the decision. As of 1967 Beth Israel accepts people with Zionist beliefs.[8]

In 1966 the Houston Independent School District purchased the 1920s temple.[9][10] HISD began using as an annex for San Jacinto High School since the school's population was increasing.[9]

In the years leading to 1967, the Jewish community was moving to Meyerland. To follow the community,[6] in 1967 the congregation moved to a new temple on North Braeswood Boulevard. The temple on Austin Street became the first home of Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and was renamed the Ruth Denney Theatre. When the high school moved to new quarters, the building became a performance venue for Houston Community College's Central Fine Arts division and was renamed the Heinen Theatre.[1] The historic building is located in Midtown Houston.[11]

Text of historical marker at site of Temple Beth Israel in Houston.

Properties

Current property

The current synagogue at 5600 North Braeswood has a lobby with twelve needlepoints. The design of these needlepoints had inspiration in the Hadassah Medical Center's Chagall windows. The current synagogue facility has been expanded since its initial construction in order to house a Jewish school.[12]

The Shlenker School is on the synagogue property. The school is accredited by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.

Cemetery

The cemetery owned by Congregation Beth Israel is the oldest Jewish cemetery in Houston.[13]

See also

References

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 National Park Service (2009-03-13). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. 1 2 Olitzky, Kerry M.; Raphael, Marc Lee. The American Synagogue: A Historical Dictionary and Sourcebook, Greenwood Press, June 30, 1996, p. 346
  3. ↑ Bell, p. 216.
  4. 1 2 Anne Nathan Cohen, The Centenary History of Congregation Beth Israel of Houston (Houston, 1954)
  5. 1 2 http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/ijc01
  6. 1 2 Gonzales, J.R. "Congregation Beth Israel through the years." Houston Chronicle. February 1, 2011. Retrieved on February 3, 2011.
  7. ↑ Wood, Roger. Down in Houston: Bayou City Blues. 2003, University of Texas Press. 1st Edition. 73.
  8. ↑ Bell, p. 217.
  9. 1 2 Gore, p. 8.
  10. ↑ Gore, p. 10.
  11. ↑ "Land Use & Development Map." Midtown Houston. Retrieved on April 4, 2009.
  12. ↑ Bell, p. 218.
  13. ↑ Davis, Rod. "Houston's really good idea Bus tour celebrates communities that forged a city." San Antonio Express-News. Sunday August 3, 2003. Travel 1M. Retrieved on February 11, 2012.
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Coordinates: 29°40′37″N 95°29′16″W / 29.6769°N 95.4879°W / 29.6769; -95.4879

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