Congregation Beth Israel (Houston) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Congregation Beth Israel |
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Beth Israel synagogue
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| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership |
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| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 5600 N. Braeswood Blvd., Houston, Texas 77096 |
| Country | United States |
 Location in Texas
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| Architecture | |
| Date established | 1854 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
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Congregation Beth Israel is a Reform Jewish group and synagogue (a Jewish house of worship) in Houston, Texas. It is located at 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard. This congregation started in 1854, making it the oldest Jewish group in Texas. It also runs a school called the Shlenker School.
Contents
History of Beth Israel
Early Beginnings and Changes
The congregation began in 1854 as an Orthodox Jewish kehilla (a Jewish community). It officially became a legal group in 1859. The first Beth Israel building in Houston was a house that was changed into a synagogue.
In 1874, the members voted to become a Reform Jewish congregation. This decision led some members to start a new group called Congregation Adath Yeshurun. Today, that group is known as Congregation Beth Yeshurun.
Moving to New Locations
The first special building for Beth Israel, called the Franklin Avenue Temple, was finished in 1874. This temple was in what is now Downtown Houston.
In 1908, the congregation moved to a new temple on Crawford Street. This area was a Jewish community at the time. After Beth Israel moved, another group used the Lamar site. As of 2016, a park area called The Grove at Discovery Green is where the Lamar site used to be.
A new temple building was opened in 1925. It was located at Austin Street and Holman Avenue. This area was once part of the Third Ward.
Important Rabbis
Maximilian Heller was a rabbi for the congregation from 1886 to 1887. Rabbi Hyman Judah Schachtel also served as a rabbi here.
Rabbi Henry Barnston was the congregation's rabbi for a long time, from 1900 to 1943. After that, he was an important advisor until he passed away in 1949.
The Austin Street Building
The Austin Street building was built in 1924 and 1925. It was designed by Joseph Finger, who was a member of the congregation. This building has a special style called Streamline Moderne.
In 1984, this building was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It also received a special status as a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 2009.
Changes in Beliefs
In 1943, Temple Beth Israel announced that people who supported certain ideas about a Jewish homeland, followed strict Jewish dietary laws (kashrut), or wanted to keep Hebrew as a main language were not allowed to be members. Because of this, a new group called Emanu-El was formed by people who disagreed with this rule. By 1967, Beth Israel changed its rules and welcomed people with those beliefs.
New Homes for the Temple
In 1966, the Houston Independent School District bought the 1920s temple building on Austin Street. The school district used it as an extra building for San Jacinto High School because more students were joining.
By 1967, many Jewish families were moving to the Meyerland area of Houston. To stay close to its members, the congregation moved to a new temple on North Braeswood Boulevard in 1967.
The old temple building on Austin Street became the first home for Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. It was renamed the Ruth Denney Theatre. Later, when the high school moved, the building became a performance place for Houston Community College and was renamed the Heinen Theatre. This historic building is in Midtown Houston.
Today, Rabbi David Lyon, Rabbi Adrienne Scott, and Cantor Kenneth Feibush lead the Congregation Beth Israel.
Beth Israel Properties
Current Synagogue Building
The current synagogue is at 5600 North Braeswood Boulevard. Its lobby has twelve beautiful needlepoint artworks. These designs were inspired by the famous Chagall windows at the Hadassah Medical Center. The synagogue building has been made bigger over time to include a Jewish school.
The Shlenker School
The Shlenker School is located on the synagogue property. This school is officially recognized by the Independent Schools Association of the Southwest.
During the COVID-19 pandemic in Texas, more students attended The Shlenker School than before. A report in 2021 said that families who preferred in-person learning during the pandemic often chose schools that continued to offer it.
Cemeteries
Congregation Beth Israel owns and takes care of two cemeteries. Its oldest Jewish cemetery in Houston is on West Dallas Street. It was started in 1844. This cemetery has the Temple of Rest Mausoleum, which is a special building with an Art Deco design by architect Joseph Finger. It has beautiful stained-glass windows and bronze iron work.
The other cemetery is on Antoine Drive in west Houston. This cemetery was recently made larger and includes a columbarium, which is a place for urns holding ashes.
Notable Members
- Josh Wolf (born 2000), a baseball player for the Cleveland Indians organization and for Team Israel.
Gallery
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Texas Historic Landmark marker at the former synagogue site
See also
