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History of the Jews in Texas facts for kids

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Jewish Texans are people who practice Judaism and live in Texas. They have been an important part of Texas's story since the very first European explorers came to the area in the 1500s. Today, about 120,000 Jewish people call Texas home.

The History of Jewish Texans

Old bnai israel 2007
This is the 1870 Congregation B'nai Israel Temple in Galveston, Texas.
Jewish Benevolent Cemetery, Galveston
The Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery in Galveston was started in 1852.

Even though Spanish Texas wasn't always welcoming, Jewish people still came to the area. For example, Jao de la Porta was with Jean Lafitte in Galveston, Texas in 1816. Maurice Henry lived in Velasco in the late 1820s.

Jewish people also fought bravely in the Texas Revolution of 1836. Some were with James Fannin at Goliad, Texas, and others fought at the Battle of San Jacinto. Dr. Albert Levy became a surgeon for the Texan forces in 1835. He helped capture Bexar and joined the Texas Navy the next year.

The first Jewish families in Texas were often conversos or Sephardi Jews. These were Jewish people from Spain and Portugal. Later, families like the Simon family arrived in the 1860s. They helped build important places like synagogues and the Simon Theatre. Most Jewish Texans today are descendants of Ashkenazi Jews. These are Jewish people from central and eastern Europe who came to Texas after the Civil War.

Early Jewish Communities

Organized Jewish life in Texas began in Galveston, Texas. The first Jewish cemetery in Texas was started there in 1852. By 1856, the first organized Jewish services were held in the home of Isadore Dyer. These services led to the founding of Texas's first and oldest Reform Jewish group, Temple B'nai Israel, in 1868.

The first synagogue in Texas was Congregation Beth Israel of Houston. It was founded in Houston in 1859 as an Orthodox congregation. However, by 1874, the group decided to join the newer Reform movement. Over the next few years, Judaism spread across Texas. Temple Beth-El (San Antonio, Texas) was founded in San Antonio in 1874. Then came Temple Emanu-El of Dallas in 1875. Brenham's B'nai Abraham was founded in 1885.

Temple Beth-El in San Antonio is known for being very open and supportive of the Jewish LGBT community. B'nai Abraham in Brenham is the state's oldest existing Orthodox synagogue.

The Galveston Movement

Between 1907 and 1914, a special program called the Galveston Movement helped Jewish immigrants. It aimed to guide Jewish people from eastern Europe away from crowded cities in the Northeast. Instead, it encouraged them to come through the port city of Galveston, Texas. About 10,000 Jewish immigrants arrived through Galveston during this time. Rabbi Henry Cohen of B'nai Israel helped start this important movement.

Facing Challenges and Building Success

Texas did face some challenges with antisemitism (prejudice against Jewish people) in the 19th century. However, the Jewish community often grew stronger when facing these issues. For example, the Ku Klux Klan became powerful in Texas in the 1920s. A Klan newspaper in Houston used unfair stereotypes to attack Jewish people. But this threat also helped unite the Jewish community in Houston. By 1924, the Klan lost much of its power.

Even during these times, many Jewish Texans were very successful in business. By the 1920s, large department stores in Houston, like Foley's and Battlestein's, were owned by Jewish families. The Sakowitz brothers, Simon and Tobias, opened a clothing store in Houston in 1915. It grew into Sakowitz's, one of the city's finest department stores.

Preserving History and Giving Back

The Handbook of Texas notes that Rabbi Henry Cohen and Rabbi David Lefkowitz worked hard to save the history of Jewish Texans. They interviewed early settlers and their families. This helped create a historical record for the Texas Centennial in 1936.

Many Jewish Texans have also been great philanthropists, meaning they give a lot of money to help others. Ben Taub from Houston was a leading real estate developer. He donated land for the University of Houston when it started in 1936. He also helped Baylor College of Medicine move to Houston from Dallas. Taub founded a public hospital, which is now called Ben Taub Hospital. In 1958, the Jewish community built a $450,000 Jewish Institute for Medical Research. They donated it to the Baylor College of Medicine when it was finished in 1964. Leopold Meyer was another major donor for the Texas Children's Hospital.

Joe Weingarten, who was born in Poland, became a very successful grocery store owner in Houston. He was one of the first to use "cash and carry" and "self-service" ideas in grocery stores. His chain grew to 70 locations. He was also very active in helping Jewish social causes.

Modern Jewish Texans

Joe Straus, born in 1959, was the Speaker of the Texas House of Representatives. He was elected Speaker in 2009 and was the first Jewish Speaker in Texas history.

Other well-known Jewish Texans include the late retailer Stanley Marcus, who was the longtime CEO of Neiman-Marcus in Dallas. Also, Michael Dell, who founded and is CEO of Dell Computer. Michael Dell is also very active in charity. He helped fund the Dell Children's Hospital in Austin and the Dell Diamond, which supports the Round Rock Express baseball team.

Notable Jewish Texans

Jewish Communities in Texas

  • Temple Beth-El (San Antonio, Texas)
  • Congregation Beth Jacob (Galveston)
  • B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham
  • Congregation B'nai Israel (Galveston)
  • Temple Emanu-El of Dallas
  • Temple Freda (Bryan-College Station)
  • Chabad at Texas A&M University
  • Congregation Shearith Israel (Texas)
  • Congregation Beth Israel of Houston
  • Temple Beth-El, Corsicana
  • Congregation Beth Yeshurun (Houston)
  • Congregation Emanu El of Houston
  • Temple Mount Sinai (El Paso)
  • Congregatiion B'nai Zion (El Paso)
  • The Inner Circle (Denton, Texas)
  • The Thunderdome Yeshiva (San Antonio, Texas)
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