History of the Jews in Dallas, Texas
Encyclopedia
The History of the Jews in Dallas, Texas
is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the state. Dallas is one of the largest cities in Texas and has one of the largest Jewish communities in the state.
was established in 1854. The small but growing Jewish community felt the need for a permanent religious structure as well as for a rabbi to conduct services and to offer religious education for children, so in 1873 several families founded the first congregation in the Dallas area, Jewish Congregation Emanu-El (now Temple Emanu-El
). The Temple was chartered in 1875. The next year they built a small red brick temple in the Byzantine style at Commerce and Church (now Field) streets in downtown Dallas. The congregation engaged its first rabbi, Aaron Suhler, in 1875 and joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1906.
.
In 1957 the temple moved to its present location in North Dallas. Architects Howard R. Meyer and Max M. Sandfield
, with noted California architect William W. Wurster as consultant, received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for the design of the present structure, which was enhanced by art coordinator György Kepes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Handbook of Texas
states that, "The formal preservation of the history of Texas Jewry goes back to Rabbi
Henry Cohen
of Galveston and Rabbi David Lefkowitz
of Dallas, who set out to interview as many early settlers and their families as possible. They produced a historical account for the Texas
Centennial in 1936."
Edward Titche was an original member of the Citizen's Charter Association and he served as vice president of the Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children
. Titche was the second life member of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers, he became a charter trustee of the Dallas Historical Society and he was on the board of Dallas Trust and Savings Bank. Edward Titche Elementary School in Dallas was named for him.
Alex Sanger was the first Jew to be appointed a regent of the University of Texas. He was also City Alderman and served the City of Dallas throughout his life in many capacities: State Fair Exposition, Volunteer Fireman Engine Company #1, Director of City National Bank of Dallas, Director of the Board of Trade, and Director of the Dallas Club.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
is one of the oldest Jewish communities in the state. Dallas is one of the largest cities in Texas and has one of the largest Jewish communities in the state.
Early history
Its first Jewish cemeteryJewish cemetery
A Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....
was established in 1854. The small but growing Jewish community felt the need for a permanent religious structure as well as for a rabbi to conduct services and to offer religious education for children, so in 1873 several families founded the first congregation in the Dallas area, Jewish Congregation Emanu-El (now Temple Emanu-El
Temple Emanu-El of Dallas
Temple Emanu-El of Dallas, Texas was the first Reform Jewish congregation in North Texas, and is the largest synagogue in the South.- History :...
). The Temple was chartered in 1875. The next year they built a small red brick temple in the Byzantine style at Commerce and Church (now Field) streets in downtown Dallas. The congregation engaged its first rabbi, Aaron Suhler, in 1875 and joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1906.
Modern history
In 1947, a member of the Jewish community in Dallas began printing the Texas Jewish PostTexas Jewish Post
The Texas Jewish Post started publication in 1947. Rene and Jimmy Wisch were the starters of the TJP. Their family now works there. -History:...
.
In 1957 the temple moved to its present location in North Dallas. Architects Howard R. Meyer and Max M. Sandfield
Max M. Sandfield
Max M. Sandfield was an architect, sculptor, and artist.-Life:Born in Lithuania, Sandfield immigrated to the United States as an infant and was raised in San Antonio. He graduated from MIT in 1925 with a bachelors degree in architecture. In April 1944 he met Carol Wiener, whom he married three...
, with noted California architect William W. Wurster as consultant, received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for the design of the present structure, which was enhanced by art coordinator György Kepes of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Handbook of Texas
Handbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
states that, "The formal preservation of the history of Texas Jewry goes back to Rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
Henry Cohen
Henry Cohen (rabbi)
Henry Cohen was a Jewish Texan rabbi who served Congregation B'nai Israel in Galveston, Texas from 1888 to 1952.-History in Galveston:...
of Galveston and Rabbi David Lefkowitz
David Lefkowitz (rabbi)
Rabbi David Lefkowitz , an historic Texan rabbi, became Temple Emanu-El 's rabbi in 1920. He was rabbi until 1949, when he was replaced by Rabbi Levi Olan. He took a firm stance against the Ku Klux Klan. . The Perkins School of Theology houses the "Sadie and David Lefkowitz Collection of Judaica"...
of Dallas, who set out to interview as many early settlers and their families as possible. They produced a historical account for the Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
Centennial in 1936."
Early Merchant Community
Many Jewish merchants contributed to the growth of Dallas, often working together for the betterment of the city. Because Jewish merchants were often the prime supporters of the community's cultural institutions and charities, their economic health often dictated the economic health of the city. Local newspapers received most of their income from advertising from Jewish merchants, enabling them to remain independent and impartial in their reporting unlike European newspapers which were often funded by a particular political party. Jewish merchants were often among the largest bank depositors and frequently sat on the boards of local banks.Notable Dallas Jews in commerce and civics
- Max Goettinger and Edward Titche: founders of Titche-GoettingerTitche-GoettingerTitche-Goettinger was a department store chain based in Dallas, Texas . It was established in 1902 and was a major player in the Dallas retail market until its absorption by Dillard's in 1987.- History :...
department store in 1902.
Edward Titche was an original member of the Citizen's Charter Association and he served as vice president of the Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children
Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is a Dallas-based hospital that treats pediatric orthopedic conditions. Physicians from around the world travel to Dallas to train with their physicians in pediatric orthopedics, and research programs have resulted in major breakthroughs, including 20...
. Titche was the second life member of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers, he became a charter trustee of the Dallas Historical Society and he was on the board of Dallas Trust and Savings Bank. Edward Titche Elementary School in Dallas was named for him.
- Herbert MarcusHerbert MarcusHerbert Marcus was one of the co-founders of Neiman Marcus, and later became its chief executive officer.Marcus was born in Kentucky but moved to Hillsboro, Texas after dropping out of high school to work and live near his brother Theodore, his three sisters and his parents...
, sister Carrie Marcus NeimanCarrie Marcus NeimanCarrie Marcus was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Jewish German immigrants Delia and Jacob Marcus. Jacob was a cotton broker and in 1895 the family followed a daughter to Hillsboro, Texas when she married a grocer there. Carrie moved with her family to Dallas, Texas in 1899 and married Abraham...
and her husband Abraham Lincoln NeimanAbraham Lincoln NeimanAbraham Lincoln "Al" Neiman was born on July 4, 1875 in Chicago, Illinois and raised in a Jewish orphanage in Cleveland, Ohio. He met his first wife Carrie Marcus Neiman in Dallas, Texas while they were working at A. Harris & Company...
: founders of Neiman MarcusNeiman MarcusNeiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
department store in 1907.
- Minnie Lichtenstein MarcusMinnie Lichtenstein MarcusMinnie Lichtenstein was born in Dallas in 1882. Her father Meyer Lichtenstein had immigrated from Königsberg, Germany and her mother Hattie Mittenthal had come from Russia via Peoria, Illinois. She married Herbert Marcus in 1902 and gave birth to the first of their four sons Stanley Marcus in 1905...
: Herbert Marcus' wife and Vice President of Neiman MarcusNeiman MarcusNeiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
. She was also on the board of several organizations including the Dallas Jewish Welfare Federation, Temple Emanu-El, Golden Acres Dallas Home for Jewish Aged, and had a prominent role in founding the Dallas Garden Center.
- Phillip Sanger and Alex Sanger: managers of the Dallas Sanger Brothers department store, which opened in 1972 and soon became the main store.
Alex Sanger was the first Jew to be appointed a regent of the University of Texas. He was also City Alderman and served the City of Dallas throughout his life in many capacities: State Fair Exposition, Volunteer Fireman Engine Company #1, Director of City National Bank of Dallas, Director of the Board of Trade, and Director of the Dallas Club.
- Elihu Sanger: on the board of Dallas Trust and Savings Bank.
- Adolph Harris: founder of A. Harris and Co. department store in 1891.
- Arthur Kramer: son-in-law of Adolph Harris and president of A. Harris and Co. for 37 years. He was also president of the Dallas Symphony Society, Dallas Art Association, and the Dallas Grand Opera Association.
- Joseph, Elias, Simon, Ben and Albert Linz: founded the Linz BrothersZale CorporationThe Zale Corporation is, through its wholly owned subsidiaries, a leading specialty retailer of jewelry in North America. The Zale Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 1993...
jewelry firm in 1891.
- Emanuel Meyer Kahn: founder of E. M. Kahn and Company in 1872, which continued for ninety-two years as a family-owned business and had the distinction of being the oldest retail store in Dallas, the city's first air-conditioned store and the first store west of the Mississippi with fixed prices.
- Edward Titche Levy: served as Executive Director of the Dallas Community Chest from 1922 to 1939. Also on the board of Dallas Trust and Savings Bank.
Other community members
- Martin FrostMartin FrostJonas Martin Frost III is an American politician, who was the Democratic representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 24th congressional district from 1979 to 2005.-Personal life:...
, banker - George E. Kessler, city planner and architect
- David LefkowitzDavid Lefkowitz (rabbi)Rabbi David Lefkowitz , an historic Texan rabbi, became Temple Emanu-El 's rabbi in 1920. He was rabbi until 1949, when he was replaced by Rabbi Levi Olan. He took a firm stance against the Ku Klux Klan. . The Perkins School of Theology houses the "Sadie and David Lefkowitz Collection of Judaica"...
, rabbi - Stanley MarcusStanley MarcusHarold Stanley Marcus was an early president and later chairman of the board of the luxury retailer Neiman Marcus in Dallas, Texas, which his father and aunt had founded in 1907...
, retailer - Laura MillerLaura MillerLaura Miller served as mayor of Dallas, Texas from 2002 through 2007. She did not run for re-election in the 2007 mayoral race. She was the third woman to serve as mayor of Dallas.- Education and career :...
, journalist, city council member and mayor - Levi OlanLevi OlanRabbi Levi Arthur Olan was born in Cherkasy, Ukraine. From 1949 to 1970 he was Rabbi of Temple Emanu-El of Dallas, Texas. Prior to that, from 1929 to 1948, he was Rabbi of Temple Emanuel in Worcester, Massachusetts ....
, rabbi - David E. SternDavid E. SternRabbi David Eli Stern is the senior rabbi at Temple Emanu-El of Dallas, the largest synagogue in the South/Southwest United States and the third-largest in the Union for Reform Judaism....
, rabbi - Steven D. WolensSteven D. WolensSteven D. Wolens is a former Texas state Representative. Described by Texas Monthly as the "House's most dreaded foe and most welcome ally," he was best known for ushering in Senate Bill 7, deregulating Texas energy markets. He is married to former Dallas, Texas mayor Laura Miller, and he was a...
, state representative
Further reading
- Rose G. Biderman. They came to stay: the story of the Jews of Dallas, 1870-1997. Eakins Press, 2002. ISBN: 1571686487, ISBN-13: 9781571686480.
- Gerry Cristol. A light in the prairie: Temple Emanu-El of Dallas, 1872-1997. Texas Christian University, 1998. ISBN: 0875651844, ISBN-13: 9780875651842.
- Kerry M. Olitzky, Marc Lee Raphael. The American synagogue: a historical dictionary and sourcebook. Greenwood Publishing Group, 1996, page 340 (retrieved 2011-08-22). ISBN: 0313288569, ISBN-13: 9780313288562.
- Preservation Dallas, Dallas Architecture Forum. Howard Meyer: Temple Emanu-El and Other Works. Preservation Dallas, 1997.
- Dallas Jewish Directory
- Houston Jewish Directory