Temple Beth Israel (Houston, Texas)
Encyclopedia
Congregation Beth Israel of Houston, the oldest Jewish congregation
in Texas
, was founded in Houston in 1854.
, sparking the foundation of Congregation Adath Yeshurun, now known as Congregation Beth Yeshurun. Hyman Judah Schachtel
was a past rabbi
.
Beth Israel's Franklin Avenue Temple building was completed in 1874. 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.
A new temple at Austin Street and Holman Avenue was dedicated in 1925. Originally it was considered to be a part of the Third Ward.
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 in 2009.
In the years leading to 1967, the Jewish community was moving to Meyerland. To follow the community, in 1967 the congregation moved to a new temple on North Braeswood. 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. The historic building is currently located in Midtown Houston.
Oldest synagogues in the United States
The designation of the oldest synagogue in the United States requires careful use of definitions, and must be divided into two parts, the oldest in the sense of oldest surviving building, and the oldest in the sense of oldest congregation...
in 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...
, was founded in Houston in 1854.
History
The congregation was founded in 1854 as an Orthodox Jewish kehilla and legally chartered in 1859. In 1874 the congregation voted to change their affiliation to Reform JudaismReform Judaism
Reform Judaism refers to various beliefs, practices and organizations associated with the Reform Jewish movement in North America, the United Kingdom and elsewhere. In general, it maintains that Judaism and Jewish traditions should be modernized and should be compatible with participation in the...
, sparking the foundation of Congregation Adath Yeshurun, now known as Congregation Beth Yeshurun. Hyman Judah Schachtel
Hyman Judah Schachtel
Hyman Judah Schachtel was Senior Rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel of Houston from 1943 to 1975. From 1975-1990 He served as Rabbi Emeritus of Congregation Beth Israel of Houston He also served the Houston Jewish community as "rabbi-at-large" for the remainder of his life. On January 20, 1965,...
was a past 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...
.
Beth Israel's Franklin Avenue Temple building was completed in 1874. The temple was at Crawford Street at Franklin Street in what is now Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston
Downtown Houston is the largest business district of Houston, Texas, United States. Downtown Houston, the city's central business district, contains the headquarters of many prominent companies. There is an extensive network of pedestrian tunnels and skywalks connecting the buildings of the district...
. 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
Discovery Green
Discovery Green is a public park in Downtown Houston, Texas, United States. Opened in 2008, Discovery Green is located on Avenida de las Americas across from the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Hilton Americas Hotel, adjacent to Toyota Center...
occupies the Downtown Houston site.
A new temple at Austin Street and Holman Avenue was dedicated in 1925. Originally it was considered to be a part of the Third Ward.
The Moderne style
Streamline Moderne
Streamline Moderne, sometimes referred to by either name alone or as Art Moderne, was a late type of the Art Deco design style which emerged during the 1930s...
, 1924-built Austin Street building, designed by congregant Joseph Finger
Joseph Finger
Joseph Finger was an Austrian-born architect most active in Texas in the 1930s and 1940s, responsible for a number of Houston Art Deco landmarks....
, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1984 and was awarded Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 2009.
In the years leading to 1967, the Jewish community was moving to Meyerland. To follow the community, in 1967 the congregation moved to a new temple on North Braeswood. The temple on Austin Street became the first home of Houston's High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts is a secondary school located at 4001 Stanford Street in the Montrose district of Houston, Texas. The school is a part of the Houston Independent School District....
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. The historic building is currently located in Midtown Houston.