The Texas Jewish Historical Society, (sometimes abbreviated TJHS), which began in 1980, is a society dedicated to the preservation of Jewish history in Texas

Jewish history in Texas

Jewish Texans have been a part of the history of Texas since the first European explorers arrived in the region in the 16th century. In 1990, there were around 108,000 adherents to Judaism in Texas. More recent estimates place the number at around 120,000....

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History

The society was founded after 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...

 Jimmy Kessler

Jimmy Kessler

James Lee "Jimmy" Kessler , the founder of the Texas Jewish Historical Society, is the first native Texan to serve as rabbi of Congregation B'nai Israel in Galveston, Texas.-History:Kessler was born in Houston, Texas...

, the organization's founding president, published letters in Jewish newspapers in Houston, Dallas and Fort Worth. These letters called for the creation of a historical society

Historical society

A historical society is an organization that collects, researches, interprets and preserves information or items of historical interest. Generally, a historical society focuses on a specific geographical area, such as a county or town or subject, such as aviation or rail. Many historical...

 to preserve and appreciate Jewish history in Texas. http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/80R/billtext/html/SR00709F.HTM http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/ivt1.html TJHS has about 800 members who meet quarterly around the state. Membership is open to anyone who wants to "further the Society’s goals." http://texasjewishpost.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=2508&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1128&hn=texasjewishpost&he=.com

Publications

• "Why Save the Historic Brenham Synagogue?" in Chronicles: A Publication of the Texas Jewish Historical Society, Vol. I, No. 1 (1994), 33-39.
• Toubin, Rosa Levin, Bryan-College Station: Temple Freda
  Temple Freda
  Temple Freda, built in 1912 , is a synagogue located on 205 Parker Street Bryan, Texas.-History:Temple Freda, a part of Brazos County, Texas history, is one of the three oldest religious buildings still in use in Bryan, along with St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and St. Anthony’s Catholic Church....
  
  . Texas Jewish Historical Society.