B'nai Abraham Synagogue
Synagogue B'nai Abraham in 2008
Religion
AffiliationOrthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusSynagogue
StatusActive
Location
Location302 North Park Street, Brenham, Texas
CountryUnited States
B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Brenham, Texas) is located in Texas
B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Brenham, Texas)
Location in Texas
Geographic coordinates30°10′05″N 96°23′53″W / 30.16806°N 96.39806°W / 30.16806; -96.39806
Architecture
TypeSynagogue
StyleGothic Revival
Date established1885 (as a congregation)
Completed
  • 1892 (destroyed by fire)
  • 1900 (1900)
Synagogue B'nai Abraham
Invalid designation
Arealess than one acre
MPSBrenham MPS
NRHP reference No.90000464[1]
RTHL No.8293
Significant dates
Added to NRHPMarch 29, 1990
Designated RTHL1965

The B'nai Abraham Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue located at 302 North Park Street in Brenham, Texas, in the United States. The congregation was organized in 1885.

History

Early Jewish settlers in the Washington County of Texas arrived during the 1860s. B. Levinson, an original founder, arrived in 1861. Alex Simon arrived in 1866. These individuals became active in the business community of Brenham, and as other Jewish settlers arrived, the need for a synagogue grew. The present building was constructed in 1893, after the first caught fire in 1892.[2] L. Fink served as first president, F. Susnitsky as vice president, L. Z. Harrison as treasurer, and J. Lewis and Abe Fink as secretaries. The twenty charter members were led by Rabbi Israel. In the 1990s the synagogue was believed to be the oldest Orthodox Jewish synagogue to have been in continuous use in Texas.[3] Leon Toubin, a Jewish Texan community and business leader, is the caretaker of this place of worship.[4]

Relocation

In early 2015, the building was cut into three sections and moved 90 miles (140 km) west to the Dell Jewish Community Center in the Northwest Hills neighborhood of Austin, Texas. The building was pieced back together and upgraded with new insulation, restrooms, air-conditioning and electrical wiring. The synagogue became the home of the Congregation Tiferet Israel. The move resulted in the loss of historic status for the structure.[5]

Architecture

The structure, located on 302 North Park Street, remains an Orthodox Shul. The projecting structure on the near side is the Mikveh. The white clapboard structure with its pointed arched windows closely resembles the small country churches in the region. Inside the building the Aron Kodesh can be seen on the eastern wall and in the center the Bimah where the Sefer Torah was read.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ↑ "B'nai Abraham Synagogue". Texas Escapes.
  3. ↑ Hailey, James L.: B'nai Abraham Synagogue from the Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved December 23, 2008.
  4. 1 2 Davis, Robert P. (Architect) (June 20, 1996). "B'nai Abraham, Brenham, Texas". WebCite. Archived from the original on October 25, 2009.
  5. ↑ MacLaggan, Corrie (December 14, 2014). "Brenham Synagogue Moving to Austin, and a New Life". The Texas Tribune. The Texas Tribune. Retrieved February 1, 2015.
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