Congregation Sherith Israel (San Francisco)

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San Francisco’s Congregation Sherith Israel was founded in 1851, the same year as San Francisco’s other leading congregation, Emanu-El. Its first buildings were on Stockton Street; Post and Taylor streets, and then it settled on Webster Street, where the synagogue was used as a courthouse after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire (the synagogue building survived the earthquake and fire, more or less, completely intact). During this time period, Abe Ruef’s corruption trial took place in the building.

Although the neighborhood surrounding the present Temple was once heavily Jewish, the majority of this Reform congregation now resides throughout San Francisco and its suburbs.

The Western Jewish History Center, of the Judah L. Magnes Museum, in Berkeley, California contains a large archival collection that documents the history of this congregation, from the time of its founding to the present. This material includes the congregation’s constitutions and bylaws; minutes of the Board of Trustees; reports; correspondence; tributes and resolutions; marriage contracts; memorial books; membership and financial records; registers of inhabitants of the congregation's cemetery, in Colma, California; photographs; and congregation newsletters and publications.