Talk:Congregation B'nai Israel (Galveston, Texas)

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[edit] Henry Cohen Community House

Article merged: See old talk-page here

[edit] Background

Congregation B'nai Israel is the first Jewish Reform Congregation founded in the State of Texas. The roots of the Congregation go back to 1852, with the establishment of a Jewish Cememtery in Galveston with informal services following shortly afterwards. These two events culminated in the founding of B'nai Israel in 1868.

Being the first Reform Congregation in Texas, and only the 2nd congregation in the state, many of its Rabbis had a great impact state-wide. The most notible was Rabbi Henry Cohen (1863-1952) who served the congregation from 1888 until his death in 1852.

After the Galveston hurricane of 1900 Cohen served as a member of the Central Relief Committee, and was nationally recognzied for his work helping to minister to people of all religions in Galveston. During the Galveston Movement he and his congregation, B'nai Israel, helped immigrants who arrived at the port of Galveston to find homes in Texas and beyond. He helped to establish Galveston's Jewish Immigrant Information Bureau in 1907 and later distributed relief for Mexican immigrants.

In the 1920s he helped lead the battle in Texas against the Ku Klux Klanv and in 1926 Texas Governor Dan Moody appointed him to the Texas Prison Board. Cohen won statewide recognition for his push for prision reform: mainly the segregation of hardened criminals from first offenders, better medical facilities, and vocational training. These recommendations were later adopted by the state.

The importance and contributions of Congregation B'nai Israel, its Rabbis and Jews in general, to history of the state of Texas is often overlooked. It is my hope that through the creation of this page more people will come to learn and understand an important part of Jewish and Texas history.

Discussion and Input is requested and appreciated.