History of the Jews in Brazos County, Texas

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The History of the Jews in Brazos County, Texas covers a period of over 140 years of Jewish history in Brazos County, Texas. Many notable individuals and communities have contributed to this history beginning in 1865, including the present Jewish communities and individuals of Brazos County and Texas A&M University. [1]

One of the first Jewish temples in Brazos County, Texas is Temple Freda, which is still in use as of 2007, making it one of the three oldest religious buildings still in use in the country. The temple was named for Ethel Freda Kaczer (1860-1912), wife of the president of the kehillawhen the synagogue was built. [2] In 1920, Texas A&M Hillel was founded as the first Hillel organization in the United States.[3]

Since 1982, Texas A&M University's "Center of Heritage Conservation" has focused on the history of Temple Freda as one of its historical projects.[4] Temple Freda is on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]

The Chabad of Brazos Valley, also known as the Chabad Center of Texas A&M, was founded on July 10, 2007 by Rabbi Yossi Lararoff and his wife Manya. [6] With the opening of Chabad of Brazos Valley, there has been a revival of Jewish celebrations as Jewish students at Texas A&M University now have a regular Shabbat dinner and lunch program, Pesach seders, and Purim parties. [7] On December 4, 2007, the Jewish Aggies, a student group at Texas A&M, lit the largest menorah in the state of Texas. [8][9][10] Jewish Herald-Voice reported that Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff is facilitating the writing of a Torah scroll at Texas A&M. Rabbi Lazaroff stated that “As our brothers and sisters in the land of Israel suffer daily hardship, now is the time for us to come together. What better way than through the core of our existence – the Torah.”[11]

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[edit] References

  1. ^ Page, Bill. Before Temple Freda: Jewish residents of Brazos County, Texas, 1865-1913. 1998.
  2. ^ A Guide to Historic Brazos Valley. Brazos Heritage Society (2003). Retrieved on 2007-10-22.
  3. ^ Gabrielle Birkner. "A Cushy Fit In Bush Country", The Jewish Week, 2005-05-06. Retrieved on 2007-12-30. 
  4. ^ Texas A&M University College of Architecture Projects
  5. ^ National Register of Historic Places of Texas
  6. ^ “New Jewish Center Opens Doors”, The Battalion (College Station, TX), September 12, 2007, <http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/09/12/News/Jewish.Center.Opens.Doors-2963217.shtml> 
  7. ^ Aggies Embrace New Jewish Student Center Deep in the Heart of Texas by Joshua Runyan, Chabad.edu, December 4, 2007
  8. ^ Jewish Aggies Celebrate Start of Hanukah ABC, December 4, 2007.
  9. ^ Shabbat dinner at Chabad: a Texas A&M favorite Texas Jewish Post
  10. ^ Chabad Jewish Student Group Texas A&M Student Activities
  11. ^ “Student Unity Torah initiative at Chabad – Texas A&M University”, Jewish Herald-Voice, December 20, 2007, <http://www.jhvonline.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=128&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=3737>