History of the Jews in Brenham, Texas

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The History of the Jews in Brenham, Texas covers a period of over 140 years. As one of the first areas in Texas, outside of major population centers, to develop a sizeable Jewish population, the community boast many things of historical note. The Brehnam kehilla was formally organized in 1885.[1][2]

Contents

[edit] Early Jewish settlement

Early Jewish settlers arrived in Brenham, Texas during the 1860's. With the arrival of Jewish merchants, Brenham's retail and wholesale trade expanded further. [1] B. Levinson, an original founder, arrived in 1861. The builders of the Simon Theatre, the Simon family, arrived in 1866. These individuals became active in the business community of Brenham, Texas and as other Jewish settlers arrived, the need for a synagogue grew.[3][4] Early leaders were: Rabbi Israel, L. Fink as first president, F. Susnitsky as vice president, L. Z. Harrison, J. Lewis, Abe Fink. These men were part of the 20 original charter members of B'nai Abraham Synagogue.[4]

[edit] B'nai Abraham Synagogue

B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham was constructed in 1893, after the first structure caught fire in 1892.[3] The structure of the temple remains a staunchly Orthodox Shul. The projecting structure on the near side is the Mikveh. Viewing the Shul from the outside, the building appears humble. 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 Torah was read. In the 1990s the synagogue was believed to be the oldest Orthodox Jewish synagogue to have been in continuous use in Texas.[5]

The B'nai Abraham Cemetery is a jewish cemetery located in Brenham and associated with B'nai Abraham Synagogue. Its location is near Blinn College, west of the Brenham town square. This cemetery is the resting place for many notable Jewish Texans, such the Simon family and Rosa Levin Toubin.[5][6]

[edit] Simon Family and Theatre

In 1866, Alex Simon (December 11, 1825 - October 4, 1906), a citizen of The Republic of Texas[6] who was born in Konin, Poland, arrived in Brenham Texas. His arrival marked the beginning of the influential Simon family's involvement in the Brenham Jewish community. Alex Simon was one of the founders and builders of the B'nai Abraham Synagogue.[4] He was also one of the principle investors in the Gulf, Colorado and Santa Fe Railroad, "which brought Jewish immigrants up from Galveston through the Brazos River valley to Bryan and out to San Angelo."[5] Alex Simon's son, James Simon, March 8, 1858 - August 1, 1925,[6] is known for having financed the construction of the Simon Theatre. Historically, Simon family members have been buried at the B'nai Abraham Cemetery.[5]

In 1925, the construction of the Simon Theater was completed and the building, designed by Houston architect Alfred C. Finn, was opened to the public. During its time, the Simon Theatre hosted theatrical performances, vaudeville acts, ballroom dances, special events and movies. These performances lasted until the theatre's closure in the 1970s. [7] The Simon Theatre is recognized by the The League of Historic American Theatres as a "Texas Historic Theatre." [8] The Architecture Division of the Texas Historical Commission has listed it as an "Endangered Historic Properties." [9] The "Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc," is an historical perservation project presently creating a downtown visitor center within the building. [10] The Simon Theatre is part of the Brenham Downtown Historic District, an historical landmark on the National Register of Historic Places.[11] "Save our Simon" is an organization dedicatied to the preservation of the Simon Theatre. On Friday, September 28, 2007, the organization raised 1.2 million dollars for the project. [12]

[edit] Community historians

The history of the Brenham kehilla has been written by the Jewish Texan historian, Rosa Levin Toubin (June 21, 1897 - August 14, 1989).[6] A Brenham native, Rosa Levin Toubin is the daughter of Joe Levin (September 21, 1874 - March 20, 1954), a founder of B'nai Abraham Syagogue. [13] Rosa Levin Toubin attended Blinn College and Rice University and on June 26, 1925 she married Sam H. Toubin (August 25, 1892 – September 17, 1982)[6] who "owned and operated the New York stores in nine towns in Texas." [14] Concerning the Brenham kehilla, Rosa Levin Toubin (Mrs. Sam Toubin) wrote the texts Colorful Brenham Community has history of over 120 years (in 1980) [15] and History of B'nai Abraham Synagogue. [16]

Leon Toubin, a Jewish Texan community and business leader, is the present caretaker of B'nai Abraham Synagogue and the spokesperson for the kehilla. [17][5] In the text Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas, Leon Toubin discusses the history of the Brenham, Texas kehilla. He states that the synagogue has, "holy scriptures and everything." He goes on to add that, "the only thing we need is Jewish people." [18] In the text, Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History, Toubin discusses the descendents of the Brenham kehilla and states that at one time they, "were probably all Jewish once, but we're Lutheran now." [19] Toubin tells a similar story for the PBS special one hour documentary, At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas. This story concerns former Washington County Sheriff Goldberg. Toubin states that, "The sheriff we had here was named Goldberg. I got a call from a Goldberg in Houston. He said: 'Leon, I want to ask you a question. There’s a sheriff in Brehnam named Goldberg, is he Jewish?' So I stopped him on the street one day and said: 'Sheriff I want to ask you a question. Are you Jewish?' The sheriff said: 'Leon, I was probably Jewish. But the family came here and there weren’t any Jewish girls to marry. Everyone intermarried and I'm Lutheran today. But I was probably Jewish at one time." [20]

[edit] Brenham State School

The Jewish residents of the Brenham State School have a history of celebrating Jewish Holidays. The Houston Chronicle reported that five Jewish residents from Brenham State School participated in Rosh Hashana with the Richmond State School in 2000. [21] The Jewish residents of the Brenham State School also celebrated Passover with the Richmond State School in 2002. [22] On September 18, 2006 Congregation Beth El, of Missouri City, Texas, participated in celebrating the High Holy Days with Jewish residents from both State Schools. These services were led by Rabbi Dovid Goldstein from the Chabad outreach in Houston. [23]

[edit] American Jewish Congress v. Bost

American Jewish Congress v. Bost is an establishment clause lawsuit concerning the separation of church and state in Brenham, Texas. [24] The case is the first constitutional challenge to a charitable choice contract. [25] In the community of Brenham, Texas, the American Jewish Congress and the Texas Civil Rights Project filed a lawsuit against a social services program who they believe used a tax funded jobs program to support religious practices which violated the separation of church and state. Other accusations include; use of funds to proselytize, purchase bibles, and coerce participants to "accept Jesus." [26] [27] On May 21, 2002, the Houston Chronicle reported that the case would be sent to federal district court. [28] The lawsuit went back and forth between state and federal courts and was twice appealed. In January of 2003, the lawsuit that is believed to the first constitutional challenge to a “charitable choice” contract, came to a conclusion. The case was finally dismissed, "on the ground that there was no live controversy." [29]

[edit] Recognitions

The September 30, 2005 edition of USA Today listed the Brenham kehilla as one of, "10 great places to share history of the Jewish faith." [30]


[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Christian, Carole E. (2001-06-01). Brenham. Handbook of Texas, Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  2. ^ MacLaggan, Corrie (2007-12-04). Brenham synagogue's caretakers guard their memories. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  3. ^ a b Troesser, John (2007-06-26). B'Nai Abraham Synagogue. Texas Escapes Online Magazine. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  4. ^ a b c Hailey, James L. (2001-06-01). B'Nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham. Handbook of Texas, Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  5. ^ a b c d e Davis, Robert P. (1996-06-20). B'nai Abraham, Brenham, Texas. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  6. ^ a b c d e B'Nai Abraham Cemetery aka Hebrew. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  7. ^ Save Our Simon (2007). History of the Simon Theatre. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.
  8. ^ The League of Historic American Theatres (2007). Texas Historic Theatre. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  9. ^ Texas Historical Commission (2007). Endangered Historic Properties. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  10. ^ Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc (2007). Main Street Simon Project. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  11. ^ Save Our Simon (2007). Simon Theatre Factsheet. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  12. ^ Brenham Banner Press (2007-09-21). Supporters raise $1.2 million for ‘Save the Simon’. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  13. ^ Weiner, Hollace A. (2007). Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  14. ^ Sam and Rosa Toubin Memorial Scholarship (2007). Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  15. ^ Toubin, Rosa Levin (1980). Texas Jewish Historical Society References. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  16. ^ Toubin, Rosa Levin. B'nai Abraham History. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  17. ^ MacLaggan, Corrie (2007-12-04). Brenham synagogue's caretakers guard their memories. Retrieved on 2007-12-05.
  18. ^ Weiner, Hollace A. (2007). Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  19. ^ Frommer, Myrna K. (1995). Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  20. ^ Cohen, Brian (1996). At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas. Retrieved on 2007-10-31.
  21. ^ Feldman, Claudia (2006-09-22). ROSH HASHANA / Bringing joy and Jewish holidays to state schools. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  22. ^ Texas Health and Human Services Commission (2006). Volunteers bring Jewish Services to state schools. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  23. ^ Congregation Beth El of Missouri City, Texas (2007). 2006 High Holy Day Services Schedule. Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  24. ^ Tuttle, Robert (2002-06-14). American Jewish Congress v. Bost. The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy. Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  25. ^ Texas Lawsuit Challenging Charitable Choice Law Ends. Let Freedom Ring (2003). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  26. ^ Editorial (2000-08-04). Time To Say It Again. The Jewish Journal. The Jewish Journal. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  27. ^ Hughes, Poly R. (2000-07-25). Lawsuit accuses Brenham-area consortium of evangelical proselytizing. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  28. ^ Hughes, Polly R. (2002-05-21). Faith program challenged over use of taxpayer funds. Houston Chronicle. Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division. Retrieved on 2007-11-01.
  29. ^ Texas Lawsuit Challenging Charitable Choice Law Ends. Let Freedom Ring (2003). Retrieved on 2007-11-02.
  30. ^ Sell, Shawn (2005-09-30). 10 great places to share history of the Jewish faith. USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved on 2007-10-18.

[edit] Additional reading

  • Kamin, Hortense Yarno. "Growing up in Brenham: Sharing, caring in a small close community" Jewish Herald-Voice 78th anniversary - Passover Edition, 1986, 74-79.
  • Sell, Shawn. "10 great places to share history of the Jewish faith" USA Today, September 30, 2005
  • "Colorful Brenham Community has history of over 120 years," Rosa L. Toubin, Texas Jewish Post, 11 Sep 1980
  • "Why Save the Historic Brenham Synagogue?" in Chronicles: A Publication of the Texas Jewish Historical Society, Vol. I, No. 1 (1994), 33-39.

[edit] External links