B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham

Synagogue B'nai Abraham
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Synagogue B'nai Abraham in 2008
Location:	302 N. Park Brenham, Texas
Architectural style:	Gothic Revival
MPS:	Brenham MPS
NRHP Reference#:	90000464
Added to NRHP:	March 29, 1990

The B'nai Abraham congregation in Brenham, Texas was organized in 1885.

History

Early Jewish settlers in the Washington County, 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. [1] 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. Leon Toubin, a Jewish Texan community and business leader, is the caretaker of this place of worship. [2]

Architecture

The structure, located on 302 North Park Street, remains a staunchly 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 Torah was read. [3]

See also

• History of the Jews in Brenham, Texas
• Texas Jewish Historical Society‎
• Oldest synagogues in the United States

References

• B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham from the Handbook of Texas Online