B'nai Abraham Synagogue (Brenham, Texas)

For similarly named synagogues, see B'nai Abraham.

B'nai Abraham Synagogue
Synagogue B'nai Abraham in 2008
Religion
Affiliation	Orthodox Judaism
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Synagogue
Status	Inactive as B'nai Abraham, Active as Tiferet Israel
Location
Location	7300 Hart Lane Austin, Texas
Country	United States
Location in Texas
Geographic coordinates	30°21′24.09″N 97°45′22.39″W
Architecture
Type	Synagogue
Style	Gothic Revival
Date established	1885 (as a congregation)
Completed	1892 (destroyed by fire) 1900 (1900)
Synagogue B'nai Abraham
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Invalid designation
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Area	less than one acre
MPS	Brenham MPS
NRHP reference No.	90000464
RTHL No.	8293
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	March 29, 1990
Designated RTHL	1965

The B'nai Abraham Synagogue is an Orthodox Jewish synagogue and former congregation from Brenham, Texas, in the United States. The congregation was organized in 1885.

History

Early Jewish settlers in the Washington County of 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. 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, was the caretaker of this place of worship.

Relocation

In early 2015, the building was cut into three sections and moved 90 miles (140 km) west to the Dell Jewish Community Center in the Northwest Hills neighborhood of Austin, Texas. The building was pieced back together and upgraded with new insulation, restrooms, air-conditioning and electrical wiring. The synagogue became the home of the Congregation Tiferet Israel. The move resulted in the loss of historic status for the structure.

Architecture

The structure, originally located on 302 North Park Street, served as an 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 Sefer Torah was read.

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Washington County
• History of the Jews in Brenham, Texas
• Texas Jewish Historical Society
• Oldest synagogues in the United States

External links

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