History of the Jews in Brenham, Texas

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 boasts many things of historical note. The Brenham kehilla was formally organized in 1885.cite web| url=http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/heb11.html| title=Brenham| work=Handbook of Texas, Online| author=Christian, Carole E.| accessdate=2007-10-18| date=2001-06-01| publisher=Texas State Historical Association| ] [cite web| url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/04/1204hanukkah.html| title=Brenham synagogue's caretakers guard their memories| author=MacLaggan, Corrie| date=2007-12-04| accessdate=2007-12-05| ]

Early Jewish settlement

Early Jewish settlers arrived in Brenham, Texas, during the 1860s. With the arrival of Jewish merchants, Brenham's retail and wholesale trade expanded further. 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.cite web| url=http://www.texasescapes.com/TOWNS/Brenham/Bnai-Abraham-Synagogue.htm| title=B'Nai Abraham Synagogue| work=Texas Escapes Online Magazine| author=Troesser, John| accessdate=2007-10-18| date=2007-06-26| publisher=| ] cite web| url=http://www.tsha.utexas.edu/handbook/online/articles/BB/ccb1.html| title=B'Nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham| work=Handbook of Texas, Online| author=Hailey, James L.| accessdate=2007-10-18| date=2001-06-01| publisher=Texas State Historical Association| ] 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.

B'nai Abraham Synagogue

B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham was constructed in 1893, after the first structure caught fire in 1892. 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.cite web| url=http://www.geocities.com/txsynvr/Brenham/Brenham.html| title=B'nai Abraham, Brenham, Texas| author=Davis, Robert P.| date=1996-06-20| accessdate=2007-10-18| ]

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.cite web| url=http://home.earthlink.net/~awhart2/cemetery/bnaiabrahamcemetery.htm| title=B'Nai Abraham Cemetery aka Hebrew| accessdate=2007-10-18| ]

imon Family and Theatre

In 1866, Alex Simon (December 11, 1825 - October 4, 1906), a citizen of The Republic of Texas 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. He was also one of the principal 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." Alex Simon's son, James Simon, March 8, 1858 - August 1, 1925, is known for having financed the construction of the Simon Theatre. Historically, Simon family members have been buried at the B'nai Abraham Cemetery.

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. [cite web| url=http://www.saveoursimon.org/simonhistory.htm| title=History of the Simon Theatre| author=Save Our Simon| date=2007| accessdate=2007-10-18| ] The Simon Theatre is recognized by the The League of Historic American Theatres as a "Texas Historic Theatre." [cite web| url=http://www.lhat.org/theatre_inventory/Texas.asp| title=Texas Historic Theatre| author=The League of Historic American Theatres| date=2007| accessdate=2007-11-02| ] The Architecture Division of the Texas Historical Commission has listed it as an "Endangered Historic Properties." [cite web| url=http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/20110/tsl-20110.html| title=Endangered Historic Properties| author=Texas Historical Commission| date=2007| accessdate=2007-11-02| ] The "Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc," is an historical perservation project presently creating a downtown visitor center within the building. [cite web| url=http://www.ci.brenham.tx.us/Main_Street_Simon_proj.pdf| title=Main Street Simon Project| author=Brenham Main Street Historical Preservation, Inc| date=2007| accessdate=2007-11-02| ] The Simon Theatre is part of the Brenham Downtown Historic District, an historical landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. [cite web| url=http://www.saveoursimon.org/simonfaq.htm| title=Simon Theatre Factsheet| author=Save Our Simon| date=2007| accessdate=2007-11-02| ] "Save our Simon" is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the Simon Theatre. On Friday, September 28, 2007, the organization raised 1.2 million dollars for the project. [cite web| url=http://www.brenhambanner.com/articles/2007/09/28/news/news02.tx| title=Supporters raise $1.2 million for ‘Save the Simon’| author=Brenham Banner Press| date=2007-09-21| accessdate=2007-11-02| ]

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). 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. [cite web| url=http://books.google.com/books?id=oXOnaWM4NBMC&dq=Lone+Stars+of+David:+The+Jews+of+Texas| title=Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas| author=Weiner, Hollace A.| date=2007| accessdate=2007-10-31| ] 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) who "owned and operated the New York stores in nine towns in Texas." [cite web| url=http://www.blinn.edu/finaid/endowedJ_W.htm| title=Sam and Rosa Toubin Memorial Scholarship| date=2007| accessdate=2007-10-31| ] Concerning the Brenham kehilla, Rosa Levin Toubin (Mrs. Sam Toubin) wrote the texts "Colorful Brenham Community has history of over 120 years" (in 1980) [cite web| url=http://www.geocities.com/txsynvr/TJHSreferencelist.html| title=Texas Jewish Historical Society References| author=Toubin, Rosa Levin| date=1980| accessdate=2007-10-31| ] and "History of B'nai Abraham Synagogue". [cite web| url=http://parentseyes.arizona.edu/bloom/findingaids/sja003.htm| title=B'nai Abraham History| author=Toubin, Rosa Levin| accessdate=2007-10-31| ]

Leon Toubin, a Jewish Texan community and business leader, is the present caretaker of B'nai Abraham Synagogue and the spokesperson for the kehilla. [cite web| url=http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/12/04/1204hanukkah.html| title=Brenham synagogue's caretakers guard their memories| author=MacLaggan, Corrie| date=2007-12-04| accessdate=2007-12-05| ] 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 "the only thing we need is Jewish people." [cite web| url=http://books.google.com/books?id=oXOnaWM4NBMC&dq=Lone+Stars+of+David:+The+Jews+of+Texas| title=Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas| author=Weiner, Hollace A.| date=2007| accessdate=2007-10-31| ] 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." [cite web| url=http://www.dartmouth.edu/~frommer/jewish1.htm| title=Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History| author=Frommer, Myrna K.| date=1995| accessdate=2007-10-31| ] 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 Brenham 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." [cite web|url=http://www.applewest.com/awp_texas.htm| title=At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas| author=Cohen, Brian| date=1996| accessdate=2007-10-31| ]

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. [cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2006_4195876| title=ROSH HASHANA / Bringing joy and Jewish holidays to state schools| author=Feldman, Claudia| date=2006-09-22| accessdate=2007-11-02| ] The Jewish residents of the Brenham State School also celebrated Passover with the Richmond State School in 2002. [cite web|url=http://www.hhsc.state.tx.us/stakeholder/jan_feb06/JewishServies.html| title=Volunteers bring Jewish Services to state schools| author=Texas Health and Human Services Commission| date=2006| accessdate=2007-11-02| ] 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. [cite web|url=http://cbefortbendtx.org/worship/holidays/| title=2006 High Holy Day Services Schedule| author=Congregation Beth El of Missouri City, Texas| date=2007| accessdate=2007-11-02| ]

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. [cite web| url=http://www.religionandsocialpolicy.org/legal/legal_update_display.cfm?id=4| title=American Jewish Congress v. Bost| work=The Roundtable on Religion and Social Welfare Policy| author=Tuttle, Robert| accessdate=2007-11-01| date=2002-06-14| publisher=Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government| ] The case is the first constitutional challenge to a charitable choice contract. [cite web| url=http://letfreedomringtx.tripod.com/newsletters/January03.htm| title=Texas Lawsuit Challenging Charitable Choice Law Ends | work=| author=| accessdate=2007-11-02| date=2003| publisher=Let Freedom Ring| ] In the community of Brenham, Texas, the American Jewish Congress and the Texas Civil Rights Project filed a lawsuit against a social services program that they believed used a tax-funded jobs program to support religious practices that violated the separation of church and state. Other accusations include use of funds to proselytize, purchase bibles, and coerce participants to "accept Jesus." [cite web| url=http://www.jewishjournal.org/archives/archiveAug4_00.htm| title=Time To Say It Again| work=The Jewish Journal | author=Editorial| accessdate=2007-11-01| date=2000-08-04| publisher=The Jewish Journal| ] [cite web| url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2000_3229950| title=Lawsuit accuses Brenham-area consortium of evangelical proselytizing | work=Houston Chronicle| author=Hughes, Poly R.| accessdate=2007-11-01| date=2000-07-25| publisher=Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division| ] On May 21, 2002, the Houston Chronicle reported that the case would be sent to federal district court. [cite web| url=http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=2002_3547119| title=Faith program challenged over use of taxpayer funds| work=Houston Chronicle| author=Hughes, Polly R.| accessdate=2007-11-01| date=2002-05-21| publisher=Houston Chronicle Publishing Company Division| ] 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 be 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." [cite web| url=http://letfreedomringtx.tripod.com/newsletters/January03.htm| title=Texas Lawsuit Challenging Charitable Choice Law Ends | work=| author=| accessdate=2007-11-02| date=2003| publisher=Let Freedom Ring| ]

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." [cite web| url=http://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2005-09-29-synagogues_x.htm| title=10 great places to share history of the Jewish faith| work=USA Today| author=Sell, Shawn| accessdate=2007-10-18| date=2005-09-30| publisher=USA Today| ]

ee also

* History of the Jews in the United States
* Jewish history in Texas
* Texas Jewish Historical Society‎

References

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.

External links

* [http://www.statesman.com/ap/mediahub/media/slideshow/index.jsp?tId=52791 Slideshow of Leon Toubin by the Austin American Statesman]