Temple B'nai Sholom (Huntsville, Alabama)
Temple B'nai Sholom (transliterated from Hebrew as "Sons of Peace"[2]) is an historic Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 103 Lincoln Street SE, in Huntsville, Alabama, in the United States. Founded as a congregation on July 30, 1876, the current synagogue building was dedicated on November 26, 1899. It is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use in the state.[3][4]
| Temple B'nai Sholom | |
|---|---|
The synagogue building, in 2009 | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi P.J. Schwartz (part-time) |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 103 Lincoln Street SE, Huntsville, Alabama 35801 |
| Country | United States |
Location in Huntsville, Alabama | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°43′58″N 86°34′59″W / 34.73278°N 86.58306°W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect(s) | R.H. Hunt |
| Type | Synagogue architecture |
| Style | Romanesque Revival |
| Date established | 1876 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1899 |
| Website | |
| templebnaisholom | |
Temple B'nai Sholom | |
| Part of | Old Town Historic District |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000499 (original) 15000069 (increase) |
| Significant dates | |
| Boundary increase | March 17, 2015 |
| Designated CP | July 18, 1978 |
| Designated ARLH | July 29, 1977 |
| [1] | |
History edit
In its early years, the congregation struggled to furnish their rented room in time for the High Holidays in 1876. Members who fell behind on their dues were suspended and their names published in the nationally circulated American Israelite. Of the congregation's 32 founding members in 1876, only 15 were still contributing members by 1878; 11 had been suspended for failure to pay dues.[2]
The congregation's financial difficulties meant that maintaining and paying a rabbi proved challenging. The congregation has been without a full-time rabbi since 1913.[2]
The brick building was designed by R.H. Hunt in the Romanesque Revival style and built between in 1898–1899.[4] The building was listed on the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage on July 29, 1977;[5] and is a contributing property located within the Hunstville Old Town Historic District, listed on the National Register of Historic Places on July 18, 1978.[1] The building was extensively renovated in 1994.[4]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c "Huntsville, Alabama". Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Jones, Harvie P. (1994). "The Architecture of the 1899 Temple B'nai Sholom" (PDF). The Historic Huntsville Quarterly. 4. XX (Winter): 184–197. Retrieved February 7, 2013.
- ^ a b c Alabama Historical Association (1997). "Temple B'nai Sholom". Historical markers. City of Huntsville, Alabama. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "The Alabama Register of Landmarks & Heritage". preserveala.org. Alabama Historical Commission. September 17, 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 28, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2012.
External links edit
Media related to Temple B'Nai Shalom at Wikimedia Commons
- Official website