Temple B'nai Israel is a Reform Jewish congregation and synagogue, located at 1301 Marshall Street, in Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi, in the United States. The congregation was established in 1939.[1][2][3]
| Temple B'nai Israel | |
|---|---|
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Reform Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organisational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Lay–led |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 1301 Marshall Street, Tupelo, Mississippi 38802 |
| Country | United States |
  Location in Mississippi | |
| Geographic coordinates | 34°16′15″N 88°43′26″W / 34.270811°N 88.724014°W |
| Architecture | |
| Date established | 1939 (as a congregation) |
| Completed | 1957 |
| Website | |
| shalomtupelo | |
As of 2020[update], about 35 families were active in the synagogue.[2][4]
History edit
At the beginning of the Great Depression Tupelo had only 20 Jewish residents, out of 20,000 total residents.[5]
Temple B'nai Israel in Tupelo was established on August 24, 1939, with Sol Weiner as its first President.[6] The congregation first met in Tupelo City Hall.[5][2][4] In 1945, the congregation added a holy ark, and was given its first Torah by the Vine Street Temple in Nashville, Tennessee.[7] It later rented space on South Spring Street above the Fooks' Chevrolet dealership.[5] In 1949, a student rabbi from Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, conducted Temple services for the high holidays.[7] In 1953, it moved to space over Biggs Furniture Store.[4][7]
A synagogue building was dedicated on September 1, 1957, with then-Mayor James Ballard giving the remarks.[4] The building was funded by Manny Davis, an Okolona sportswear manufacturing businessman, local banks, manufacturing companies, and other businesses, the local community, Jews from across the nation, and 41 percent by Gentiles.[4][7]
Leadership edit
Due to its modest size, the Temple does not have a full-time rabbi, and instead uses a lay leader.[8] Maury Stein was a lay leader of the congregation in the 1960s.[2] Marc Perler has served as a lay leader of the synagogue.[6][9]
As of 1955 Maurice Stein (who owned a dress shop on Main Street) was president of the synagogue, Len Shane and Linda Levy were later president of the temple, and as of 2020 Leslie Mart was president of Temple B’Nai Israel.[1][10][11][12][13][7] Ron Baker has served as the congregation's Director of Religious Education.[1][10][12][13][7] Gloria Lenhoff has served as the cantor.[14]
Notable members edit
- Alan Mark Bank, Tupelo's 2010 Outstanding Citizen of the Year[15][16]
- Jack Cristil, Mississippi State University Bulldog broadcaster, served as lay leader in 2011[2][9][17]
See also edit
References edit
- ^ a b c "About Us". Temple B'nai Israel.[self-published source?]
- ^ a b c d e Salter, Sid (2015). Jack Cristil; Voice of the MSU Bulldogs (Revised ed.). University Press of Mississippi. p. 102. ISBN 978-1-4968-0501-0 – via Google Books.
- ^ Parsons, Ginna (March 20, 2019). "Feast of Purim: Tupelo temple invites community to potluck celebration". Daily Journal.
- ^ a b c d e Faulkner, Leesha (January 18, 2020). "Tupelo's Jewish community thrived". Daily Journal.
- ^ a b c Putnam, Richelle (2017). Mississippi and the Great Depression. History Press. p. 80. ISBN 978-1-4671-1876-7 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Reikes Fox, Vicki; Cohen Ferris, Marcie (2002). Shalom Y'All; Images of Jewish Life in the American South. Algonquin Books. p. 71. ISBN 978-1-56512-355-7 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f "Tupelo, Mississippi". Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. 2020.
- ^ Moore, William (October 29, 2018). "Area Jewish community reacts to Pittsburgh shooting". Daily Journal.
- ^ a b Bonner, Michael (September 8, 2014). "Jack Cristil funeral services to be held Sept. 10 in Tupelo". The Clarion-Ledger.
- ^ a b Pink, Alden (November 26, 2018). "Mississippi's Tiny Jewish Community Makes Choice In 2018's Last Election". The Forward.
- ^ "Leonard Shane 1941 - 2017 - Obituary". The Register-Mail. July 22, 2017.
- ^ a b Carreon, Cristina (May 4, 2019). "Tupelo synagogue holds memorial for victims of California shooting". Daily Journal.
- ^ a b Pannell, David (March 2, 2019). "Mooreville man's conversion from Christianity to Judaism like homecoming". Daily Journal.
- ^ Silver, Samuel (July 16, 2003). "Milk, Honey & Vinegar; Writer mixes old lore, modern wit". Jewish Post.
- ^ Representative Turner (2010). "House of Representatives of the State of Mississippi Resolution No. 44A; Resolution Commending and Congratulating Alan Mark Bank upon being named Tupelo's Outstanding Citizen of the Year" (PDF). Mississippi House of Representatives.
- ^ Elkins, Chris (February 13, 2010). "Bank named Tupelo's Outstanding Citizen of the Year". Daily Journal.
- ^ Wimbley, Lacretia (September 8, 2014). "Remembering Jack Cristil: 'Wrap it in Maroon and White'". The Reflector.