History of the Jews in Galveston, Texas

In 1852, residents of Galveston established the first Jewish cemetery in Texas, with the first organized Jewish services being held in 1856.^[4] During the American Civil War, although most residents had fled the city of Galveston, Rosanna Osterman remained. In 1862 she opened her home as a hospital, treating first Union soldiers and then extending her care to Confederate soldiers.^[5]

. One of the pioneers of Reform Judaism in the United States, Abraham Cohen Labatt, moved to Galveston in 1878 and joined the congregation. He was an active member until his death in 1899.

On February 15, 1931, two orthodox synagogues, The Hebrew Orthodox Benevolent Association and The Young Men's Hebrew Association, merged to become Congregation Beth Jacob. Under the leadership of Rabbi Louis Feigon, the members raised funds to build a new synagogue on the site of the old Hebrew Orthodox Benevolent Association. In the 1970s the congregation joined the Conservative Movement in an attempt to attract more members. Today the congregation is small, but still active in the Galveston Community.^[6]

One of B'nai Israel's

Cohen exerted influence on other areas of the community as well. He was instrumental in banishing

The Jewish community in Galveston welcomed their first native Texas rabbi when Jimmy Kessler assumed leadership of Congregation B'nai Israel.^[9] Kessler later founded the Texas Jewish Historical Society.^[10]

Notable residents

• Rosanna Osterman
• Jonathan Pollard

See also

• History of the Jews in Houston

References

Additional references

• Congregation Beth Jacob's Website
• Article on Jewish Texans by Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl
• Article on history of Jewish Texans
• Goldring/Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. "Galveston." Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities.
• Shapiro, Susan. "IN SHORT: NONFICTION; Home on the Range." (about the book Pioneer Jewish Texans) The New York Times. July 29, 1990.