Congregation Beth Israel (Houston)
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Temple Beth Israel
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Temple Beth Israel building, 1925–1967
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Location in Texas
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| Location | 3517 Austin St., Midtown Houston, Texas |
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| Coordinates | 29°44′14″N 95°22′30″W / 29.73735°N 95.37496°W |
| Built | 1924 |
| Architect | Finger,Joseph |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| NRHP Reference # | 84001826 |
| RTHL # | 14339 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | March 1, 1984 |
| Designated RTHL | 1974 |
Congregation Beth Israel of Houston, the oldest Jewish congregation in Texas, was founded in Houston in 1854.
The congregation was founded in 1854 as an Orthodox Jewish kehilla and legally chartered in 1859. The Orthodox Beth Israel Congregation in Houston opened in a former house that had been converted to a synagogue. In 1874 the congregation voted to change their affiliation to Reform Judaism, sparking the foundation of Congregation Adath Yeshurun, now known as Congregation Beth Yeshurun.Hyman Judah Schachtel was a past rabbi.
Beth Israel's Franklin Avenue Temple building was completed in 1874. The temple was at Crawford Street at Franklin Avenue in what is now Downtown Houston. In 1908 the congregation moved into a new temple at Crawford at Lamar Street, in an area that was a Jewish community; as of 2011 The Grove at Discovery Green occupies the Downtown Houston site.
A new temple at Austin Street and Holman Avenue was dedicated in 1925. Originally it was considered to be a part of the Third Ward.
The Moderne style, 1924-built Austin Street building, designed by congregant Joseph Finger, was listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and was awarded Recorded Texas Historical Landmark status in 2009.
In 1943 Temple Beth Israel announced that people who espoused Zionist ideals were not allowed to be members, so Emanu-El was formed by people who disagreed with the decision. As of 1967 Beth Israel accepts people with Zionist beliefs.
In 1966 the Houston Independent School District purchased the 1920s temple. HISD began using as an annex for San Jacinto High School since the school's population was increasing.
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