Temple Beth-El, Corsicana

Temple Beth-El
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
Texas State Antiquities Landmark
Temple Beth-El in 2017
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Location	Corsicana, Texas
Coordinates	32°5′22″N 96°28′6″W / 32.08944°N 96.46833°W / 32.08944; -96.46833Coordinates: 32°5′22″N 96°28′6″W / 32.08944°N 96.46833°W / 32.08944; -96.46833
Built	1898
Architect	Unknown
Architectural style	Exotic Revival, Other
NRHP reference #	86003687
RTHL #	11642
TSAL #	741
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	February 3, 1987
Designated RTHL	1981
Designated TSAL	8/18/2000

86003687

Temple Beth-El is an historic Moorish Revival synagogue located at 208 South 15th Street in Corsicana, Texas.

Temple Beth-El became a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark in 1981. On February 3, 1987, Temple Beth-El was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Temple Beth-El is one of three State Archeological Landmarks in Navarro County, Texas.

The Jewish community of Corsicana established a congregation in 1871. The congregation worshiped at each other's homes until it could raise the funding to build a synagogue.

Julius Magil served as rabbi in the early days of its new building. He was born December 29, 1870, at Mitau, Courland, which was then in the Russian Empire but is now part of Latvia. He received a secular education at Realgymnasium and University of Zürich, Switzerland. Rabbi Magil's religious training took place at the Talmudical College of Grobin, Courland. Rabbi Magil then studied medicine at Fort Wayne Medical College, and he received a Ph.D. from Rogers College in 1898.

The synagogue was built by a Reform Jewish congregation in 1898. It is a wood-frame building, with clapboard siding, keyhole windows in the front doors, and a pair of octagonal towers topped by onion domes.

Rabbi Ernest Joseph served as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth-El from 1968 to 1980.

In 1980, Temple Beth-El closed as a congregation, although a local rabbi still leads a Jewish service on a monthly basis. The property was donated to the City of Corsicana around 1990. The City uses it as a community center.