Shearith Israel Synagogue
Wharton, Wharton County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Jewish families in Wharton began meeting together for worship services about 1899. The congregation received its official charter in 1913 and was registered as Shearith Israel Synagogue. A synagogue building was erected on S. Rusk Street in 1921, and J. Keilin was the first rabbi. A cemetery was established on N. Alabama Rd. in 1937. A new synagogue in the shape of the shield of David was built on Old Lane City Rd. in 1956. The congregation continues to draw members from numerous towns and is a leading force in area civic and religious activities. (1988)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Jewish families in Wharton began gathering for worship around 1899 and received a formal charter in 1913 as Shearith Israel. They built a synagogue on S. Rusk Street in 1921 and later, in 1956, a striking new building shaped like the Star of David. The congregation drew members from many surrounding towns and became a civic and religious anchor of the area.
Why it matters
Small-town Southern synagogues like this one testify to the reach of Jewish immigration deep into rural America, far from the big-city enclaves usually associated with the story.
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Nearby & related markers
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