Temple Emanu-El Cemetery
Longview, Harrison County, Texas
Marker Inscription
In 1957, Longview members of Kilgore's Temple Beth Sholom established a new synagogue, Temple Emanu-El, along with a new burial ground as part of the larger Memory Park Cemetery. Temple Emanu-El Cemetery became Harrison County's second dedicated Jewish Cemetery (after Marshall Hebrew Cemetery, established in 1881). Most plots are owned by temple members, and the temple itself owns the unreserved plots, which are available to temple members. A notable burial is Rabbi Charles Mantinband (1895-1974), a national civil rights leader who served here from 1963-1971. The cemetery remains a sacred place for Jewish activity and memory in the region. Historic Texas Cemetery - 2016
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In 1957 Jewish families in Longview broke away from Kilgore's Temple Beth Sholom to found their own synagogue, Temple Emanu-El, and set aside this burial ground within Memory Park Cemetery. It became only the second dedicated Jewish cemetery in Harrison County. Among those laid to rest here is Rabbi Charles Mantinband, a nationally known civil rights advocate who led the congregation in the turbulent 1960s.
Why it matters
The cemetery marks the enduring presence of small-town Jewish communities in East Texas and the courage of clergy who joined the civil rights struggle in the segregated South.
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Related people
- · Rabbi Charles Mantinband
Themes & tags
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