Temple B'nai Sholom (translated from Hebrew as "Children of Peace"[2]) is an historic ReformJewish congregation and synagogue, located at 103 Lincoln Street SE, in Huntsville, Alabama, in the United States. Founded as a congregation on July 30, 1876, the current synagogue building was dedicated on November 26, 1899. It is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use in the state.[3][4]
History
In its early years, the congregation struggled to furnish their rented room in time for the High Holidays in 1876. Members who fell behind on their dues were suspended and their names published in the nationally circulated American Israelite. Of the congregation's 32 founding members in 1876, only 15 were still contributing members by 1878; 11 had been suspended for failure to pay dues.[2]
The congregation hired its first full-time rabbi in 50 years in 1963. It has maintained full-time rabbinic leadership ever since.[5]
In February 2015, the congregation hosted "Wedding Week"[7] when same-sex marriages were first legalized in Alabama. Dozens of couples were married in the sanctuary. In March 2015, Temple B'nai Sholom Rabbi Elizabeth Bahar was named one of "America's Most Inspiring Rabbis" by the Jewish Daily Forward.[8]
In 2017, Temple B'nai Sholom opened the Jewish Heritage Center,[9] a permanent exhibit that shares the Jewish community's history and many contributions to Huntsville's cultural and civic life. Museum tours are available to the public.
^ ab"Huntsville, Alabama". Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities. Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. 2023. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
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