History of the Jews in Brazos County, Texas

The history of the Jews in Brazos County, Texas covers a period of over 140 years of Jewish history in Brazos County, Texas. Many notable individuals and communities have contributed to this history beginning with early Jewish settlement in 1865. This history includes the present Jewish communities and individuals of Brazos County and Texas A&M University.^[1][2]

Temple Freda

One of the first Jewish temples in Brazos County, Texas is Temple Freda. Built in 1912, the temple is still in use as of 2007^[update], making it one of the three oldest religious buildings still in use in the county.^[3] The temple is named for Ethel Freda Kaczer (1860-1912), wife of the president of the Jewish community when the synagogue was built.^[3] The temple is unique for a Jewish place of worship in that it is named after a woman.^[4][5]

Since 1982, Texas A&M University's "Center of Heritage Conservation" has focused on the history of Temple Freda as one of its historical projects. The temple structure is built in Greek Revival style^[6] and also exhibits Classical Revival style with Beaux-Arts architecture elements.^[5] Temple Freda is associated with the Jewish cemetery "Temple Freda Cemetery,"^[7] which is also a part of the National Register of Historic Places of Texas.^[8]

Texas A&M Hillel

Texas A&M Hillel is the oldest Hillel Foundation organization in the United States.^[9] The organization was founded in 1920, three years before the national Hillel Foundation was organized at University of Illinois. Texas A&M Hillel began as the "TAMC Menorah Club" and was organized in 1916 by Dr. Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus. Born in Safed on October 20, 1884, Taubenhaus was chief of the plant pathology and physiology division of the Texas Agricultural Experiment Station at the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Texas (now Texas A&M) from 1916 to 1937. During his life, he was also a leader in Jewish affairs at the university.^[10][11] He and his wife, Esther Taubenhaus, founded in 1920, the "TAMC Hillel Club" with assistance from Rabbi David Lefkowitz of Dallas.^[12][13][9]

In 1958, Texas A&M Hillel opened up a building of its own. During this period, some members of Temple Freda in Bryan, Texas left to attend services at the Hillel building in College Station, Texas. Presently, Temple Freda's Torah is under the care of Texas A&M Hillel.^[14]After Mrs. Taubenhaus retired Shirley Reiser became the Director. She remained as director until 1982. She was the wife of Dr. Raymond Reiser a Distinguish professor in the department of biochemistry. She was lovingly knows as the mother away from home. The Reiser's came to College Station in 1940. Dr. Reiser enlisted in the Army Medical Corp in 1943 and they returned to College Station in 1945 with two kids in tow.

Rabbi Dr. Peter Tarlow, an expert in tourism security, has been the executive director of Texas A&M Hillel since 1983.^[13][15][9] A scholar in the area of tourism safety, he is a consultant for the tourism industry, and the founder of "Tourism & More Inc."^[16][15]Tarlow is married to Sara Alpern, an associate professor of history at Texas A&M who specializes in women's studies.

Sigma Alpha Mu

Starting in 2004, the Gamma Kappa chapter of Sigma Alpha Mu was rechartered at Texas A&M. Sigma Alpha Mu, as a historically Jewish fraternity, has served an integral part of Jewish life at Texas A&M ever since, currently with 41 members.[1]

Chabad of Brazos Valley

Chabad of Brazos Valley, also known as the "Chabad Center of Texas A&M," was founded on July 10, 2007, in the home of Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff and Manya Lazaroff.^[17][18] With the opening of Chabad of Brazos Valley, students at Texas A&M University have been provided with a regular Shabbat dinner and lunch program, Pesach seders, and Purim parties.^[19] On December 4, 2007, the Jewish Aggies, a student group at Texas A&M, lit the largest menorah in the state of Texas.^[20][21][22] Jewish Herald-Voice reported that Rabbi Yossi Lazaroff is facilitating the writing of a Torah scroll at Texas A&M. Rabbi Lazaroff stated that “As our brothers and sisters in the land of Israel suffer daily hardship, now is the time for us to come together. What better way than through the core of our existence – the Torah.”^[23]

Further reading

• Toubin, Rosa Levin, Bryan-College Station: Temple Freda. Texas Jewish Historical Society.
• Page, Bill. Before Temple Freda: Jewish residents of Brazos County, Texas, 1865-1913. 1998.

See also

• David Lefkowitz (rabbi)
• Jacob Joseph Taubenhaus
• Jewish history in Texas
• Peter Tarlow

References

1. ^ Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas Brandeis University Press page 190
2. ^ Page, Bill. Before Temple Freda: Jewish residents of Brazos County, Texas, 1865-1913. 1998.
3. ^ ^{a b} "A Guide to Historic Brazos Valley". Brazos Heritage Society. 2003. http://www.brazosheritage.org/pdfs/historicbrazosbrochure.pdf. Retrieved 2007-10-22. ^{[dead link]}
4. ^ Temple Freda, Bryan, Texas
5. ^ ^{a b} International Survey of Jewish Monuments record for Freda Temple
6. ^ Texas A&M University College of Architecture Projects
7. ^ Temple Freda Burials, Bryan, TX
8. ^ National Register of Historic Places of Texas
9. ^ ^{a b c} Texas A&M Hillel History Texas A&M Hillel Retrieved on 2008-07-09
10. ^ Texas A&M Hillel History Texas A&M Hillel Retrieved on 2008-07-10
11. ^ May, Irvin M., Jr.. "TAUBENHAUS, JACOB JOSEPH". Handbook of Texas Online. http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/TT/fta14.html. Retrieved 2008-07-10. 
12. ^ From Christian Science to Jewish Science: Spiritual Healing and American Jews Oxford University Press page 160
13. ^ ^{a b} Gabrielle Birkner (2005-05-06). "A Cushy Fit In Bush Country". The Jewish Week. http://www.jewishweek.org/news/newscontent.php3?artid=10860. Retrieved 2007-12-30. ^{[dead link]}
14. ^ Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas Brandeis University Press page 191
15. ^ ^{a b} Lacy Ledford (2004-06-30). "Senate approves $20 million for A&M's NERRTC". The Battalion. http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2004/06/30/News/Senate.Approves.20.Million.For.Ams.Nerrtc-690476.shtml. Retrieved 2007-12-31. 
16. ^ "The Intelligence Summit Conference 2007 Speakers and Organizers". The Intelligence Summit. 2007. http://www.intelligencesummit.org/speakers/PeterTarlow.php. Retrieved 2008-07-09. 
17. ^ "The Chabad Jewish Student Center provides a place of comfort for students regardless of religion". The Battalion (College Station, TX). January 22, 2008. http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2008/01/22/Aggielife/Chicken.Soup.For.The.Soul-3160700.shtml 
18. ^ "New Jewish Center Opens Doors". The Battalion (College Station, TX). September 12, 2007. http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2007/09/12/News/Jewish.Center.Opens.Doors-2963217.shtml 
19. ^ Aggies Embrace New Jewish Student Center Deep in the Heart of Texas by Joshua Runyan, Chabad.edu, December 4, 2007
20. ^ Jewish Aggies Celebrate Start of Hanukah ABC, December 4, 2007.
21. ^ Shabbat dinner at Chabad: a Texas A&M favorite Texas Jewish Post
22. ^ Chabad Jewish Student Group Texas A&M Student Activities
23. ^ "Student Unity Torah initiative at Chabad – Texas A&M University". Jewish Herald-Voice. December 20, 2007. http://www.jhvonline.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=128&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=3737