Dallas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

is the third-largest city in

Texas Texas ( , ; or ) is the most populous U.S. state, state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. It borders Louisiana to the east, Arkansas to the northeast, Oklahoma to the north, New Mexico to the we ...

and has one of the largest Jewish communities in the state.

Early history

Many Jews, primarily from various German principalities, arrived in Dallas during a wave of mid-nineteenth century immigration to Texas following the

Revolutions of 1848 The revolutions of 1848, known in some countries as the springtime of the peoples or the springtime of nations, were a series of revolutions throughout Europe over the course of more than one year, from 1848 to 1849. It remains the most widespre ...

in Europe. Some of these Jews were " Forty-eighters" who had supported the revolutions. The city's first

Jewish cemetery A Jewish cemetery ( ''beit almin'' or ''beit kvarot'') is a cemetery where Jews are buried in keeping with Halakha, Jewish tradition. Cemeteries are referred to in several different ways in Hebrew, including ''beit kevarot'' (house of s ...

was established in 1854. At this point in time, the small but growing Jewish community wanted to establish permanent religious structure and engage a Rabbi in order to conduct services and offer religious education for children. In 1872, the "Hebrew Benevolent Association" was formed, a charity relief organization that also sponsored the city's first

High Holiday In Judaism, the High Holy Days, also known as High Holidays or Days of Awe (Yamim Noraim; , ''Yāmīm Nōrāʾīm'') consist of: #strictly, the holidays of Rosh Hashanah ("Jewish New Year") and Yom Kippur ("Day of Atonement"); #by extension, the ...

services.

Synagogues

In 1873, several families founded the first congregation in the Dallas area, Temple Emanu-El (originally "Jewish Congregation Emanu-El), a

Reform Reform refers to the improvement or amendment of what is wrong, corrupt, unsatisfactory, etc. The modern usage of the word emerged in the late 18th century and is believed to have originated from Christopher Wyvill's Association movement, which ...

congregation. In 1875, Temple Emanu-El was chartered, and it engaged its first rabbi, Aaron Suhler. In 1876, the congregation built a small red brick temple in the

Byzantine style Byzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire, or Eastern Roman Empire, usually dated from 330 AD, when Constantine the Great established a new Roman capital in Byzantium, which became Constantinople, until the fall of the ...

at Commerce and Church (now Field) streets in downtown Dallas. In 1906, Temple Emanu-El joined the

Union of American Hebrew Congregations The Union for Reform Judaism (URJ), formerly known as the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) until 2003, founded in 1873 by Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, is the congregational arm of Reform Judaism in North America. The other two arms establ ...

an association of Reform congregations. Shearith Israel (originally "Shaareth Israel") was founded in Deep Ellum as an Orthodox synagogue in 1884. Originally, the congregation was quite small and included only a dozen men. Accordingly, the congregation initially met on the second floor of a local grocery store. Shearith Israel was chartered in 1886. In 1892, Shearith Israel constructed a synagogue on Jackson Street, and its congregation grew to fifty-five members by 1900. The 1908 Texas Zionist Association Convention was held at Shearith Israel. In 1890, eleven Orthodox Jews founded Tiferet Israel. The congregation purchased a house for use as a synagogue in 1893 and used it for two years before demolishing it and constructing a synagogue on the same lot. From 1900 to 1906, Tiferet Israel and Shearith Israel shared the same rabbi. A group of Austrian and Romanian Jews from

Austria-Hungary Austria-Hungary, also referred to as the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Dual Monarchy or the Habsburg Monarchy, was a multi-national constitutional monarchy in Central Europe#Before World War I, Central Europe between 1867 and 1918. A military ...

established Anshe Sphard (also called "Roumanishe Shul"), a Sephardic synagogue, in 1906. In 1913, the congregation purchased a house that was used as a synagogue until 1936, when the congregation acquired a former telephone exchange building.

Economic contributions

Many Jewish merchants contributed to the growth of Dallas, often working together for the betterment of the city. Because Jewish merchants were often the prime supporters of the community's cultural institutions and charities, their economic health often dictated the economic health of the city. Local newspapers received most of their income from advertising from Jewish merchants, enabling them to remain independent and impartial in their reporting unlike European newspapers which were often funded by a particular political party. Jewish merchants were often among the largest bank depositors and frequently sat on the boards of local banks."Titche--Goettinger Department Store,"
Texas Historical Commission Atlas. Retrieved 2011-08-22.

Modern history

In 1947, a member of the Jewish community in Dallas began printing the '' Texas Jewish Post.'' In 1957 the temple moved to its present location in North Dallas. Architects Howard R. Meyer and Max M. Sandfield, with noted California architect William W. Wurster as consultant, received an Award of Merit from the American Institute of Architects for the design of the present structure, which was enhanced by art coordinator

György Kepes György Kepes (; October 4, 1906 – December 29, 2001) was a Hungarian-born painter, photographer, designer, educator, and art theorist. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1937, he taught design at the New Bauhaus (later the School of Design, t ...

of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The ''

Handbook of Texas The Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) is an American nonprofit educational and research organization dedicated to documenting the history of Texas. It was founded in Austin, Texas, United States, on March 2, 1897. In November 2008, the ...

'' states that, "The formal preservation of the history of Texas Jewry goes back to

Rabbi A rabbi (; ) is a spiritual leader or religious teacher in Judaism. One becomes a rabbi by being ordained by another rabbi—known as ''semikha''—following a course of study of Jewish history and texts such as the Talmud. The basic form of t ...

Henry Cohen of

Galveston Galveston ( ) is a Gulf Coast of the United States, coastal resort town, resort city and port off the Southeast Texas coast on Galveston Island and Pelican Island (Texas), Pelican Island in the U.S. state of Texas. The community of , with a pop ...

and Rabbi David Lefkowitz of Dallas, who set out to interview as many early settlers and their families as possible. They produced a historical account for the

Centennial A centennial, or centenary in British English, is a 100th anniversary or otherwise relates to a century. Notable events Notable centennial events at a national or world-level include: * Centennial Exhibition, 1876, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ...

in 1936." In 1956, Anshe Sphard merged with Shearith Israel.

Education

Private Jewish K-12 schools in the Dallas area include: * Yavneh Academy of Dallas (grades 9-12) * Mesorah High School for Girls (grades 9-12) * Akiba Academy (grades PK-8) ** Opened in 1962, it is currently located in the Schultz Rosenberg Campus, named after the donors Howard and Leslie Schultz and Marcus and Ann Rosenberg. large, it had a cost of $20 million. It was originally at 6210 Churchill Way but moved in 2005. it had 300 students. * The Ann and Nate Levine Academy (grades Early Education-8) ** In 1979 the Solomon Schechter Academy of Dallas, then the day school of the Shearith Israel, opened. The institution and the school became separate institutions in 1997 and the school received its current name in 2005. * Torah Day School of Dallas (TDSD) (grades K-8) ** Opened in August 2003, it is located in a former supermarket and was renovated by Joe Funk Construction. Levine Academy is a

Conservative Judaism Conservative Judaism, also known as Masorti Judaism, is a Jewish religious movements, Jewish religious movement that regards the authority of Jewish law and tradition as emanating primarily from the assent of the people through the generations ...

school, and Yavneh is a

Modern Orthodox Modern may refer to: History *Modern history ** Early Modern period ** Late Modern period *** 18th century *** 19th century *** 20th century ** Contemporary history * Moderns, a faction of Freemasonry that existed in the 18th century Philosophy ...

school. The schools following

Orthodox Judaism Orthodox Judaism is a collective term for the traditionalist branches of contemporary Judaism. Theologically, it is chiefly defined by regarding the Torah, both Torah, Written and Oral Torah, Oral, as literally revelation, revealed by God in Ju ...

are Akiba Academy and Mesorah High.Education and Day Care
" Jewish Federation of Greater Dallas. February 24, 2004. Retrieved on April 2, 2017. Isaac Mayer Wise Academy, a

Reform Judaism Reform Judaism, also known as Liberal Judaism or Progressive Judaism, is a major Jewish religious movements, Jewish denomination that emphasizes the evolving nature of Judaism, the superiority of its Jewish ethics, ethical aspects to its ceremo ...

school, was previously in operation. The school, founded in 1996,Isaac Mayer Wise Academy and URJ Camp Establish Eco-Village
" ''eJewish Philanthropy''. August 15, 2011. Retrieved on April 2, 2017. "Resources to initiate the project were donated by the Board of the Isaac Mayer Wise Academy of Dallas, Texas. The Board chose the URJ Greene Family Camp to carry on its legacy and continue to reflect the Jewish values that guided the Academy from its founding in 1996 to its closure in 2006." opened in 1997, and closed in 2006. For a period of time prior to the 1970s, Hillcrest High School was known as "Hebrew High" due to the number of Jewish students enrolled. Texas Torah Institute, (TTI) is an Orthodox Jewish high school (grades 9-12) which also has a post-high-school program. The school opened in 2003 and was started by Rabbis Eliyahu Kaufman and Shlomo Pacht. Later Rabbi Daniel Ringelheim joined the school. All three Rabbis are the Roshei Hayeshiva who obtained their ordination from the

Rabbinical Seminary of America Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim (also known as the Rabbinical Seminary of America) is an Orthodox yeshiva based in Kew Gardens Hills, Queens, New York, United States. It is primarily an American, non-chasidic Haredi Talmudic yeshiva. The yeshiva is legal ...

. The school specializes in

Talmudic The Talmud (; ) is the central text of Rabbinic Judaism and the primary source of Jewish religious law (''halakha'') and Jewish theology. Until the advent of modernity, in nearly all Jewish communities, the Talmud was the centerpiece of Jewi ...

education for all of its students.

Notable Jews of Dallas

Mark Cuban Mark Cuban (born July 31, 1958) is an American businessman and television personality. He is the former principal owner and current minority owner of the Dallas Mavericks of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and co-owner of 2929 Entertain ...

: Businessman and owner of the

Dallas Mavericks The Dallas Mavericks (often referred to as the Mavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Dallas. The Mavericks compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the Southwest Division (NBA), Southwest Divisi ...

. * Adolph Harris: founder of A. Harris and Co. department store in 1891. * Emanuel Meyer Kahn: founder of E. M. Kahn and Company in 1872, which continued for ninety-two years as a family-owned business; it was the oldest retail store in Dallas, the city's first air-conditioned store and the first store west of the Mississippi with fixed prices. * Arthur Kramer: son-in-law of Adolph Harris and president of A. Harris and Co. for 37 years. He was also president of the Dallas Symphony Society, Dallas Art Association, and the Dallas Grand Opera Association. * Edward Titche Levy: served as Executive Director of the Dallas Community Chest from 1922 to 1939. Also on the board of Dallas Trust and Savings Bank. * Joseph Linz, Elias, Simon, Ben and Albert Linz: founded the Linz Brothers jewelry firm in 1891. *

Herbert Marcus Herbert Marcus (September 6, 1878 – December 11, 1950) was one of the co-founders of Neiman Marcus, and later became its chief executive officer. Biography Herbert was born to a Jewish family in Louisville, Kentucky. He dropped out of high sc ...

, sister

Carrie Marcus Neiman Carrie Marcus Neiman (May 3, 1883 – March 6, 1953) was an American businesswoman and one of the co-founders of Neiman Marcus, a luxury department store. Early life Carrie Marcus was born in Louisville, Kentucky to German-Jewish immigrants De ...

and her husband

Abraham Lincoln Neiman Abraham Lincoln "Al" Neiman (July 4, 1875 – October 21, 1970) was an American businessman, who was a co-founder of department store chain Neiman Marcus. Biography Neiman, born in July 1875, was raised in a Jewish orphanage in Cleveland, Ohio. H ...

: founders of

Neiman Marcus Neiman Marcus is an American department store chain founded in 1907 in Dallas, Texas by Herbert Marcus, his sister Carrie Marcus Neiman, and her husband Abraham Lincoln Neiman. It has been owned by Saks Global, a Corporate spin-off, spin-o ...

department store in 1907. * Minnie Lichtenstein Marcus: Herbert Marcus' wife and Vice President of

. She was also on the board of several organizations including the Dallas Jewish Welfare Federation, Temple Emanu-El, Golden Acres Dallas Home for Jewish Aged, and had a prominent role in founding the Dallas Garden Center. Her sons and other descendants including Lawrence Marcus and

Stanley Marcus Harold Stanley Marcus"Personal" (column), ''The Dallas Morning News'', November 9, 1905, page 5. (April 20, 1905 – January 22, 2002) was president (1950–1972) and later chairman of the board (1972–1976) of the luxury retailer Neima ...

have been active in the family business and in other endeavors in Dallas and elsewhere. *

Iliza Shlesinger Iliza Vie Shlesinger ( ; born ) is an American stand-up comedian, actress and television host. She was the 2008 winner of NBC's ''Last Comic Standing (season 6), Last Comic Standing'' and went on to host the syndicated dating show ''Excused'' f ...

: comedian * Phillip Sanger and Alex Sanger: managers of the Dallas

Sanger Brothers Sanger may refer to: Places Romania * Sânger, a commune in Mureș County United States * Sanger, California, a city in the San Joaquin Valley * Sanger, North Dakota, a ghost town * Sanger, Texas, a city * Sanger, West Virginia, an unincorpo ...

department store, which opened in 1872 and soon became the main store. *Alex Sanger was the first Jew to be appointed as a regent of the

University of Texas The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin, UT, or Texas) is a public research university in Austin, Texas, United States. Founded in 1883, it is the flagship institution of the University of Texas System. With 53,082 students as of fall 2 ...

. He was elected as a City Alderman and served the City of Dallas throughout his life in many capacities: State Fair Exposition, Volunteer Fireman Engine Company #1, Director of City National Bank of Dallas, Director of the Board of Trade, and Director of the Dallas Club.Sanger-Harris Collection
Texas Archival Resources Online, from the University of Texas at Austin. Retrieved 2011-08-22. * Edward Titche - co-founder of

Titche-Goettinger Titche-Goettinger (later known as Titche's) was a department store chain based in Dallas, Texas (United States). It was established in 1902 and was a major player in the Dallas retail market until its merger with Joske's, which was later absorbe ...

department store in 1902; original member of the Citizen's Charter Association; he served as vice president of the Dallas Scottish Rite Hospital for Crippled Children. Titche was the second life member of the Texas Congress of Parents and Teachers; he became a charter trustee of the Dallas Historical Society; and he was on the board of Dallas Trust and Savings Bank. Edward Titche Elementary School in Dallas was named for him. * Max Goettinger - founder of the

department store in 1902, with Edward Titche.

Other community members

Adlene Harrison Adlene Nathanson Harrison (November 19, 1923 – February 19, 2022) was an American politician who served on the Dallas City Council from 1973 to 1977, and was acting mayor of Dallas in 1976. Harrison was elected as city councilwoman three times ...

, mayor *

Martin Frost Jonas Martin Frost III (born January 1, 1942) is an American politician, who was the Democratic representative to the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas's 24th congressional district from 1979 to 2005. Personal life Frost was born to a J ...

, Congressman * Ruth Brown Kahn, community leader and archivist * George E. Kessler, city planner and architect * David Lefkowitz, rabbi *

, retailer * Lawrence Marcus, retailer and World War II veteran * Levi Olan, rabbi *

Jack Ruby Jack Leon Ruby (born Jacob Leon Rubenstein; March 25, 1911January 3, 1967) was an American nightclub owner who murdered Lee Harvey Oswald on November 24, 1963, two days after Oswald assassinated President John F. Kennedy. Born in Chicago, R ...

, murderer of

Lee Harvey Oswald Lee Harvey Oswald (October 18, 1939 – November 24, 1963) was a U.S. Marine veteran who assassinated John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, on November 22, 1963. Oswald was placed in juvenile detention at age 12 for truan ...

* Julius Schepps, businessman, civic leader and philanthropist * David E. Stern, rabbi *

Annette Strauss Annette Louise Greenfield Strauss (January 26, 1924 – December 14, 1998) was an American philanthropist and politician who served as the 54th mayor of Dallas. The Annette Strauss Artist Square in the Arts District of downtown Dallas, Texas is ...

, mayor *

Robert Schwarz Strauss Robert Schwarz Strauss (October 19, 1918 – March 19, 2014) was an influential figure in American politics, diplomacy, and law whose service dated back to future President Lyndon Johnson's first congressional campaign in 1937. By the 1950s, he wa ...

, leading figure in national politics and diplomacy * Steven D. Wolens, state representative *

Abraham Zapruder Abraham Zapruder (May 15, 1905 – August 30, 1970) was a Ukrainian-born American clothing manufacturer who witnessed the assassination of United States President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas, on November 22, 1963. He unexpectedly captured ...

, filmer of

home video Home video is recorded media sold or Video rental shop, rented for home viewing. The term originates from the VHS and Betamax era, when the predominant medium was videotapes, but has carried over to optical disc formats such as DVD and Blu-ray. ...

of assassination of John F. Kennedy

Notes

:A.

Yiddish Yiddish, historically Judeo-German, is a West Germanic language historically spoken by Ashkenazi Jews. It originated in 9th-century Central Europe, and provided the nascent Ashkenazi community with a vernacular based on High German fused with ...

for "Romanian Shul" or "Romanian Synagogue"