Dates: 1861-1999
Creator: Temple B’nai Israel/Albany Hebrew Congregation (Albany, Ga.)
Summary/Abstract: Temple B'nai Israel has been a Reform congregation since its founding in 1854 and was a charter member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now the Union for Reform Judaism. The records are composed primarily of the minutes and financial records relating to the daily activities of this congregation.
Quantity/Physical Description: .5 linear feet
Language(s): English
Repository: The Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History, The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
Restrictions on Access: There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection.
Restrictions on Use: Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation:
Box #, Folder #, Mss 164, Temple B’nai Israel/Albany Hebrew Congregation (Albany, Ga.) Records, The Cuba Family Archives for Southern Jewish History, The William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, 1440 Spring Street NW, Atlanta, Georgia 30309.
Processed by: Demece Harvey (November, 2007)
Arrangement:
The records are arranged in alphabetical order by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Biographical/Historical Note:
Temple B'nai Israel has been a Reform congregation since its founding in 1854 and was a charter member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, now the Union for Reform Judaism.
In 1845-46, only ten years after the founding of Albany, three pioneer Jewish families settled there. The first families in Albany were from German extraction. In January 1854, a petition was filed in the Inferior Court of Dougherty County to incorporate the United Hebrew Society of Albany. The fourteen-year charter was granted for the purpose of purchasing property to build a synagogue, exercising religious worship according to their faith, and establishing a burial ground. In 1858, the original Jewish cemetery lot was purchased, as Jews were not allowed to be buried in the public cemetery at that time.
During this period the congregation did not have its own house of worship and services were held in the Mayer Building and the Welch Building, both at Broad Avenue and Washington Street. The Albany congregation was chartered in 1876. In 1882, the first temple was built at the corner of Jefferson and Broad Streets, followed in 1886 by a building on the corner of Jefferson Street and Oglethorpe Boulevard. On March 24, 1996, the congregation broke ground for a new facility at the corner of Gillionville Road and Weymouth Drive. The new temple, was dedicated in May 1999.
In 1898, the first permanent rabbi, Dr. Edmund A Landau, Sr., was hired. He was succeeded by Rabbis Martin Hinchin Kaplan, and Joseph Freedman. Following Rabbi Freedman, were Charles Lessor, David Zalonka and William Cohen. In 1987, Dr. E. E. "Zeke" Palnick moved to Albany from Little Rock, Arkansas. Rabbi Palnick retired in June, 1999, and served as Rabbi Emeritus until he passed away in 2005. Rabbi Dana Evan Kaplan came for the High Holy Days in 2001 and now serves as full time rabbi.
Temple B’nai Israel continues the tradition of providing a welcoming center for the Jewish community of southwest Georgia, making the community a better place for everyone to live.
Scope and Content
The researcher interested in the daily operations of building a new synagogue, general daily operations and the work of a Rabbi will find this collection of special interest. The records are arranged in alphabetical order by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Collection Inventory
Box |
File |
Description |
Date |
|
1 |
1 |
Board meeting – minutes |
1994 |
|
2 |
Board meeting – minutes |
1995 |
|
3 |
Board meeting – minutes |
1996 |
|
4 |
Board meeting – minutes |
1997 |
|
5 |
Board meeting – minutes |
1998 |
|
6 |
Board meeting - minutes |
1999 |
|
7 |
Congregation Beth EL in LaGrange, GA |
Undated |
|
8 |
Constitution |
1998 |
|
9 |
Contract for Purchase and Sale |
Undated |
|
10 |
Cornerstone documents, Albany Council No. 5 |
1895 |
|
11 |
Cornerstone documents, Albany, Georgia – city officials |
1896 |
|
12 |
Cornerstone documents, Albany, Georgia – History of Jewish Life by Rabbi Edmund A. Landau |
1941 |
|
13 |
Cornerstone documents, Albany - Guards – Roll |
1896 |
|
14 |
Cornerstone documents, building committee |
1941 |
|
15 |
Cornerstone documents, Confederate paper money |
1861 – 1864 |
|
16 |
Cornerstone documents, Confirmation class rosters |
1898 – 1940 |
|
17 |
Cornerstone documents, Equitable Building and Loan Association, Association of Albany |
1896 |
|
18 |
Cornerstone documents, Free and Accepted Masons – Albany Lodge – Membership |
1896 |
|
19 |
Cornerstone documents, Free and Accepted Masons – Albany Lodge – Officers |
1896 |
|
20 |
Cornerstone documents, Free and Accepted Masons, State of Georgia – Constitution |
1878 |
|
21 |
Cornerstone documents, Grand officers |
1896 |
|
22 |
Cornerstone documents, Hebrew Benevolent Society – officers and members |
1941 |
|
23 |
Cornerstone documents, Hebrew Sabbath School – Students |
1896 |
|
24 |
Cornerstone documents, Hofmayer, Jones and Company |
1896 |
|
25 |
Cornerstone documents, Knights of Pitheus – Albany Lodge |
1896 |
|
26 |
Cornerstone documents, Knights of Pitheus – Artesian Lodge – membership list |
1896 |
|
27 |
Cornerstone documents, membership list |
1941 |
|
28 |
Cornerstone documents, Independent Order B’nai B’rith – Micha Lodge – officers and members |
1896 |
|
29 |
Cornerstone documents, officers and building committee members |
1896 |
|
30 |
Cornerstone documents, speech |
1940 |
|
31 |
Cornerstone documents, Sabbath School – teachers |
1896 |
|
32 |
Cornerstone documents, Sisterhood officers and members |
1940 |
|
33 |
Correspondence |
1982 – 1999 |
|
34 |
Financial Reports |
1996 |
|
35 |
Financial Reports |
1996 |
|
36 |
Financial Reports |
1997 |
|
|
|
|
2 |
1 |
Financial Reports |
1998 |
|
2 |
Financial Reports |
1999 |
|
3 |
Hebrew Ladies Benevolent Society |
1981 - 1982 |
|
4 |
Lutz, Harry |
1958 – 1991 |
|
5 |
Lutz, Harry Jr. |
1960 |
|
6 |
Maschke, David President |
1995 – 1998 |
|
7 |
Mekel, Counsul General Arye, Bio |
1995 |
|
8 |
Membership |
Undated |
|
9 |
Rabbi’s Report to Temple Board |
1995 – 1998 |
|
10 |
Standard Form of Agreement Between Owner and Architect |
1987 |
|
11 |
Temple B’nai Israel Religious School |
1996 – 1997 |
|
12 |
Temple Hadashot |
1990 – 1994 |
|
13 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregation |
Undated |