Temple Beth-El (Corsicana, Texas)

Former synagogue, now historic building in Corsicana, Texas, US

For similarly named synagogues, see Beth-El.

Temple Beth-El

Former Temple Beth-El, now community center

Religion
Affiliation| Reform Judaism (former)
Rite| Nusach Ashkenaz
Ecclesiastical or organizational status|

* Synagogue (1898–1980)
* Community center (since 1990)

Ownership| City of Corsicana
Status| Closed;
restored and repurposed
Location
Location| 208 South Fifteenth Street, Corsicana, Texas
Country| United States

Location in Texas

Geographic coordinates| 32°5′22″N 96°28′6″W﻿ / ﻿32.08944°N 96.46833°W﻿ / 32.08944; -96.46833
Architecture
Style|

* Exotic Revival
* Moorish Revival

Date established| 1871 (as a congregation)
Completed| 1898 (1898)
Specifications
Dome(s)| Two
Materials| Clapboard
Website
cityofcorsicana.com/996/Temple-Beth-El

Temple Beth-El

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Texas State Antiquities Landmark

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark

Area| less than one acre
NRHP reference No.| 86003687
TSAL No.| 8200000741
RTHL No.| 11642
Significant dates
Added to NRHP| February 3, 1987
Designated TSAL| January 1, 2000
Designated RTHL| 1981
[1]

Temple Beth-El is an historic Reform Jewish former synagogue located at 208 South 15th Street in Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas, in the United States. Operating as a synagogue between 1898 and 1980, the exotic Moorish Revival-style building has been used as a community center since 1990.

## Landmark status

[edit]

Temple Beth-El became a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1981. On February 3, 1987, Temple Beth-El was added to the National Register of Historic Places. Temple Beth-El is one of two State Antiquities Landmarks in Navarro County.

## History

[edit]

The Jewish community of Corsicana established a congregation in 1871.[2][3] The congregation worshiped at each other's homes until it could raise the funding to build a synagogue.[4]

Julius Magil served as rabbi in the early days of its new building. He was born December 29, 1870, at Mitau, Courland, which was then in the Russian Empire but is now part of Latvia. He received a secular education at Realgymnasium and University of Zürich, Switzerland. Rabbi Magil's religious training took place at the Talmudical College of Grobin, Courland. Rabbi Magil then studied medicine at Fort Wayne Medical College, and he received a Ph.D. from Rogers College in 1898.[5]

The synagogue was built by a Reform Jewish congregation in 1898. It is a wood-frame building, with clapboard siding, keyhole windows in the front doors, and a pair of octagonal towers topped by onion domes. In 1900, 66% of the congregants were immigrants and over half were from Poland, Russia, or Hungary. 19% of the membership was from Germany and another 19% was from France. While Eastern European Jews tended towards Orthodox Judaism and German Jews tended towards Reform Judaism, Temple Beth-El was notable as a Reform synagogue with a predominantly Eastern European and heavily Polish membership.[6]

Rabbi Ernest Joseph served as the spiritual leader of Temple Beth-El from 1968 to 1980.[7]

In 1980, Temple Beth-El closed as a congregation, although a local rabbi still leads a Jewish service on a monthly basis.[8] The property was donated to the City of Corsicana around 1990.[8] The City uses it as a community center.[9]

In 2010, the former synagogue's stained glass windows were renovated.[4] The former synagogue's façade and domes were restored in 2013.[8]

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places portal
* Judaism portal
* Texas portal

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Navarro County, Texas
* Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Navarro County

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
2. ^ "Temple Beth-El, History". The USGenWeb Project. 2009.
3. ^ "Temple Beth-El, Historical Marker, Corsicana, Navarro County, Texas". The USGenWeb Project. 2009.
4. ^ a b Jacob, Janet. "History restored: Temple gets its colors back with renovations". Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, Texas). June 1, 2010.
5. ^ Machol-Medvidovsky (May 23, 2012). "Biographical Sketches of Rabbis and Cantors in the U.S. 1903". Retrieved September 2, 2013. "Rabbi (since 1900) of Temple Beth El, Corsicana, Texas. Born December 29, 1870, at Mitau, Courland, Russia. Son of Mendel Magil. Educated at Realgymnasium and University of Zürich, Switzerland; and Talmudical College of Grobin, Courland (Rabbi). Studied medicine at Fort Wayne Medical College. Ph. D., Rogers College, 1898. Rabbi at Allentown, Pa., 1892-1894; Reading, Pa., 1894-1896; and Ligonier, Ind., 1896-1900. Editor of the Jewish Home Journal, 1896-1900. Publications: "From Pulpit and Platform;" "Biblical History;" "Medicine in Bible, Talmud, and Ancient History;" " Führer der Rathlosen." Address: Corsicana, Texas."
6. ^ "Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities - Corsicana, Texas". Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Retrieved October 31, 2019.
7. ^ "Corsicana Rabbi Ernest Joseph dies at 69". The Dallas Morning News. November 12, 1999. p. 45A.
8. ^ a b c Jacobs, Janet. "Temple Beth-El ready for some facade work". Corsicana Daily Sun (Corsicana, Texas). May 15, 2013.
9. ^ MacLaggan, Corrie. "Keeping the Lights Aglow". Austin American-Statesman. December 4, 2007.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Temple Beth-El (Corsicana, Texas).

* Official website. Published by the City of Corsicana.
* Davis, Robert P. (August 25, 1996). "Beth El, Corsicana, TX". Virtual Restoration of Small Town Synagogues. Texas. Archived from the original on October 24, 2002.

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