Congregation Shearith Israel collection

This collection contains newsletters and anniversary books related to Congregation Shearith Israel in Wharton, TX. Digitized as part of the Council on Library and Information Resources grant program, Hidden Selections of Houston’s African American and Jewish Heritage, 2020-2023.

Congregation Shearith Israel had its inception in 1899 when the Jewish citizens of Wharton, Texas, first met to conduct religious services, using members' homes as meeting places. Later, under the leadership of I. Ditch, a congregation was organized and Sabbath services were held each Friday night and Saturday morning in the lower floor of the old Masonic Lodge Building. An official synagogue building opened in 1921. At first the membership consisted mainly of Wharton citizens, but as the Jewish population increased in surrounding towns the congregation expanded to include those who lived nearby from El Campo, Bay City, Ganado, Edna, Palacios, and Richmond, making a total of 85 members. The synagogue closed its doors in 2002, when membership dwindled from a peak of 400 members down to just 39, and sold its facilities.

The original materials are held by the Woodson Research Center in Fondren Library. Search the finding aid/inventory for the Congregation Shearith Israel collection, MS 0738.