America's Oldest Reformed Jewish Temple--Found in Charleston, SC



Posted: Saturday, July 19, 2008

by
Charleston Perlo

Beth Elohim--After what I had heard about K.K. Beth Elohim , it was imperative that I see it. We had been so very near Hasell Street many times, but signs are sometimes lacking. It is a splendid example of Greek Revival architecture, and is surrounded by the original 1794 black wrought iron fence on which several plaques have been welded, one of which designates the temple as a National Historic Landmark.

Since the foundation of the Congregation here in 1749, the synagogue continues to offer services today to Charleston's Jewish Community and has adopted a "reform" approach whose first efforts date back to 1824. It is also the first house of worship to use an organ in its services, starting in 1841. The massive ark which houses the Torah, and which is usually kept open during services, was closed. It is made of Santo Domingo mahogany. Unlike orthodox temples, KK Beth Elohim has stained glass windows, dating from 1886, which incorporate symbols relevant to Judaic worship, and which also bear the names of some of its patrons. It was designed by a Sephardic Jew, David Lopez, whose picture hangs in the museum archives next door to the synagogue.

The building was destroyed in the Great Charleston Fire of 1838, and rebuilt in 1840 on the same site in which it currently sits on Hasell Street. Today, KKBE is the second oldest synagogue in the US, the oldest in continuous use, and the oldest surviving reform synagogue in the world.

Leadership roles in the community began before the Revolution, where Moses Lindo helped to develop the cultivation of indigo. Joseph Levy was probably the first Jewish military officer in America. Francis Salvador was one of the first Jews to serve in the South Carolina Provincial Congress.

Mark Bloch , The Temple Administrator, was so very kind to open the doors to the synagogue so that we could see the inside and ask a lot of questions. He told us they get a lot of visitors, to the tune of about 7500 a year, and expect more as some extensive renovations are under way. In the garden area, when we first came in, were piles of steel girders everywhere and gangplanks as well. At the east end of the Walkway of Life in the garden is a Holocaust Memorial which was dedicated in 1992. He indicated that the archive museum would move to a larger location, as they had purchased more space adjacent to the actual building. Completion of the work is expected in spring of 2003.

We were also permitted to visit the Museum Archives which has most historically significant documents under glass. To the rear of the Temple is a restored and expanded residence which houses the Congregational Office, the Rabbi's Study (Rabbi is Dr. Anthony D. Holz), the Raisin Memorial Library, the Board Room, a youth lounge and supplemental classrooms.

Walter Rhett Walter Rhett attended Ohio State and writes from Charleston, SC. He writes about national and global affairs with an eye on Southern history and culture and enjoys listening to his readers.

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