First Permanent Jewish House of Worship in Mississippi
Headline
Temple Beth Israel - Jackson, Mississippi
Jewish presence and participation in Mississippi life dates from the 1780's.
The first organized Jewish community was Temple B’Nai Israel in Natchez, Ms., 1843. However, the first permanent Jewish house of Worship in Mississippi was constructed in Jackson in 1867. The original, small, wooden structure served the dual purpose of school and synagogue until burning down a few years later. The community, subsequently, erected a more substantial structure which served Jewish life in Jackson until 1941.
The marker, dedicated at South State and South Street in Jackson, April 15, 2005,was attended by Jews, Christians and government in common recognition of Mississippi heritage
L-R:Hank Holmes – Dir. Ms. Dept. of Archives and History, Bishop Duncan Gray – Episcopal Diocese of Ms., Mayor Harvey Johnson – Jackson, Mississippi,Jerry Klinger – JASHP, representing the Museum of the Southern Jewish Experience / Goldring Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life, Macy Hart President /CEO, Rabbi Deborah Kassoff – Dir. Of Rabbinic Serv., Dr. Stuart Rockoff – Dir of Dept. of History.
