B'Nai Zion Temple

B'Nai Zion Temple is a historic Jewish temple located in downtown Shreveport, Louisiana. It was constructed in 1914[2] and dedicated in 1915.[3][4]

B'Nai Zion Temple
B'Nai Zion Temple is located in Shreveport Downtown
B'Nai Zion Temple
Location802 Cotton Street
Shreveport, Louisiana
Coordinates 32°30′30″N 93°45′02″W
Area0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
BuiltOctober 22, 1915
ArchitectEdward F. Neild & Clarence Olschner
Architectural styleBeaux Arts
Part ofShreveport Commercial Historic District (ID82002760)
NRHP reference No.93001547[1]
Significant dates
Added to NRHPJanuary 21, 1994
Designated CPMay 16, 1997

The Jewish community of Shreveport started off small in the late 1840s. By 1857 a small congregation of Jews had been created. They met in one of the congregant's homes under the leadership of Rabbi Julius Lewin. In 1861 the congregation adopted the name Har-el and started attending services in the home of a local Jewish businessman. At that time, most members of the congregation identified with the Reform tradition of Judaism. Once the Civil War was over, the group became known as Hebrew Zion.[4]

In 1869 the congregation constructed its first building of worship on Fannin Street. In 1875 a disagreement about the religious traditions of Judaism triggered a split in the congregation. A new Orthodox congregation was formed but the split was short lived. In 1877, the two groups reconciled and agreed to become identified with the Reform tradition of Judaism.[4]

By 1910 the Fannin Street building was above capacity, with over 150 members belonging to the Hebrew Zion congregation. By 1910, plans to construct a new temple were being devised. In 1915, the Beaux-Arts building was dedicated and the congregation was renamed B'Nai Zion. The building was seen as "an architectural gem and an ornament to the city." Shortly after the end of World War II, the temple had over 300 members.[4]

In 1955 the congregation had relocated to a new building on Southfield Road. By 1962, membership was above 400 people. After the relocation, the building was sold to the Knights of Columbus. In 1993 the building was bought by a private historical group who planned to preserve the building for its beautiful architecture. The historic structure is now vacant. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1994.[1]

The building also became a contributing property of Shreveport Commercial Historic District when its boundaries were increased on May 16, 1997.[5]

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. Shreveport, Louisiana - Congregation B'nai Zion Records American Jewish Archives. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  3. History of B'Nai Zion Archived 2013-08-26 at the Wayback Machine Goldring-Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life. Retrieved September 21, 2012.
  4. National Register Staff (November 1993). "National Register of Historic Places Registration Form: B'Nai Zion Temple". National Park Service. Retrieved April 10, 2018. With six photos from 1993.
  5. "Shreveport Commercial Historic District" (PDF). State of Louisiana's Division of Historic Preservation. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 14, 2018. Retrieved April 16, 2018.
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