Jewish American Heritage Month honors the contributions of Jewish Americans across the nation — including in Texas. These are some of the historic firsts and milestones in Texas Jewish history. 

1852: First Jewish Burial Ceremony in Texas

The earliest recorded Jewish ceremony in Texas was a burial in Galveston, officiated by a visiting rabbi from New Orleans. Jewish cemeteries soon followed in key Texas cities:

• Galveston (1852)
• Houston (1854)
• San Antonio (1856)
• Victoria (1858)
• Jefferson (1862)

1859: First Synagogue in Texas

Houston’s Congregation Beth Israel began as Orthodox. By 1874, it had joined the emerging Reform movement. 

1870: Oldest Synagogue Building in Texas

Congregation B’nai Israel’s 1870 structure in Galveston still stands today — it’s the oldest synagogue building in the state.

2015:  Relocation of historic synagogue

Brenham’s B’nai Abraham Synagogue — built in 1885 — was relocated 90 miles to Austin preserved and repurposed by Congregation Tiferet Israel.

Today

Now home to 250,000 Jews, Texas boasts a vibrant and growing Jewish community —especially in Dallas, Houston, Austin and San Antonio — with diverse synagogues, multiple mikvahs, Hillels and kosher eateries.

— Submitted by the
Texas Holocaust, Genocide & Antisemitism Advisory Commission