Congregation B'nai Israel (Sacramento, Calif.)

Sacramento's Congregation B'nai Israel began in 1849 when Moses Hyman invited his friends into his home for services. The congregation consecrated a synagogue in 1852, to serve the more than 200 Jews who lived in the area. In 1853, Abraham Galland became its rabbi, and in 1880 the congregation changed from Orthodox to Reform. The Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society became the congregation's sisterhood, and it was the first California sisterhood to join the national sisterhood movement. Many distinguished civic leaders have been members of this historic congregation, including David Lubin, Harris Weinstock, Louis Sloss, and Louis and Albert Elkus.