Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston, S.C.)

Fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the continental United States founded in 1749.

From the description of Records, 1800-1884. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70961491

Founded in 1749; considered the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the U.S.; in 1841 it became the first Reform congregation in the U.S. and was one of the founding synagogues of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (1873).

From the description of Records, 1763-1977 (bulk 1800-1928). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 70954508

The Congregation was organized in 1749 in Charleston, SC, following the Sephardic ritual. In 1764, the Congregation obtained a burial ground on Coming Street. Friction with the growing number of Ashkenazic members led the Sephardic group to withdraw in 1775; they bought a separate cemetery on Hanover Street, and worshipped in a different building. By 1790, the two factions had reunited. In 1791, Beth Elohim was incorporated.

In 1799, another cemetery near Hanover Street was purchased by a group of members. In 1824, several members petitioned the governing body to introduce reforms. Rebuffed, the members withdrew and created the Reformed Society of Israelites, which functioned on its own until 1833 after which date, most rejoined the congregation. In 1838, the synagogue building was lost in a fire; a temporary tabernacle was constructed on the site and a new building was finished in 1841.

The installation of an organ at that time prompted a schism; many withdrew to form the orthodox Shearith Israel Congregation which bought a cemetery adjoining KKBE's Coming St. property and one at Rikersville. KKBE continued as a Reform Congregation until 1865, when the remnants of Shearith Israel rejoined and compromises in ritual were made. Another organ was introduced in 1872 and the next year, KK Beth Elohim became a charter member of the Reform Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

From the description of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim congregation records, 1798-2002 (20th century). (College of Charleston). WorldCat record id: 50844520