congregation israel mississippi congregation israel mississippi reform jewish congregation founded member congregation permanent house worship middle eastern style building constructed congregation moved building built style moved modern building operate congregation initially families grew include members time second building built congregation included members grown include jewish residents 2000s fewer elderly jews remaining city congregation longer time include school named wife woman perform duties country husband unexpected death education building new complex bombed members pieces glass salvaged destruction incorporated windows current building congregation owns maintains historic cemetery 19th street 15th avenue listed national_register_of_historic_places history early days established nearby town largest settlement area families lived early years families jews worked jews coming build temple halfway towns american_civil_war began grow rapidly began decline result jews elected jewish community established jewish congregation bought lot today congregation initially consisted families met temporary locations moving permanent building locations included house 24th avenue 9th street room grocery store interim period congregation grew include members serving style building corner 8th street 22nd avenue constructed growing congregation building city gas powered lighting succeeded led movement provide public schools blacks culminated bond issue construct brick public school building african americans state named listed national_register_of_historic_places mississippi landmark congregation stayed building years eventually forced complaints flies attracted horse outside nearby retail store new octagonal designed architect modelled built corner 11th street 24th avenue marble steps leading entrance building flanked large columns new seat featured stained glass windows displaying star david fire damaged building year operation repaired services held congregation grown include members led jewish community grown people partly influx immigrants eastern_europe members sponsored newcomers helping find jobs homes holding night classes teach english congregation members preferred strict form worship smaller orthodox congregation formed congregations good relations number jews belonged congregation included members second largest jewish community state served congregation suddenly died service asked wife place find replacement women ordained time years woman officially ordained united_states nonetheless served spiritual leader congregation elected years find despite performed duties normal including conducting weekly services giving performing marriages spite media attention criticism jews country congregation remained united leadership later original home pensacola florida serve interim temple months replacement found temple need repairs older members found difficult steep marble steps entrance instead repairing year old building downtown purchased acre plot residential subdivision built new new facility located 14th avenue dedicated december composed seat sanctuary social hall kitchen library education building bombing 1960s leadership spoke attacks black churches response mobile alabama helped bomb building house bombed israel education building blast caused sticks dynamite planted accomplice white knights force blast knocked walls education building roof destroying door opposite end building hole approximately inches diameter left concrete floor damages estimated equivalent today reward offered extra promised jewish community city according past president congregation israel pieces stained glass survived bombing salvaged window today june returned bomb home outspoken leader jewish community 29th avenue fbi police chief convinced local members gather information operations free bond convicted connection mississippi civil rights workers murders leaders jewish communities jackson raised money pay tipped fbi attack happened police officers hidden house shortly midnight car stopped feet away house exited vehicle box later found include sticks dynamite approached police ordered stop dropped box fled vehicle officers chased blocks vehicle ending chase opened fire policemen german gun striking officer times chest critically injured officer survived fled neighborhood continuing fire policemen resident neighborhood opened door going struck stray bullets police eventually found pool blood local resident backyard year old fifth grade school teacher jackson helped bombing jackson months earlier found dead car loaded pistol purse car owner identified helped bomb arrested robbery charges weeks later survived wounds sentenced thirty year term prison years term enter religious conversion training missionaries north_carolina cemetery main campus congregation operates listed national_register_of_historic_places located 19th street 5th avenue originally outside city limits intended rural cemetery city expanded annexed area containing cemetery cemetery contains generations german immigrants big names largely jewish community late nineteenth early twentieth centuries remaining built memorial early jews era temple buildings stands brick fence cast iron gates iron star david cemetery walls main pathways meet center cemetery circular decorative piece including fountain oldest graves northern half cemetery newer graves added progressively south grave sites adorned maintained victorian era art gives cemetery historic significance monuments include grave enclosure winner family includes bronze bust marble angels entrance plot examples include grave topped marble shoes grave marked carved marble couch memorial featuring marble angel cemetery small acres fully compared prolific rural massachusetts clearly laid rural cemetery fashion people buried european immigrants explain trees property jewish europe generally planted trees possibility roots bodies decline jewish community congregation israel experienced decline rest city state jewish community jewish population mississippi peaked decreased steadily jews remained state children original jewish immigrants merchants interested going college professionals taking family businesses rise national retail chains pressured jews larger cities leaving line streets smaller cities economic centers thirteen jewish congregations left state time seen decline population city population declined early 21st century fewer jews remaining city elderly local orthodox congregation shared services high holy days disbanded completely handful members joining 2000s longer children israel congregation support sunday school class youth group israel longer time instead retired new_orleans leads services month serves member families houses seeks sustain advance reach contributions jewish community january launched provided grants families looking relocate
Congregation Beth Israel (Meridian, Mississippi)