congregation israel new_orleans congregation israel hebrew modern orthodox located louisiana founded tracing roots oldest orthodox congregation new_orleans region originally located street constructed moved building canal boulevard new_orleans time largest orthodox congregation membership families 1960s fell year canal boulevard building severely flooded new_orleans failure disaster hurricane katrina despite attempts save seven destroyed prayer books building suffered flooding damage caused theft copper air conditioning wake katrina member families left new_orleans including congregation began sharing space reform suburb new_orleans congregation purchased land built new early history oldest orthodox congregation new_orleans region prominent founded early traces roots older mid-19th century new_orleans number small orthodox congregations eastern european jews generally structured lines included jews lithuanian jews israel following non following congregation consisting primarily prussian jews organized right way followed polish rite known polish congregation built block street section new_orleans sole orthodox congregation construct building minority jews orthodox congregations rented space met members homes membership exceeded disbanded merged number small orthodox congregations burial society form israel services initially held rented quarters block street purchased home mayor street funds new acquisition came orthodox reform communities new_orleans building congregation began holding services time high holy days membership grew quickly israel second largest jewish congregation city member families number grown families membership fallen families year income today moses congregation year moved served death 1920s early 2000s rebuilt street location new building designed noted southern architect particularly jewish religious buildings designed including non religious buildings louisiana new building seating capacity reflected growing economic social confidence membership beautiful stained glass windows magnificent imported european hand carved stars david ceiling building dedicated september boston guest speaker impressed stayed built institute building street adjoining school served orthodox alternative existing comprised nursery school hebrew school sunday school building housed offices little word services held twice day congregation leased land cemetery site early shared congregations 1930s purchased cemetery street joined post hold early 1940s president successor miller tenure neighborhood began deteriorate members started moving congregation embarked search new location purchased block land canal boulevard walker street neighborhood moved new larger building leader successful run seat nearby cause concern congregation spoke duke feeling people taken modern guise members duke piece suit blow dried hair sweet smile serve hide inherent racism violence campaign anti duke rally planned held israel cancelled strong objections members larger jewish community felt actions actually create support duke levy statements rule violence efforts duke world war israel described largest orthodox congregation south 1960s member families number reduced fewer israel held services twice day new_orleans hurricane katrina aftermath result hurricane katrina subsequent failures congregation building filled feet water garnered national attention attempts save evacuated tennessee katrina hit contacted worked search rescue teams israel years contacting federal officials hired helicopter fly mile met search rescue team appointed retrieve group rubber reach enter sanctuary rescued silver ornaments despite efforts seven buried initially buried backyard non jewish secretary received rescue subsequently buried grave died katrina buried new_orleans months later addition losing lost furniture members homes flooded forcing congregation receive assistance replacing assets immediately sent israel israel congregation charleston south_carolina congregation sons providence rhode_island donated year old los_angeles heard difficult circumstances support mother spearheaded fund raising drive selling watches ultimately raised buy dedicated august days anniversary hurricane ceremony donated new time wake katrina families members left new_orleans gave membership congregation included family flood board directors informed joined april able meet contractual obligations pay past december family lost home possessions living memphis resigned effective november citing loss lack functioning area children soon flood received offer temporarily use space congregation gates prayer reform suburb new_orleans congregation began holding weekly services renting office space unclear difficult financial shape allowed means build building suffered flood damage july thieves stole copper main air conditioning system broke water main water second floor flooded building days depth feet discovered property sale recent events congregation began joint programming remaining orthodox summer hired new graduate previously served associate arrested united_nations april sit demanding iran expelled help attract new members summer started recruitment campaign placing advertisement new_york newspaper designing website campaign tagline believe ability destroy believe ability rebuild saying end october new members joined new_orleans lost membership katrina new_orleans opened location started project effort attract new orthodox families new_orleans families given generous financial assistance return commit providing community service maintaining enclosure completed month assisting supervision local supermarket according new families area new_orleans likely fastest growing modern orthodox community united_states april year gave congregation new building time member families associate member families families belonged congregation decided erect new land purchased lot stood high holy days planned launch capital campaign raise million construction building new building completed occupied august old building stood vacant purchased surgeon use medical offices saved brought new building originally building street stained glass window wooden plaque honoring pioneer donor families street previously featured lit family left following year citing deteriorating jewish educational landscape new_orleans jewish school established closed year hurricane katrina able regain peak enrollment students jewish population exceeded pre katrina size demographic changes negatively affected school population school board began recruiting non jewish students changed new_orleans jewish day school community day school enrollment continued fall students half non jewish demographic changes affected saturday morning service attracted friday night service daily israel hired succeed join following year native new_england like received
Congregation Beth Israel (New Orleans)