H. C. “Henry”
Ragsdale, a San Angelo businessman believed to have been a Methodist,
approached “Rabbi” Dave Goldman, a local Jew who served
as the unofficial head of the San Angelo Jewish congregation at
the time. Ragsdale explained to Goldman that he wanted to give
land for the construction of a synagogue. Goldman was taken by
surprise but was delighted.
At home his wife told him not to accept the offer; she didn’t
trust those Christians. “Rabbi “ Dave checked the
reaction of others and it was decided to accept the generous offer.
Finally he went to his friend Henry Ragsdale and asked why he
wanted to build a synagogue.
“Well you know Jesus was a Jew.”
“Yes”, Goldman replied.
“Well we believe that Jesus is going to come again someday.”
“Yes, I knew that too.”
“ Well Jesus spoke Hebrew. I figure that when he does
come back we are going to
need you folks around to translate for us.”
Thus the Jewish community of San Angelo and the surrounding
area had a synagogue.
As in many small, developing towns across America, Jews were
not only welcomed but were encouraged to stay. By promoting the
building of a synagogue in these smaller towns and cities, local
citizenry was also promoting stability amongst the town population.
This true as much in San Angelo, Texas as anywhere else.
Though the above story always gets a laugh, there actually was
a monetary exchange 0f $1500.00 for the property as evidenced
by the deed. Remember the figure $1500.00. It will resurface in
this tale of Jewish San Angelo.
Furthermore the deed, dated April 7, 1928 stipulated that the
property could “never be sold or leased or permitted to
be occupied by negroes or Mexicans – this restriction having
no relation to servants’ houses and such.” Additionally
“said property shall never be sold or leased nor permitted
to be occupied by prostitutes or bootleggers.” San Angelo
may have been a West Texas outpost, but H.C. Ragsdale would not
abide by what he perceived as an improper use of the property
designated for Congregation Beth Israel.
Though a sprinkling of Jews were known to have lived there for
a time during the operation of Fort Concho in the 1850’s,
a greater settling of Jews occurred during the 1880’s. Marcus
(also known as Michael) Koenigheim, a leading Jewish cattleman
and merchant from San Antonio, acquired the original townsite
for San Angelo in 1878 in lieu of a $1500.00 debt owned him. Koenigheim
originally tried to get people to settle San Angelo by giving
land for Methodist or Baptist churches. When San Angelo became
the county seat of Tom Green County, the town finally prospered.
Koenigheim encouraged Jewish merchants to settle into what became
a bustling town of the West Texas desert. Jews not only came to
San Angelo, but also to the surrounding smaller towns of Big Spring
and Colorado City.
It is worth noting the interesting coincidence that the figure
Koenigheim paid for the entire townsite, $1500.00, in 1878 was
identical to that paid exactly 50 years later for the single city
lot destined to hold the synagogue. Both of these exchanges were
to herald prosperity and a sense of community-belonging for the
Jews of San Angelo.
Gathering for religious worship services first began in 1884 in
various homes in San Angelo and the surrounding tiny towns. In
1913 about 10 families formally chartered Congregation Beth Israel.
By August, 1928 the Jewish community of San Angelo built a small
but imposing synagogue in the Art Deco style current for its time.
It is believed that there were about 40 Jewish families in the
town at the time.
The synagogue has a brick exterior with cast masonry Mogen Davids
decorating the front. It features lovely lancet stained glass
windows which are most unusual in that they open and close. The
lower floor, built slightly below ground level, contains the social
hall, kitchen, bathrooms, and one, yes one, classroom. Barbara
Cohen Rosenberg recalls, “there was only one small classroom
in the synagogue, but as many as four or five classes met; one
in the kitchen, one in the social area downstairs, one in the
classroom, and one or two in the sanctuary. Classes on Sunday
were taught by lay leaders as well as the Rabbi. Students were
tutored individually in Hebrew during the school year, and optionally
in the summer when classes were held in the Rabbi’s modest
home. During the summer, the Rebbitsin Gertrude Schnayerson would
prepare a snack of juice and cookies for the student.”
The upper floor has an entryway opening into the sanctuary, which
is furnished with pews. The ark bears elegant blue velvet curtains.
A wonderful focal point is the golden Star of David painted on
the ceiling surrounding a chandelier. When one walks in ther is
no doubt that this is beloved Jewish house of worship.
Though Dave Goldman, yeshiva-trained in New York, was the very
popular lay rabbi and trustee for many years, San Angelo was also
fortunate to have a full-time rabbi from 1951-1971. Ordained in
New York in 1921, Rabbi David L. Schnayerson, a native of White
Russia, had served as an assistant rabbi in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and
beginning in 1929 as Rabbi of Kilgore, Texas. He later organized
a Conservative congregation in Corpus Christi and finally, at
age 63 was asked to be the Rabbi of Congregation Beth
Israel. Rabbi Schnayerson resigned in 1966 and continued to reside
in San Angelo until his death in 1971. He was buried in the Jewish
section of Lawnhaven Cemetery there.
Though the San Angelo Jewish community is greatly dwindling, the
Polunsky family and several others look after the building and
its schedule of services. Services are every Friday night at 7:30pm
and they conduct High Holiday services. Said Robert Polunsky,
“Our congregation continues to age and we have no young
members with children.” A handful of congregants still show
up on Friday nights as of this writing (1999).
As with many small Jewish communities, this congregation was created
to serve all Jews regardless of their affinity for Reform, Conservative,
or Orthodox practices. As a result, Congregation Beth Israel was
never formally affiliated with any one movement and does not appear
on any listing of synagogues.
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