Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim - A Temple from 1840

Photo: JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD, CC BY-SA 3.0 (cropped)

A stop on Charleston Historic District Walk, a free self-guided tour.

Behind the iron fence on Hasell Street stands Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, a Greek Revival temple whose columned front looks more like a courthouse than many visitors expect a synagogue to look. The congregation was founded in 1749, making it one of the oldest Jewish congregations in the United States. Its first members were largely Sephardic Jews, drawn by colonial Carolina's relatively open attitude toward religion.

The congregation's first synagogue, completed in 1794, burned in the great fire of 1838. This building, designed by Cyrus L. Warner, replaced it in 1840. It was built by enslaved people owned by the contractor, David Lopez Jr., a reminder of how deeply slavery shaped the city's buildings. It is the second-oldest synagogue building in the country and the oldest in continuous use.

Beth Elohim also has a place in religious history. Members led by Isaac Harby pushed for reforms in the 1820s, and the congregation later adopted reformed worship, which is why it is often called a birthplace of American Reform Judaism. Check the congregation's website if you would like to visit inside.

Getting here: Head west on Cumberland Street to Meeting Street, turn right and walk north past Market Hall, then turn left onto Hasell Street; the synagogue is a short way along.

Did you know?: The 1838 fire that destroyed the first synagogue burned about 500 properties in the heart of the city.

Photo op: From the opposite sidewalk on Hasell Street, frame the columned portico through the iron fence.

More on Wikipedia: Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim · Isaac Harby · Reform Judaism

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim - A Temple from 1840

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