Congregation Beth Jacob (Atlanta, Ga.) Records
Scope and Contents
Researchers studying the Congregation Beth Jacob (Atlanta, Ga.) Records will gain insight into Jewish religious life in Atlanta, Georgia. The records are arranged in alphabetical order by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Dates
- Majority of material found within 1958 - 1993
Conditions Governing Access
There are no restrictions on accessing material in this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote, or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Congregation Beth Jacob is an Orthodox congregation located in Atlanta, Georgia. The Congregation was officially founded in 1943 with its first permanent location being a converted private residence on Boulevard. Its roots begin in 1931; a small group of observant members of Ahavath Achim felt uncomfortable with the modernizing ritual, believing it was not “religious enough.” Thus, they began to organize their own High Holiday services in homes and vacant stores before finding their own building in 1943. In 1956, the Congregation moved to 475 Boulevard Northeast, which had previously housed the Tabernacle Baptist Church. However, by 1962, the Congregation was moving once more, this time to a newly erected building made specifically to be their synagogue. The forty members of 1951 had grown to 190 families by 1962. While the former locations were converted buildings, this new location at 1855 LaVista Road, was the “fulfillment of a cherished dream,” according to their New Building Brochure, “a place of worship combining all the features necessary for the convenience of a modern and growing community.” Indeed, by the early 1970s the Congregation began fundraising to add a much-needed expansion to their new building—by 1976, membership had reached 500 families.
Rabbi Yosef Saffra, in 1951, became Congregation Beth Jacob’s first permanent rabbi. Under his leadership, Beth Jacob established a religious school and a program of adult education. Shortly thereafter, in 1952, Rabbi Emanuel Feldman joined the Congregation as its religious leader, and would remain in the position until his retirement in 1991. Throughout Rabbi Feldman’s tenure, he exerted a strong effort to maintain a strict Orthodox presence in the community, even raising the height of the mechitza (the partition dividing the men and women worshipping in the sanctuary) three times. His efforts proved fruitful as the Congregation grew and flourished under his guidance. His son, Rabbi Ilan Feldman, who began serving as assistant rabbi in 1980, stepped into his father’s position as senior rabbi in 1991.
Rabbis
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman (1927-)
Rabbi Ilan Feldman (1954-)
Presidents:
Michael B. Feinerman (1938-) served 1983
A. Robert Maran (1924-) served 1980-1982
Louis Taratoot (1923-2017) served 1979-1980
Abe Esral (1931-2018) served 1977-1979
Neal Busch (1936-) served 1975-1977
Ben Rabinowitz (1928-2011) served 1973-1975
Ben Hirsch (1932-2018) served 1971-1973, also Architect of LaVista Road building; Epstein & Hirsch Architects
Edwin Galler (1931-2006) served 1970-1971, also Co-Chairman of Building Expansion Campaign
Petty Bregman (1926-2004) served 1969-1970, also Co-Chairman of Building Expansion Campaign
Jack Hirsch (1931-2003) served 1967-1969
Larry Nager (1913-2001) served 1963-1967
Maurice Krieger (1914-1991) served 1962-1963
Morris Simberg (1920-1980) served 1960-1962
Sol Abrams (1905-1992) served 1959-1960
Ben Golden (1912-2007) served 1958-1959
Extent
1.2 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Congregation Beth Jacob is an Orthodox congregation located in Atlanta, Georgia, that was founded in 1943 and is still in existence today. The records consists of annual reports, minutes, correspondence, financial records, membership information, bulletins, newsletters, and building plans for both the 1855 LaVista Road building and its expansion in the 1970s.
Arrangement
The records are arranged in alphabetical order by subject and chronologically within each folder.
Processing Information
Processed by Rachel Katz (October 2011). Revised to EAD format by Jeremy Katz (May 2013). Entered into ArchivesSpace, with further revisions, by Lindsay Resnick (July 2020).
- Atlanta (Ga.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Congregation Beth Jacob (Atlanta, Ga.) Subject Source: Local sources
- Jews -- Georgia -- Atlanta Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Orthodox Judaism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rabbis Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Rabbis -- Georgia Subject Source: Local sources
- Synagogues -- Georgia Subject Source: Local sources
- Synagogues -- Georgia -- Atlanta Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Congregation Beth Jacob (Atlanta, Ga.) Records, Mss 215
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Rachel Katz
- Date
- October 2011
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the William Breman Jewish Heritage Museum Repository
1440 Spring St. NW
Atlanta Georgia 30309 United States
678-222-3700