The Synagog " Beth-El" (ק. ק. ביתאל), located at the center town of Pensacola, Florida, is the oldest synagog of Florida. It belongs to the Union of the Judaïsme Reformed since its foundation.

The current Rabbin is Leonard Zukrow.

History

The Jewish first which emigrated towards the North-West of Florida are initially stopped with Milton, approximately 30 kilometers in the east of Pensacola, because Milton was a national center of production and distribution of wood of Charpente for the south of the the United States. Specialized in the production of structural timber, they are mainly originating in the strongly wooded areas of the south of the Germany.

Having a presentiment of new outlet appropriatenesses more in the west, a community settles in Pensacola and builds a synagog reformed in 1876. Many Jewish workers of Milton also settled in the county of Okaloosa in Florida to found a smaller Jewish community, when the work of the timber was dried up. The majority of the members of the first community of Beth-El are business men or owners of taverns.

The current Beth-El synagog is the third Construction at the same place, to the 800 North Palafox Street. The building, conceived towards the Years 1930, is an example of architecture Art déco, typical at that time in Florida.

Currently, the majority of the members of the community are descendants of the men who founded the community now 125 years ago. Immigrant of Eastern Europe, Israel and the Caucasus settled also in Pensacola and make today integral part of the community. One of the characteristics of the synagog of Beth-El is the big number of members coming from others religions and which are converted with the Judaïsme.

As 1962 with 1967, Paula Ackerman, born in Pensacola and which was the first woman to be occupied of the rabbinical functions in the United States, was used with the Beth-El synagog.

External bonds

• Site of the Beth-El synagog in Pensacola

• floridajewish.com Jews in Florida

References