Temple Moses Montefiore

In 1887 Jewish residents of the Marshall area organized the Moses Montefiore congregation, Adath Israel. Daniel Doppelmayer, a Civil War veteran and one of the pioneer Jewish settlers of the area, was selected as the first president. At his suggestion, the congregational name was chosen to honor Sir Moses Montefiore (1784-1885), the noted Jewish financier and philanthropist of England. In 1900, under the direction of President Ike Hochwald, a temple was constructed at this site. Designed by the local architect C. G. Lancaster and built by the firm of Sonnefield and Emmons, it featured an elaborate middle eastern architectural style. The structure served as the congregation's place of worship and as a center of the community's cultural and civic activity until 1973, when it was razed. The Moses Montefiore congregation was founded on a tradition of community leadership, which was begun by pioneer Jewish residents who moved here when the area was first settled. Members and rabbis of the temple continue to play a vital role in the development of Marshall. Their contributions now serve as reminders of their influence on the civic, business and cultural character of the city.

Temple Moses Montefiore is a historical marker in Marshall, Harrison County, dedicated in 1982. It is one of 103 historical markers documented in Harrison County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 270 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 32.5476, -94.3702 near Marshall. The nearest cataloged historic site is Pickens, Lucy H. (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include First Presbyterian Church, Marshall Masonic Female Institute, and Sam Houston's 1857 Campaign in Marshall.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5203010218. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.