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B'nai Zion history is interwoven with the history of
Jews in Chattanooga. It began as an Orthodox community that is
usually traced back to the year 1880 when Mr. Wolfe Brody, a new arrival
from Poland, brought his family to Chattanooga. He was
instrumental in persuading other Jewish families to settle here.
The surnames of many of these settlers may still be found in the B'nai
Zion membership today. They include Diamond, Slabosky, Levine,
Friedman, Weinberg, Long, Brener, Edelstein, Wise, and Frank. Many
of the early settlers were peddlers who took their goods to the rural
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The Diamond Family - Early B'nai Zion congregrants
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B'nai Zion Congregation officially dates back to May 11, 1888, when a Tennessee State Charter was issued to the "Brethren
from B'nai Chien" to establish an orthodox synagogue. Early
religious services in Chattanooga were conducted in the home of Wolfe Brody.
Each Friday found the peddlers returning to the city for the purpose of
observing Shabbat in the company of their fellow Jews. Mrs. Brody
was also a leader in the early "B'nai Chien" congregation. She
was the first to make a Mikvah by digging a pit in her backyard and putting a
box inside. The Brody home extended room and board to many of the visiting
peddlers.
When the community was too large to have its religious services in a
crowded home, a hall on Carter Street was rented as a synagogue. This was
the first of several homes for the future B'nai Zion congregation. As
these early entrepreneurs put down roots and became leading merchants in
Chattanooga, the congregation continued to flourish--but not without
their share of grief. The second synagogue on Carter Street was destroyed
by fire. Mr. L. Slabosky, a noted Talmudic scholar, rushed into the buring
building to save the torahs from the flames. His hands were burned and his
face was scorched, but he did not collapse until he reached the open door with
the precious bundles under his arms. He never fully recovered from the
smoke and heat of the fire.
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In 1924, the members of the congregation unanimously approved an amendment to adopt the name B'nai Zion Congregation.
The first B'nai Zion Synagogue was located on 14th & Carter Streets on land
owned by the congregation.
As the City of Chattanooga grew and changed, B'nai Zion moved to Vine & Mable Streets, staying there from 1931 for
more than forty years. In the 1960's two significant events related to B'nai Zion occurred. First, it was decided to change our
affiliation from Orthodox to Modern Conservative, and second, it was decided to purchase property in Brainerd for future
growth and as an investment.
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In 1975, B'nai Zion moved to the Brainerd property where we are
today. The transporting of the Torahs from the Vine Street Synagogue to
McBrien Road was an impressive event.
Our present facility was dedicated in March of 1975 and continues to serve us well.
Check out the Art at B'nai Zion section to view some of our beautiful interior.
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BZ TIMELINE |
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1880 |
Wolfe Brody
starts Jewish community in Chattanooga. |
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1888 |
A Tennessee State
Charter issued to the “Brethren from B’nai Chein” on May 11 |
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1888 |
Meeting place for
B’nai Chein rented at 1208 Carter Street. |
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1890 |
Site of the
present B’nai Zion Cemetery purchased. |
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1894 |
Larger meeting
place is rented at 1027 Carter Street. |
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1900 |
Fire destroys
1027 Carter Street. Louis Slabosky rescues the Torah. scrolls.
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1902 |
Carter Street
synagogue built. |
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1903 |
Hebrew Ladies Aid
Society formed. Today it is the B’nai Zion Sisterhood. |
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1909 |
Chattanooga Free
Hebrew School established. |
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1924 |
Name changed to
B’nai Zion Congregation. |
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1931 |
Vine Street
synagogue building dedicated March 29. |
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1934 |
Sunday School
established to supplement Hebrew School. |
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1961 |
B’nai Zion
changes affiliation from Orthodox to Modern Conservative on October
9. |
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1973 |
McBrien Road
synagogue groundbreaking on November 4. |
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1975 |
Torahs carried
from Vine Street to McBrien Road in March.. |
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1987 |
Solomon Schechter
Award of Excellence – Adult Ed. |
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1991 |
Solomon Schechter
Award of Excellence – Synagogue Administration |
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2000 |
Synagogue of
Excellence Award – Computer Communications |
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2002 |
Solomon Schechter
Gold Award – Website |
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2004 |
Synagogue of
Excellence Award - Bulletin |
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2004 |
McBrien Road
Building Renovation |
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BZ Rabbis,
Reverends, & Cantors |
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1887-1891 |
Rev. J.
Friedman |
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1892-1894 |
Rev. I.
Kolintz |
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1894-1895 |
Rev. M.
M. Sechinskey |
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1895-1897 |
Rev I.
Friedland |
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1897-1900 |
Rev.
Abel Levitt |
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1900-1902 |
Rev.
Kramer |
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1902-1905 |
Rev.
Herschel Contor |
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1906-1909 |
Rev.
Efraim Mennen |
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1909-1911 |
Rev. I.
Block |
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1911-1912 |
Rev.
Eliezer London |
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1912-1914 |
Rev.
Morris Miller |
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1915-1919 |
Rev.
Lazarus Schulsinger |
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1916-1918 |
Rabbi
Tzvi Hirsch Zaiman* |
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1918-1919 |
Rabbi
Abraham Burstein |
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1919-1943 |
Rev.
Issac Maisel |
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1943-1947 |
Rabbi
Israel Gerstein |
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1947-1956 |
Rabbi
Aaron Walden |
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1956-1960 |
Rabbi
Harris Swift |
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1960-1961 |
Rabbi
Louis Lederman |
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1961-1966 |
Rabbi
Joseph Renov |
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1965-1987 |
Cantor
Louis Rothman |
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1966-1969 |
Rabbi
Samuel April |
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1970-1973 |
Rabbi
Harold Markman, Rabbi |
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1974-1979 |
Rabbi
Moshe Frankel, Rabbi |
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1979-1992 |
Rabbi
Richard Sherwin, Rabbi |
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1992-2006 |
Rabbi
Josef A. Davidson, Rabbi |
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1998-2006 |
Cantor
Neil Schwartz |
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2006-2008 |
Rabbi
Meir Goldstein |
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2009- |
Rabbi
David Cantor |
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The history above is adapted from the
Golden Book of B'nai Zion
Congregation 1888-1938 and the Centennial Celebration Book of B'nai Zion Congration
1888-1988. and the handwritten list of leaders in the "Eternal Book".
*Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Zaiman does not appear
in any of our surviving records, but his descendants have provided us with
documentation indicating that he was one of a revolving retinue of rabbis who
led B'nai Zion for brief periods before the arrival of Rabbi Maisal who stayed
with us for many years.
For a picture-intensive history of Jews in Chattanooga, including many
of our early members, shop The B'nai Zion Gift Shop for Jewish Community of
Chattanooga by Joy Effron Abelson Adams.
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