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Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim 

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, built in 1840, is the country's second oldest synagogue and the oldest in continuous use. The congregation of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, meaning Holy Congregation House of God, was established in colonial Charleston in 1749, and is now the nation's fourth oldest Jewish community. The congregation is nationally significant, as it is the place where ideas resembling Reform Judaism were first evinced, and the Synagogue still serves the Reform Judaism community. A small museum contains artifacts relevant to the history of the congregation, such as a letter written to the congregation by George Washington. Notable features include a full Greek temple front, with fluted Doric columns supporting a gable pediment.

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Photos

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Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Address and Map

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim 90 Hassel St Charleston SC 29401 (843) 723-1090 Kahal Kodosh Beth Elohim

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Worship Schedule

Come join the KKBE family and worship together. Most Friday evening Shabbat service begins at 8 pm. On the first Friday of each month is the Congregational Dinner at 5:30 pm (reservations required), followed by the First Friday Shabbat Service at 7pm. On the last Friday of the summer months (May-August), services begin at 6pm, preceded by appetizers in the courtyard.

The Saturday Shabbat Morning Service starts at 10 AM. On the second Saturday of each month, Tot Shabbat is for families with children up to 8 years old at 10 am in the Freudenberg Board Room.

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Tour of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue in Charleston, South Carolina

Hosted By: My Jewish Learning

Join My Jewish Learning for a tour of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded in 1749, KKBE is one of the oldest congregations in America, and known as the birthplace of Reform Judaism. The tour will be led by historian and archivist Anita Rosenberg, whose ancestors were among the original founders.

Watch a recording of this tour here:

Photo credit: Stephen Hyatt

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Connect, Inspire, and Celebrate with Us

Our anniversary provides an opportunity for the community to come together for meaningful experiences. Throughout the celebration year, we look toward to a future that holds promise and prosperity for the next 275 years and beyond!

A Commemoration Like No Other

This celebration is also about shining a spotlight on the birthplace of Reform Judaism – carrying forward our legacy, honoring our shared history, and embracing our future aspirations.

The Roadmap to Our Celebrations

All events and activities are related to our five pillars and are designed for diverse interests and all ages. This celebration provides a foundation for the next 275 years. Join us as a sponsor/partner in our journey. Engage with the community, experience our rich traditions, and make timeless memories. Thank you for being a part of KKBE’s 275th anniversary celebration and for helping us sustain a vibrant future.

• Pillar Events •

Field day at the park, moroccan sukkot, lowcountry nosh, the great american jewish songbook with charleston symphony orchestra, charleston interreligious council thanksgiving service, latkes and vodkas, sacred service by ernest bloch with charleston symphony orchestra, taylor festival choir and koleinu, • keystone events •, 24 - 26 may, cantorial celebration of reform music ‍ february, 9th - 2nd oct. - nov., history/building tours with preservation society ‍ february, jan - march, • jews & justice •.

The Kick-off to KKBE’s 275th Anniversary Time:  February 8, 2024 at 6:00 pm Location:  KKBE, 90 Hasell Street, Charleston, SC 29401

We are seeking event sponsors for the upcoming Jews and Justice panel discussion and community conversation. This event will convene a panel of distinguished authors, jurists, legal scholars and experts to discuss how the Jewish justices on the US Supreme Court impact America’s dedication to its founding ideals of equality and justice for all. A book signing and reception will follow.

Our Panelists

Moderator: Edward Felsenthal

Executive Chairman and former Editor-in-Chief of TIME, Mr. Felsenthal and his work as a journalist led to two Pulitzer Prizes, as he covered the Supreme Court for the Wall Street Journal.

Armand Derfner

A distinguished Charleston civil rights attorney who has successfully argued voting rights cases before the US Supreme Court, Mr. Derfner isco-author of Justice Deferred: Race and the Supreme Court.

Judge Richard Gergel

Current United States district court judge and Charleston resident, Judge Gergel is the author of Unexampled Courage: The Blinding of Sgt. Isaac Woodard and the Awakening of President Harry Truman and Judge J. Waties Waring.

Brad Snyder

Georgetown University professor of constitutional law and 20th Century legal history, Mr. Snyder is the author of Democratic Justice: Felix Frankfurter, the Supreme Court and the Making of the Liberal Establishment.

Julie Cohen

Writer, director, producer and filmmaker, Ms. Cohen is the Oscar nominated filmmaker of the RBG (Ruth Bader Ginsburg) documentary, lauded universally for her portrait of, and friendship with, the beloved Jewish Supreme Court Justice.

• Join Us As A Sponsor •

Financially support our 275th anniversary to provide a foundation for the next 275 years.

• Benefits of Being a Sponsor •

Align your brand and ideals with unity, heritage, and community. As a sponsor of this landmark series of events celebrating 275 years of organized Jewish life in Charleston, you’ll gain invaluable exposure and goodwill.

Show your support for Charleston’s rich Jewish history and vibrant present-day community. Be seen as a community-minded organization that values inclusion, collaboration, and social impact.

Connect directly with Jewish community leaders, members, and institutions. The events provide prime networking opportunities to build relationships and generate new partnerships.

Increase brand visibility through event promotions and materials seen by thousands in the Charleston area and by visitors from across the nation. We’ll work with you on custom activation to showcase your commitment.

Make an impression through inspiration. Motivate the broader region by promoting the values that have enriched Charleston for centuries.

Let’s honor this milestone together! Celebrate the past, impact the present and inspire the future.

• Please Join Us In Thanking Our Sponsors •

Saul alexander foundation, silver ($50,000), stephen & julie ziff, bronze ($25,000), dr. michael s. kogan, sam and regina greene family fund, jews & justice: title event sponsor (greene family fund), danielle ziff and ruston forrester, jews & justice: student ticket sponsor ($10,000), contributors circle: keystone ($3,600), jeri perlmutter, stanley b. farbstein endowment, tr & paige williams, dr. michael fritz and judith green, izi ellinsky & sharon weiss-ellinsky, contributors circle: pillar ($1,800), harvey & audrey glick, contributors circle: archway ($275-$900), elliott & tyler friedman, joel & arlene hillman, shoshanna richek, faye seigel, contributors circle: foundation ($18-$274), miriam wilchanovsky, lester & jane bergen, amy davis & phil saul, jews & justice: pew ($600), margalit & gary neiman, william kennard & deborah kennedy kennard, kronsberg family, heide & james klein, dr. neal & mrs. marilyn gordon, marge cohen, traci & neal black, nan birdwhistell & david rothberg, linda bergman, kahn law firm, llp, sharon & jeff alexander, robert friedman, amy & steven goldberg, dede waring, jim jackoway.

History of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE)

90 hasell street charleston, sc.

The history of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim is a heritage in which all American Jews can take pride. It is a story of faith, devotion, and perseverance in the American tradition of freedom of worship. 

Charleston was founded in 1670, and the earliest known reference to a Jew in the English settlement is a description dated 1695. Soon thereafter other Jews followed, attracted by the civil and religious liberty of South Carolina and the ample economic opportunity of the colony. These pioneers were sufficiently numerous by 1749 to organize the present congregation, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, (Holy Congregation House of God) and, fifteen years later, to establish the now historic Coming Street Cemetery, the oldest surviving Jewish burial ground in the South. 

KKBE is the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the continental United States (after New York, Newport and Savannah). At first, prayers were recited in private quarters and from 1775, in an improvised synagogue adjacent to the present-day grounds. In 1792, construction of the largest and most impressive synagogue in the United States was commenced. It was dedicated two years later. A member of the visiting Lafayette’s entourage is reported to have described the building as “spacious and elegant.” This handsome, cupolated Georgian synagogue was destroyed in the great Charleston fire of 1838 and replaced in 1840 on the same Hasell Street site by the structure in use today. The colonnaded building, dedicated in early 1841 is often described as one of the country’s finest examples of Greek Revival architecture. On this occasion, KKBE’s Reverend Gustavus Poznanski was moved to say, “This synagogue is our Temple, this city our Jerusalem, and this happy land our Palestine.” 

Today, KKBE has the second oldest synagogue building In the United States and the oldest in continuous use. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1980. 

Birthplace of Reform 

Charleston is acknowledged as the birthplace of Reform Judaism in the United States. In 1824, 47 congregants petitioned the Adjunta (the trustees) of the synagogue to change the Sephardic Orthodox liturgy. The petition, which asked for abridgement of the Hebrew ritual, English translation of the prayers, and a sermon in English, was denied. The disappointed liberal members thereupon resigned from the congregation and organized “The Reformed Society of Israelites”. This independent society, led by Isaac Harby and Abraham Moise was influenced by the ideas of the Hamburg Reform congregation, the leading modernist community in Europe. It lasted only nine years, but many of its practices and principles have become part of today’s Reform Judaism The Progressives rejoined the old congregation, and while the present temple was being built in 1840, an organ was installed. As well as the organ, the first service in the new temple introduced a liberalized ritual. KKBE was one of the founding synagogues of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in1873, (now Union for Reform Judaism, URJ), and remains firmly and proudly committed to Reform Judaism. 

Leadership 

For almost two and a half centuries members of KKBE have been eminent leaders in the city, state and country. Among notable early congregants were Moses Lindo, who before the Revolution helped to develop the cultivation of Indigo (then South Carolina’s second crop) and Joseph Levy, veteran of the Cherokee War of 1760-61 and probably the first Jewish military officer in America. Almost two dozen men of Beth Elohim served in the War of Independence, among them the brilliant young Francis Salvador, who as delegate to the South Carolina Provincial Congresses of 1775 and 1776, was the first Jew to serve in an American legislature. Killed shortly after the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Salvador was also the first Jew known to die in the Revolutionary War. 

Members of the congregation founded Charleston’s Hebrew Benevolent Society in 1784, the nation’s oldest Jewish charitable organization, and in 1801 established the Hebrew Orphan Society, also the country’s oldest. Both are still active. In 1838 the second oldest Jewish Sunday school in the United States was organized, The blind poet, Penina Moise, was a famous early superintendent. 

Other congregants pioneered in steamship navigation, introduced illuminating gas to American cities, and numbered four of the eleven founders of the country’s Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masonry. 

In 1790, President George Washington responded to a letter of congratulations to him by writing, “The affectionate expressions of your address again excite my gratitude, and receive my warmest acknowledgment. May the same temporal and eternal blessing which you implore for me, rest upon your Congregation.” A replica of this letter can be viewed in the KKBE Museum.

The Synagogue

In 2003, the Congregation received the prestigious Carolopolis Award for exterior preservation. 

Pearlstine Family Building 

Parallel to the length of the Temple stands the building formerly called the Bicentennial Tabernacle, which was erected in 1950 during the 200th anniversary celebration of the congregation. This building replaced the temporary structure built after the 1838 fire. The Tabernacle was renovated and expanded in 2001-03 and renamed the Pearlstine Family building. The current building houses the religious school, our administrative office, the Chosen Treasures Judaica & Gift Shop, the spacious Barbara Pearlstine Social Hall and the kitchen. The original cornerstones are located over the entranceway into Barbara Pearlstine Hall. In the Social Hall two large murals painted by Charleston artist William Halsey, a former congregant, portray founders and patriots of the congregation.There are also a pair of wrought iron sculptures of Biblical prophets by the late Willard Hirsch. 

The Heyman Building 

The reconditioned and expanded 18th century residence to the rear of the Temple at 86 Hasell Street contains a youth lounge and supplemental meeting and classrooms. 

Our Cemeteries

Coming Street Cemetery KKBE’s Coming Street Cemetery (190-195 Coming Street) is the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the South. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Buried here are:

• Ten congregants who fought in the American Revolution,
• Six soldiers of the War of 1812,
• Two soldiers in the Seminole Wars in Florida,
• 21 Civil War participants, of whom eight died in the Confederate cause,
• Six Rabbis of the congregation,
• 18 Past presidents of the congregation.
• Four of the eleven founders of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Masonry in 1801.

Bronze plaques placed on some tombstones in 1964 identify notable personages. Except for a few family plots, all present day burials occur in Beth Elohim’s Huguenin Avenue Cemetery, which was established in 1887. When this site was first used as a cemetery, it was outside the then city limits at Calhoun Street.

The Coming Street Cemetery has three sections: A. This area is the original congregational cemetery and dates from 1764; from 1754; it was the DaCosta family plot. B. This part was developed by members of Beth Elohim who had seceded in 1841 over the installation of an organ in the synagogue and had formed Orthodox Congregation Shearit Israel. When the two congregations merged after the Civil War, a dividing wall was taken down. C. The Lopez family plot was established in the 1843 when Shearit Israel refused burial to David Lopez’s first wife who had not been converted to Judaism. The Cemetery contains over 500 graves; many are not marked. The oldest identifiable grave is that of Moses D. Cohen, the first religious leader of Beth Elohim, who died in 1762.

Visitation to the Coming Street Cemetery must be made by appointment. Call 843-723-1090. To see index of cemetery burials click here .

Huguenin Avenue Cemetery  K.K.B.E.’s Huguenin Avenue Cemetery is its present burial ground. It was first developed on land, which then abutted the northern limit of the City of Charleston. It was purchased from the Washington Light Infantry in l887.

The cemetery was expanded in l991 on property bought from the Standard Oil Company in 1943. It contains the remains of persons buried since l888, also remains and stones which were removed from three defunct graveyards: the Dacosta (l783-l939) and Harby (1799-1939) cemeteries on Hanover Street, and the Rikersville Cemetery (1857-1888), which had been established by Congregation Shearit Israel).

To see a list of the burials in the Huguenin Avenue Cemetery click here .

To see a list of the burials in the Coming Street Cemetery click here .

On July 1, 2010, Rabbi Stephanie Alexander became the first woman Rabbi of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim. At the same time, Rabbi Anthony D. Holz, retired and became Rabbi Emeritus.

Click here to watch a video on KKBE’s history, narrated by volunteer docent T.R. Williams.

History acquired from KKBE website – kkbe.org

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Kahal kadosh beth elohim synagogue.

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, a National Historic Landmark, is the country's second oldest synagogue and the oldest in continuous use. The American Reform Judaism movement originated at this site in 1824. The congregation of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim--meaning Holy Congregation House of God--was established in colonial Charleston in 1749, and is now the nation's fourth oldest Jewish community. The building reflects the history of Jewish worship in Charleston, as well as the high degree of religious tolerance within the Carolina colony.

The Beth Elohim congregation began as an Orthodox community, founded primarily by Sephardic immigrants (of Spanish and Portuguese ancestry). By the end of the 18th century the Beth Elohim congregation had become the largest Jewish community in the nation, with a membership of 500. This synagogue was built in 1840, on the site of the congregation's first synagogue destroyed in the Charleston fire of 1838. The building is an excellent example of the Greek Revival style, as its form, portico and rich ornamentation are adapted from classic Greek temples. Designed by New York architect Cyrus L. Warner, the temple was built by congregation member, David Lopez. By 1841, the majority of the congregation was embracing Reform Judaism, and the first service held in the new temple reflected this ideology. The Reform Movement, an attempt to modernize synagogue worship and a reevaluation of Jewish theology, had its roots in Hamburg, Germany, in the 1810s, and quickly spread throughout central Europe and to the United States. Worship reform included choral singing, organ music, and the use of German instead of Hebrew for prayers and sermons. In 1824, 47 members of Beth Elohim petitioned the trustees to abridge the Hebrew rituals and conduct prayers and sermons in English. The denial of these requests resulted in a temporary split of the congregation, but by 1833 a united Beth Elohim had nearly 200 members supporting the Reform Movement. After the burning of the first synagogue and the election of a new rabbi, the inaugural service of this synagogue held in 1841 contained modernized ritual and Beth Elohim formally became the first American Reform congregation. Today, the Synagogue still serves the Reform Judaism community. A small museum contains artifacts pertinent to the history of the congregation, such as a letter written to the congregation by George Washington.

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Last updated: May 17, 2019

Celebrating 275 Years of Community with Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) is celebrating its 275 th anniversary in 2024. Established in Charleston, South Carolina in 1749, KKBE's synagogue is the second oldest synagogue building in the United States and the oldest in continuous use. We sat down with Naomi Gorstein, KKBE's president, to talk about the congregation's history, social justice initiatives, and plans for the future. 

URJ: What can you tell me about the early years of KKBE?

Naomi Gorstein : The congregation was established in 1749, and the cemetery was established 15 years later. That cemetery is now the historic Coming Street cemetery. In 1792, the congregation was big enough to build a really impressive synagogue, which was dedicated in 1794.

In 1838, there was a giant fire in Charleston, and the building was burned to the ground. In 1840, they began building the structure we use today, which is often cited as one of the country's finest examples of Greek revival architecture. It was designated a national historic landmark in 1980.

Wow, that's amazing! How did KKBE become part of the Reform Movement? 

Naomi Gorstein: KKBE was originally established as a Sephardi Orthodox synagogue. In 1824, 47 congregants petitioned the trustees to change the Sephardic Orthodox liturgy they were using. After the trustees refused, the liberal members resigned from the congregation and organized the Reformed Society of Israelites. This independent society was led by Isaac Harby, Abraham Moise II, and David Nunez Carvalho. Many of the society's practices and principles have become part of today's Reform Judaism such as shorter services, praying in English and Hebrew, allowing all-gender seating, and more. After nine years, the Reformed Society rejoined the old congregation. After the synagogue was rebuilt in 1841, they persuaded the community to introduce an organ, and that's when the orthodox members left. KKBE was also one of the earliest synagogues to join the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1873, which is now known as the Union for Reform Judaism, and we remain proudly committed to Reform Judaism today.

You mentioned the current synagogue was built in 1840-1841. Did the builders use the labor of enslaved people? 

Naomi Gorstein: All the old buildings in Charleston were built by enslaved people, including our synagogue. People don't realize this, but Jews enslaved people, too. That's a big thing for people to come to terms with when they come here. They're like, "What? How could that happen?" But it is something that's really important to acknowledge.

After our restoration work in 2019, we created a monument and put it outside our building to honor the enslaved people who worked on the synagogue. The monument includes a quote inspired by Mishnah Yoma 8:9: "There is no atonement for transgressions of one human being against another until that person has reconciled with the other." It goes on to say, "In 2020, Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim rededicates itself to recognizing the errors of the past and reconciling the beliefs of our faith with our actions as we commit to spiritual growth and social justice for all."

Could you share a bit about the social justice work that KKBE's been involved with recently? 

Naomi Gorstein: Our senior rabbi, Rabbi Stephanie Alexander, is passionate about social justice, and our congregants are very supportive of that. One of the things that she was involved with founding is the Charleston Area Justice Ministry (CAJM), which focuses on community organizing and pushing local officials to do more for the community. It's been active for over 10 years and has focused on issues like having more spots in public preschools and helping people who work in the service and hospitality industries get legal representation.

Our first event for our 275 th anniversary will also focus on social justice. It's called "Jews and Justice" and is going to be a panel discussion about the impact Jews have had on the Supreme Court and civil rights in the United States.

What are some of the other events you're planning to celebrate your 275 th anniversary? 

Naomi Gorstein: Our second event is going to be a community Purim festival. We've gotten grants from Jewish organizations to provide kosher food and we'll have live music, crafts for kids, a flash mob, rock climbing wall, petting zoo, and pony rides. It's just this huge festival for everybody to enjoy, and it's actually on Purim, March 24.

The third event is during Memorial Day weekend, and that is going to be a celebration of Reform Judaism with a cantorial concert. The concert will trace the evolution of the Reform Movement through music. Our choir, Koleinu, and Bates O'Neil, our music and artistic director, will be joined by the director of the Debbie Friedman School of Sacred Music at HUC-JIR , Cantor Jill Abramson, Professor Joyce Rosenzweig, and five cantorial students as they perform Reform music spanning the 200 years since the Reformed Society of Israelites was established.

In the fall, we're having historic tours as our fourth event. We're partnering with the Preservation Society of Charleston to give tours of prominent Jews' homes and buildings. The tours will feature sites of historical interest and demonstrate the intertwining of Charleston's history with Jewish history.

The last event is going to be a gala, held early next year, and one of the things we're most excited about for that event is our plan to bring in members of one of the resident programs at The Second City for a performance.

Finally, what are some of your thoughts about the future of KKBE? 

Naomi Gorstein: As important as our history is, and it obviously is very important, we also need to look to the future. Welcoming people, finding out how they celebrate their Jewish identity, and connecting with them is paramount because they are our future. We want to be the place people want to come to, we want to be exciting and interesting and relevant. That's our highest mission.

If you are interested in learning more about these events or want to participate, please email Naomi Gorstein . 

• Jewish History

About the Author

Crystal Hill (she/her/hers) is a copy writer/editor for the Union for Reform Judaism . She holds an M.A. in Rhetoric, Composition, and Literature from Northern Illinois University, with a Certificate of Graduate Study in Professional Writing. She lives with her husband, son, and cat in the Greater Chicagoland Area. 

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photo by: Bill Fitzpatrick

South Carolina’s Brilliant Jewish History

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim and Coming Street Cemetery

• By: Bill Fitzpatrick
• Photography: Bill Fitzpatrick

In the mid-1600s, the English Lord Proprietors had a problem: How could they entice anyone to settle the coastal areas of the Carolinas? The Spanish in Florida might attack any fledgling colony there, as could the local Native American tribes. So, influenced by the philosopher John Locke, the Lord Proprietors granted any who would come complete freedom of religion.

Many long-suffering Jews of Spain and Portugal heard those startling words and decided to take the Lord Proprietors up on their offer. By 1749, their numbers were sufficient to organize the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) Congregation . Today, it is the second oldest synagogue building in the United States (the first oldest being Touro Synagogue , a National Trust Historic Site in Newport, Rhode Island) and the oldest in continuous use.

But most importantly, the KKBE is acknowledged to be the birthplace of Reform Judaism in the United States. When I asked KKBE’s Executive Director Alex Grumbacher to explain how that came to pass, he laughed and pointed to the sanctuary organ: “After the Charleston fire of 1838, our synagogue was rebuilt, eventually reopening in 1840. By a narrow vote, the congregation decided to install an organ and to use it during worship. Appalled at this idea, those with more Orthodox views left to form their own congregation. KKBE became the home to Reform Judaism.”

After my visit, Grumbacher recommended I visit Coming Street Cemetery , one of the synagogue’s associated cemetery. There I met docent Randi Serrins. Well into the tour, she pointed to an old foundation wall and explained, “Shortly after the schism, the Orthodox Jews built a high brick wall so that their tombs would be separate from the Reformers. After the Civil War, the wall was knocked down.”

Both KKBE and the Coming Street Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. But that’s not the only thing they have in common: Both need extensive and expensive repairs, neither have enough money, and both are at risk.

View the slideshow to learn more about the fascinating history of KKBE and Coming Street Cemetery.

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim possesses national significance as the 1824 birthplace of Reform Judaism in America. Originated by German Jews in the early 1800s, the Reform Movement spread rapidly through central Europe and to the United States, where it led to radical changes in Jewish doctrine during the remainder of the 19th century. KKBE is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use in the United States. By the end of the 18th century, it had become the largest Jewish community in the nation with some 500 families.

The first Jews arrived in Charleston in the late 1600s. In 1794, they dedicated a new synagogue building described then as the largest in the United States, "spacious and elegant." The synagogue was destroyed in the great fire of 1838 and replaced in 1840 by this structure.

The building itself is in good shape, but it will be expensive to repair the ceiling damage. Women sat in balconies during the early years, but joined the men on the main floor in 1879. The balconies were destroyed during the Great Earthquake of 1886.

Ceiling detail, and ceiling damage.

The impressive Ark is made of Santo Domingo mahogany. By local tradition, the Ark doors are kept open throughout worship service. Within the Ark, glass doors provide a barrier to the four Torah scrolls.

When the new synagogue was built in 1840, some members proposed that an organ be installed in the sanctuary for use during regular services. The once united congregation split, as Orthodox Jews believed an organ had no place in worship. The Orthodox Jews seceded and formed a new congregation. They then purchased land for their own cemetery next to Beth Elohim's, and erected the brick wall (foundation in image) to separate the two burial grounds. Following the Civil War, based on "mutual concessions," the two congregations reunited, and the wall removed.

The Right Reverend Moses Cohen, D.D. (1709-1762) was the first religious leader of KKBE and a merchant. His is the oldest tombstone in the cemetery.The earliest graves may have been covered by a mound of stones. The stones that are placed on a tombstone are done so to convey respect, to signify that the grave has recently been visited, to indicate that the dead has not been forgotten.

Penina Moise is considered to be the first Jewish American Poet. For over 50 years her essays, short stories, and poems appeared in publications from Boston to New York. Sixty of her poems were collected and published in Fancy's Sketch Book in 1833.

In Charleston, early Jewish burials were in family plots because Jews did not bury their dead on temple grounds. It is believed that 800 persons are buried here, including 10 men who fought in the American Revolution, 6 who served in the War of 1812, 2 who fought the Seminoles in Florida, and 21 Confederate veterans.

Many of the tombstones feature complicated and intricate carvings.

A life story told in stone begins with a right hand holding an open book displaying the chapters of life. On the book lies a rose in full bloom, representing a full life. Finally, a closed book, the end of life, rests on an elaborate draping, fringed and tasseled. This marble monument is rich in Victorian sentiment and symbolism. Description courtesy of Pamela D. Gabriel and Ruth M. Miller, "Touring the Tombstones, a Guide to Charleston's Historic Graveyard."

There is a third wing to the cemetery. David Lopez bought this parcel of land for a family burial ground after his wife Catherine, who had been born a Christian, died in 1843. She was denied burial privileges in Shearit Israel's cemetery because she had never formally become a Jewess. Her Gothic style tomb is in the background of the photograph.

The now-discolored tomb shows a pair of hands with spreading fingers that form the "cohanim," or ritual priestly blessing. Leonard Nimoy, drawing on his Jewish roots, made this symbol popular in the television show, "Star Trek."

The first tragedy is obvious; the second is happening today. The walls around the historic cemetery need to be repaired, and the costs will be high.

The brace is a stop-gap measure. A long-term plan (underway), and funding (a struggle) are needed to stabilize the wall. Much damage is caused by sprawling trees that, due to ordinances, cannot be quickly removed.

The Coming Street Cemetery, located in downtown Charleston, is the oldest surviving Jewish cemetery in the South.

Sacred Places : Discover Horn's Creek Baptist Church

Bill Fitzpatrick shares his experiences with visiting a historic Baptist church in Horn's Creek, South Carolina.

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Bill Fitzpatrick shares the story of the Lower Long Cane ARP Church and the small congregation that preserves its history.

Bill Fitzpatrick is a South Carolina writer and photographer.

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The Atlantic Coast Conference

General July 10, 2024

ACC to Embark on Third Annual Unity Tour in Charleston, South Carolina

• Tour of the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
• Tour of the Mother Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church
• Tour of the International African American Museum
• Tour of the Gullah Geechee Experience presentation by Corey Alston – presented by Capital One Orange Bowl
• Visit the McLeod Plantation Historic Site
• Community Engagement projects at Lowcountry Food Bank and the Ronald McDonald House, and Reading Partners
• Charleston Housing & Development Panel (Rebecca Dail, Deputy Director of the Housing & Community Development, and F.A. Johnson, III Esq., CEO of the Charleston Redevelopment Corporation)
• Social Impact Workshop (Will Smith, Founder & CEO of Charter Oak Advisory, and Justin Morrow, Sports Strategist)
• Rodney Scott BBQ Experience – presented by Ally at the Charleston Visitor Center
• Charleston RiverDogs outing – presented by Ally

• Preplanned tours
• Daytrips out of Moscow
• Themed tours
• Customized tours
• St. Petersburg

Moscow Metro 2019

Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case).