Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (also known as Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue, Congregation K. K. Beth Elohim, or more simply K. K. Beth Elohim) is a historic synagogue located at 90 Hasell (pronounced as if it were spelled Hazel) Street in Charleston, South Carolina. The synagogue was founded in the 1740s and is one of the oldest synagogues in the United States.
In 1824 Beth Elohim became the first American congregation to follow the Reform movement that had originated in Germany. It is sometimes considered to be the originator of Reform Judaism in the United States.
The present Greek Revival building was built in 1840 and is the second oldest synagogue building in continuous use in the United States. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on April 4, 1978, as Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue and was designated a National Historic Landmark on June 19, 1980. The Coming Street Cemetery, owned by the Congregation, is listed separately on the National Register of Historic Places.
Famous quotes containing the words congregation and/or beth:
“In 1862 the congregation of the church forwarded the church bell to General Beauregard to be melted into cannon, “hoping that its gentle tones, that have so often called us to the House of God, may be transmuted into war’s resounding rhyme to repel the ruthless invader from the beautiful land God, in his goodness, has given us.””
—Federal Writers’ Project Of The Wor, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“Where beth they biforen us weren,”
—Unknown. Ubi Sunt Qui ante Nos Fuerunt? (L. 1)