Abraham Mordecai of Pennsylvania seems to have been the first Jewish Settler in Montgomery . In 1785, he settled near Line Creek, about 15-20 miles east of Montgomery . He was an interesting and colorful character who is said to have married a Native American, had a large family, and lived to be over 100 years old. From his home on Line Creek, he ran a successful trading business. During the nineteenth century, more Jews came to Alabama . The first Jewish citizen of Montgomery was Jacob Sacerdote, who operated a restaurant at the corner of Montgomery and Court Street. As the number of Jews increased, they felt the need for some means to care for the sick and needy and they formed a "sick and burial society". The "Chevra Mevacher Cholim" was formed on November 17, 1846 , for religious and benevolent purposes. Its primary purpose was to minister to the sick and to watch over and bury the dead. Each member took turns performing these acts of mercy and in seeing that Jewish customs were properly observed.

This group also held religious services on Friday evenings, Saturday mornings and High Holy Days. At first, these services were conducted by members, in their homes, but after a brief period, were held at the Lyceum Hall. High Holy Days services were not only attended by Jewish members of Montgomery but by Christian neighbors as well. People came from as far as Selma and Tuskegee to observe the religious rites and learn more about their Jewish brethren. This friendly relationship between Jews and non-Jews continues to be a source of pride for Montgomerians.

In 1849, "Chevra Mevacher Cholim" voted unanimously to form itself into a congregation and adopted the name Kahl Montgomery. One of the first acts of the new congregation was to purchase a cemetery and elect officers. Many descendents of the families of the founding board continue to be active members of Temple Beth Or. Dues for all members were the same and services in the mid 19th century were Orthodox. Men and women sat apart. Men covered their heads and wore tefillin. The pulpit was in the center of the sanctuary. Since the congregation did not have a Rabbi, services were conducted by a "reader" who also acted as Shohet (supervisor of the slaughter ritual of animals).

In the mid 1850's, Judah Touro, a prominent southern philanthropist, bequeathed $2,000 to Kahl Montgomery for the building of a temple. In 1858, land was purchased and a Temple was completed at the corner of Catoma and Church Street and dedicated on March 8th, 1862. This building, still standing, and occupied by the Catoma Street Church of Christ, is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places.

By 1870, the congregation had grown considerably. Ritual changes continued to occur, men and women no longer sat in separate sections and by 1874 Kahl Montgomery officially adopted the reform ritual used by Temple Emanuel in New York City. The 1874 constitution gave the Temple the name Beth Or (House of Light). In 1879, Temple Beth Or became a member of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. At the turn of the century, there was a need for a new building and land was purchased. In June, 1902, the time of the Temple’s Golden Jubilee, the new Temple, located at Sayre and Clayton Streets, was dedicated. This building no longer stands.

In 1933 Rabbi Eugene Blachschleger assumed the position of Rabbi. During the war years the Temple was host to many servicemen and women stationed at the local Air Force bases. In 1949 The Temple Sisterhood was formed and has contributed greatly to the beauty and hospitality of the Temple A Gift Shop was organized by the Sisterhood and continues to be source of Judaica for the congregation.

With the movement of population out of the area of that Temple, new land was purchased on Narrow Lane Road in Old Cloverdale, a Montgomery neighborhood listed on the National Registry Of Historic Places.

The present Temple was dedicated in 1962. After Rabbi Blachschleger's untimely death in 1965 Rabbi David A. Baylinson assumed the leadership of the Temple . During his years as Rabbi the Bar and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies were re-instituted and the new prayer books Gates of Prayer and Gates of Repentance were introduced. Rabbi Baylinson served until 1994 when he retired and was given the title of Rabbi Emeritus.

Rabbi Elliot Stevens assumed the post of Rabbi in July, 2007 and the Temple looks forward to many years with Rabbi Stevens’ spiritual leadership.

Temple Beth Or   2246 Narrow Lane Rd  Montgomery, Alabama

334-262-3314

Member of the Union for Reform Judaism

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last updated 4-6-206