Our History
Our History
The first history we know of the Temple of Israel was 1913 when the six Jewish families of Greenville began regularly meeting for discussion and observance in their homes. There are early papers from a formal organization in 1917 when the group had become somewhat larger and held services in public halls until 1928, when the original Temple was built in 1928. The Temple of Israel on Buist Avenue, in the photo on the left, was dedicated in April 1929.
During the early years, there were services by lay leaders with occasional students or faculty members from Hebrew Union College conducting High Holiday Services. Rabbi Maurice M. Mazure was the Temple’s first full time spiritual leader, serving until his passing in 1951.
In 1952, the congregation of then 36 families, added a social hall to the building. They acquired land from adjacent properties, behind the Temple building and to its east, adding a larger social hall and religious school building in 1968 and 1978.
The congregation envisioned growth and success as its future: 1985 and 1986 saw the congregation of 100 families planning a new building at a site in the rapidly growing East side of Greenville. Plans came to fruition, bricks and mortar became a building, and we dedicated our present home on Spring Forest Road in time for Rosh Hashanah 1989.
Presently we are approximately 175 families, drawing our membership from the Upstate SC, and growing daily. We built the new Jane and Edwin Long Family Life Center which includes an expanded religious school facility, youth and adult lounges, a music room, and a large multi purpose room for celebrating life cycle events, concerts, and sports activities like our basketball league. Click here for a history of the Greenville South Carolina Jewish Community.
Sun, May 5 2024
27 Nisan 5784
Upcoming Events
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Tuesday ,
MayMay 7 , 2024Mah Jongg
Tuesday, May 7th 10:00a to 12:30p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 8 , 20242024 Foundations for a Thoughtful Jewish Life
Wednesday, May 8th 7:15p to 8:45p
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Friday ,
MayMay 10 , 2024Shabbat Service
Friday, May 10th 7:00p to 8:00p
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Tuesday ,
MayMay 14 , 2024Mah Jongg
Tuesday, May 14th 10:00a to 12:30p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 15 , 20242024 Foundations for a Thoughtful Jewish Life
Wednesday, May 15th 7:15p to 8:45p
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Friday ,
MayMay 17 , 2024Shabbat Service
Friday, May 17th 7:00p to 8:00p
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Tuesday ,
MayMay 21 , 2024Mah Jongg
Tuesday, May 21st 10:00a to 12:30p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 22 , 2024Annual Meeting
Wednesday, May 22nd 6:30p to 8:30p
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Wednesday ,
MayMay 22 , 20242024 Foundations for a Thoughtful Jewish Life
Wednesday, May 22nd 7:15p to 8:45p
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Friday ,
MayMay 24 , 2024Shabbat Service
Friday, May 24th 7:00p to 8:00p