Article Celebrating Walla Walla Synagogue Found

 A look in a suitcase  pocket, a few weeks ago, located not just the article, but the entire edition of  the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin with the headline of Congregation Beth Israel celebrating it's 60th anniversary in February of 2001.  

The celebration took place 20 years ago, I was not able to make it down, but brother Steve can be seen in the top picture of the article with other congregants, listening to Rabbi Hillel Cohen who was a special guest.  Steve is the one closest to the wall.  

Rabbi Cohen"s father, Franklin Cohen was the temple's founding, and as far as I know, only rabbi.  He and his family had been sponsored by the Jewish community of Walla Walla after escaping Germany. 

I have not heard if the community has had celebrations for it's 70th and/or 80th.   Congregation Beth Israel, known to us as "the shul" was our place of worship growing up.  It has had it's highs and lows as far as membership numbers, but has been able to continue and thrive through the years. 

Walla Walla Steps Up--Helps Repair Damaged Synagogue

Was it a random act of violence or a hate crime?  Perhaps we'll never know, but a go fund me page set up to repair damages, and improve security for Congregation Beth Israel, the city's Jewish synagogue has exceeded it's fundraising goal.   The Congregation recently suffered 3 acts of vandalism damaging it's plate glass windows.  

Isolated incidents, especially, in small or medium sized rural towns can put a black eye on it's reputation, but a diverse group of donors. probably the majority from outside the town's Jewish community has shown that there will be no tolerance for property destruction on it's institutions.   

Old Family Picture

My dad's parents I.J. And Esther Barer, can be seen here in this picture from decades ago.  This was e-mailed to me by Walla Walla historian Joe Drazan.  This was taken in the living room of  their house at Isaacs and Bellevue Streets in Walla Walla.  Mr. Drazan said the picture was found in the archives of the Union-Bulletin, the local paper.
My grandmother would later move to Rustic Place in the Stubblefield Addition in 1970, a few years after my Grandfather's death.

Walla Walla Jewish History Outlined On Web Page

I was pleasantly surprised to see a write up on  history of the Walla Walla Jewish community on historylink.org.  The Jewish population of Walla Walla was so small, that my brothers, sister and I were the only ones in school at the time.  Most of the other congregants for the most part were middle aged, elderly, or in college.  I would later find out that I had a few other Jewish classmates, who did not identify themselves as such.  Still, there were a handful of Jewish owned businesses in town and also a prominent attorney, some doctors and college professors.  You can find the site by clicking here.Pictured above is the Walla Walla Synagogue, Congregation Beth Israel.  It is on the corner of Roosevelt and Alder.