Synagogue Beth Shalom

Congregation History

New Beginnings
Despite being the capital of South Carolina and the home to Jews since at least 1790, a congregation did not form until January 1896. Eighteen of Columbia’s Jews organized a new congregation called “Tree of Israel.” Many of the founders were established German immigrants engaged in mercantile pursuits. Henry Steele, an Austrian immigrant, served as the unofficial lay leader for the congregation until his death in 1908.¹

In February 1896, the founders met to organize and adopt a congregational constitution. It was at this time that membership requirements, voting privileges, fees, and dues were formalized. It was also suggested that rather than organizing under the name “Tree of Israel,” they should adopt the name “Tree of Life.”

The constitution also declared that the congregation was, “…a Liberal Orthodox Congregation,” implying an attempt to compromise between both reform and orthodox factions.² The services were to be Orthodox, but there was no mention of special seating for women. In addition, those who did not know Hebrew were permitted to recite prayers in English when they were called to read from the Torah.³ This compromise was an attempt to create a bridge between Reform and Orthodox Jews in the congregation, but reality would prove to be difficult to manage in the following years.

Due to the lack of financial support from the community, Tree of Life met in either private homes or over the fire engine house on Assembly Street. In an attempt to raise funds for a synagogue, many congregation members solicited funds from affluent Jewish communities in New York City.⁴ Enough funds were raised to purchase a lot on Lady Street in 1903. Construction of the actual building began in May 1904. After construction was completed, the building was dedicated just days before the High Holy Days in September 1905. Rabbi Jacob Klein of Sumter and Rabbi Barnet A. Elzas of Charleston delivered addresses at the dedication.⁵

The Grand Schism
Despite the attempt at compromise in the congregational constitution, the reality of pleasing both reform and orthodox members was difficult. Henry Steele served as the lay leader until his death in 1909 and president until 1899. After Steele’s death, Philip Epstin, who was aligned with the orthodox majority, was elected for multiple terms.⁶

Following a significant increase in members in 1903, the congregation underwent a reorganization and services more often than not adhered to Reform rites. Orthodox Jews felt increasingly unwelcome at Tree of Life,  and they began conducting their own services. In 1906, the Orthodox group filed a lawsuit against Tree of Life alleging that the current officers and trustees of the synagogue were illegally elected. The lawsuit, Philip Epstin, et al. v. Julius Berman, August Kohn, et al., was reviewed by Fifth Circuit Judge J. Memminger. The case was eventually thrown out because Epstin could not specify the damages. Epstin then appealed the case to the state Supreme Court in 1907, and Judge Memminger’s decision was ultimately upheld. Because they could not regain control of Tree of Life, the group eventually left and established the House of Peace Congregation, which is now known by its Hebrew name, Beth Shalom.⁷ For more information on Tree of Life, please visit the requisite narrative.

Minyans were initially held in a small house at the corner of Park and Lady streets, and in 1907, the group moved to Park Street, the location of the congregation’s first shul. Philip Epstin was the first elected president and the first rabbi was Rabbi Jacob Rubenstein.⁸ Rabbi David Karesh replaced him in May 1908, and went on to serve for 53 years. Karesh, a Polish immigrant, was similar in many ways to his congregants, many of whom were also recent immigrants from Eastern Europe. Rabbi Karesh played a vital role in the community, serving as shochet in both Columbia and rural communities like Bishopville.⁹

In 1915, the Park Street shul caught fire and Isidore Gergel saved the Torahs from the synagogue. Gergel then took an active role in helping to rebuild the synagogue on the same lot. The new synagogue was built with the bima in the center. At this same time, Beth Shalom had roughly 35 member families, larger than the older Tree of Life.¹⁰

Growth
In April 1934, the congregation voted unanimously to build a new synagogue on Marion Street and a year later, voted again to sell the Park Street synagogue to pay for the new building. At the dedication of the new synagogue in September 1935, there were roughly 70 member families attending Beth Shalom. Daughters of Israel, formerly a community group and now an official Beth Shalom group, supported “the right of women to sit downstairs with the men, as well as upstairs in the synagogue.”¹¹ It was put to a board vote and failed by nine votes. After much discussion, it was decided that women would be permitted to sit in one section of the auditorium and men would have the other two sections.¹²

Now that Beth Shalom was in a larger building, they had the space to host a Hebrew School, but unfortunately lacked the funds. After fundraising efforts, the congregation was able to hire Rabbi Irvin Walden in 1939. Rabbi Walden left in 1940 after his one-year contract ended. It was not until the end of World War II that Daughters of Israel would be able to work towards their goal of a Sunday School. Rabbi Hyman J. Wachfogel was hired in 1946 to lead the Sunday School, and he then became the synagogue’s first Conservative rabbi.¹³

The congregation continued to grow after the war as young Jews moved to Columbia from more rural communities, attracted by the prospect of business opportunities, education, and a larger Jewish population in which they could raise their children. To support this growth, M.B. Kahn, president, unveiled a plan in 1954 to buy roughly six acres of land on Trenholm Road for both the congregation and a Jewish Community Center.¹⁴

Beth Shalom hired Rabbi Dr. Marcus Wald in 1954, and shortly after his arrival, Rabbi Karesh was named rabbi emeritus after his credentials were called into question. Rabbi Wald asked that he be recognized as “the rabbi of the congregation and that he be given full authority over ceremonies and other synagogue functions.” Rabbi Karesh was named rabbi emeritus and continued to serve as a spiritual leader in the synagogue. In 1956, Beth Shalom officially became a member of the Conservative United Synagogue of America. Rabbi Wald died of a heart attack in 1957, and Rabbi Harold Schechter was hired.

The congregation’s 50th anniversary was used as a fundraising drive to support the construction of the Sunday School building. Rabbi Shechter left in January 1959, and Rabbi Abraham Herson was hired shortly after. Rabbi Karesh officially retired in 1961 and moved to Jerusalem. His tenure at Beth Shalom made him the “longest serving minister in the Columbia area and was believed to be the longest-serving rabbi at one congregation in the entire nation.”¹⁵ Rabbi Herson died in 1963 following a cancer diagnosis. Rabbi Murray Gershon was hired in July 1964, though he was fired before his contract expired following arguments regarding pay and responsibilities. Rabbi Aaron D. Michelson was hired in 1967. That same year, the congregation adopted a revised constitution that allowed women to serve on the board. Efforts were also made to build a new synagogue, this time without a women’s balcony.¹⁶

The congregation hired Rabbi Aaron Siegel in 1969, and he served until 1971. During this time, Beth Shalom bought seven acres of land on North Trenholm Road for their new synagogue. After Rabbi Siegel left, Rabbi Aaron Kriegel was hired. In 1971, the congregation officially voted to change their name from House of Peace to Beth Shalom. The new building was officially opened on March 23, 1973, and the sanctuary was named in memory of M.B. Kahn.¹⁷ Rabbi Kriegel left in 1974, and Rabbi Arnold M. Turchick was hired in 1977. Rabbi Edward Kandel was then hired in 1978. Beth Shalom became an egalitarian congregation in 1983, with women now participating in all ritual practices and counting in minyans.¹⁸ Rabbi Kandel died in 1984, and Rabbi Gerald Weiss served from 1985 until 1988. Rabbi Philip Silverstein was hired and served the congregation for 15 years. Beth Shalom constructed the Hannah Schwalbe Mikvah in 1998. Rabbi Silverstein resigned in 2004, and Rabbi Ephraim Rubinger was hired, arriving in August 2005. Following internal community strife, Rabbi Rubinger’s contract was terminated and Rabbi David Siff was hired in September 2006.¹⁹ He served until August 2008. Rabbi Jonathan Case served the congregation from 2008 until 2024 Rabbi Hillel Nory served as interim rabbi in 2024 up until Rabbi Alicia Rothamel was hired in June 2025.

Endnotes

¹ Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel, In Pursuit of the Tree of Life: A History of the Early Jews of Columbia, South Carolina, and the Tree of Life Congregation (Columbia, S.C: Tree of Life Congregation, 1996).
² Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel.
³ Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel.
⁴ Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel.
⁵ Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel.
⁶ Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel.
⁷ Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel, 72
⁸ Cal Harrison, Beth Shalom: Keeping Columbia’s Jewish Traditions Alive (Columbia, S.C: Palmetto Conservation Foundation Trust, 2007).
⁹ Cal Harrison.
¹⁰ Cal Harrison.
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¹³ Cal Harrison.
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¹⁶ Cal Harrison.
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¹⁸ Cal Harrison.
¹⁹ Cal Harrison.

Belinda Gergel and Richard Gergel. In Pursuit of the Tree of Life: A History of the Early Jews of Columbia, South Carolina, and the Tree of Life Congregation. Columbia, S.C: Tree of Life Congregation, 1996.

Cal Harrison. Beth Shalom: Keeping Columbia’s Jewish Traditions Alive. Columbia, S.C: Palmetto Conservation Foundation Trust, 2007.