DUANE
Duane's take
The official marker for Congregation Rodef Sholom in McLennan County is what I'm working from here, and I want to do it justice. Now, every community has to start somewhere. In Waco, it started with a cemetery.
Back in 1869, the Hebrew Benevolent Association formed and bought land for exactly that purpose — a place to bury their dead. Practical, yes. But also something else: a statement of permanence.
These folks were not passing through. The Association received its charter in 1873, and that same year, twenty-five Jewish residents of the Waco area went ahead and chartered the Eureka Lodge No. 198 through the International Order of B'nai B'rith — a fraternal service organization with reach well beyond Texas. Two institutions, one year.
The community was building infrastructure the way you build a house: foundation first. Through the 1870s, religious services happened wherever there was room — homes, businesses, rented rooms. Reform Judaism liturgy and practices took hold in those informal spaces.
And the Benevolent Association acquired a Torah scroll, making those gatherings something more than neighborly. Then in 1879, the Eureka Lodge members resolved to do what they had been working toward all along: establish Waco's first Jewish congregation. They called it Rodef Sholom.
It means pursuing peace. Under the direction of Louis Migel and Sam Sanger, forty families began gathering at Lehman's Hall. The congregation received its charter in June of 1879.
Rudolph Lessing was elected the first president. The Reverend M.M. May became the first rabbi.
A name, a charter, a leader, a spiritual guide — all the pieces clicking into place. Now, a congregation needs a home. Waco architect W.W.
Lamour designed one. It was built by R. Rogers and planted at 924 Washington Avenue.
The congregation dedicated it in August of 1881 — a proper synagogue, not a rented room. The first Jewish confirmation service came in 1893. Affiliation with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations followed in 1907.
And then, in 1910, they built again. A second synagogue, same site on Washington Avenue, this time designed by architect Milton W. Scott.
A community confident enough in itself to build twice on the same ground. The Temple Sisterhood formed in 1922 and joined the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods — another thread woven into the larger fabric. By 1961, Congregation Rodef Sholom had grown enough to move entirely, relocating to a new synagogue at 1717 North 41st Street, also known as North New Road.
A new address, same pursuit. From a cemetery bought in 1869 to forty families at Lehman's Hall to a full congregation carrying its heritage into the present day — that is what pursuing peace looks like when you're willing to build for it, generation after generation.
What the marker says
Waco's Hebrew Benevolent Association formed in 1869 and bought land for use as a cemetery. The organization received its charter in 1873. That year, a group of 25 Jews in the Waco area received a charter for the Eureka Lodge No. 198 from the International Order of B'nai B'rith, a fraternal service organization. During the 1870s, residents held religious services in homes, businesses and rented rooms, adopting Reform Judaism liturgy and practices. The Benevolent Association acquired a Torah scroll for use in Jewish congregation services, and in 1879, Eureka Lodge members resolved to establish Waco's first Jewish congregation. It was to be called Rodef Sholom, which means "pursuing peace." Under the direction of Louis Migel and Sam Sanger, the congregation began with 40 families meeting at Lehman's Hall. It received its charter in June 1879. Rudolph Lessing was elected the first president, and the Rev. M.M. May became the congregation's first rabbi. Waco architect W.W. Lamour designed the congregation's first synagogue, which was built by R. Rogers and located at 924 Washington Avenue; the congregation dedicated it August 1881. The members held their first Jewish confirmation service in 1893, and in 1907 affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. In 1910, members built their second synagogue, designed by architect Milton W. Scott, on the same site. The Temple Sisterhood formed in 1922 and joined the National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods. Congregation Rodef Sholom grew and relocated to 1717 N. 41st Street (North New Road) with a new synagogue in 1961. The congregation continues its heritage of service and philanthropy. (2006)