Lost Jacksonville: Downtown's Jewish Enclave
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/603525996_oHU5D-M.jpg)
Forced to live in tight communities in Europe, early Jewish immigrants established a similar tight knit community in LaVilla between the 1880s and 1920s.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jul-lost-jacksonville-downtowns-jewish-enclave
Nice work Ennis. It really is remarkable the amount of history Jacksonville has lost. Every time I see one of these I love the city a little less....
"They were chartered in 1905 and in 1909, dedicated their Synagogue at Duval & Jefferson. This structure was replaced by Springfield's, Jacksonville Jewish Center, in 1927. It was demolished in 1975."
Is this saything that the Synagogue in that photo on the left was built in 1909 and then replaced in 1927? That seems like a very short life span for such a structure.
Yes, the Synagogue was built in 1909 and replaced by the Jacksonville Jewish Center in 1927. However, the building lasted until the 1970s.
Quote from: downtownparks on July 28, 2009, 07:29:51 AM
Nice work Ennis. It really is remarkable the amount of history Jacksonville has lost. Every time I see one of these I love the city a little less....
Thanks, DTP. Stay tuned, there's more coming down the pipeline. The more and more we dig, the more impressive our history becomes. Why we don't rally around, preserve, support and market it, is lost on me.
Wormans is a great place to meet and eat! wish the article would have said more about Wormans and their history in Jacksonville.
Quote from: thelakelander on July 28, 2009, 08:07:10 AM
Yes, the Synagogue was built in 1909 and replaced by the Jacksonville Jewish Center in 1927. However, the building lasted until the 1970s.
Thanks. That is what I was trying to understand, whether the use of building was changed in 1927 or a different building was put there all together. Do you have any pictures or descriptions of the condition of the building when it was leveled. From the look of the place it seems like it could have lasted longer than 70 years. I am just curious whether is was run down and it was decided the "best" thing to do was tear it down, or if it was leveled for some future promised idea that never came to light.
At this point I don't know, but I can find out. My guess is that it may have been aged but still structurally sound. In the later half of the 20th century this community got demolition happy. Especially in LaVilla.
Fantastic article once again. I learn something new every day from this site.
Ennis, I believe there is a lot more to this story. Morris A. Dzialynski was Jacksonville's first and only Jewish mayor in the late 1800's. The first Jewish cemetery was established here in 1857. Per below, this history of the oldest synagogue in Jax, Congregation Ahavath Chesed, now on San Jose just north of Baymeadows, shows activity to at least 1867. For those unfamiliar, there are 3 primary "branches" of American Jewry: Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. All are represented in Jax. The oldest synagogues are Ahavath Chesed which is Reform, and The Jewish Center which is Conservative.(http://www.thetemplejacksonville.org/_storage/Pages/1034/temple%20at%20Laura%20&%20Ashley.jpg)
(http://www.thetemplejacksonville.org/_storage/Pages/1034/temple%20at%20Laura%20St.JPG)
Above and below from: http://www.thetemplejacksonville.org/aboutus/history/
QuoteIn 1867 the “Israelites of Jacksonville†met to form a Jewish congregation. Even though they failed to seek a charter, they set a pattern of worship that has continued to this day.
The first Jacksonville City Directory, published in 1870, lists 23 recognizable Jewish names, and by 1880 there were 130 Jews living in Jacksonville.
Congregation Ahavath Chesed was formally chartered in 1882, with Rabbi Marx Moses officiating at the dedication of the synagogue on September 8th of that year.
The architectural style of the Orthodox synagogue reflected the European origins of the membership, most of who came from Prussiaand Germany. It remained Orthodox until the mid 1890’s when the congregation adopted the Reform Movement.
Tragedy struck in 1901: the great fire of Jacksonvilledestroyed all of the downtown area, including our beloved synagogue. It was rebuilt in the same style, but soon became too small for our growing congregation, and plans were drawn for a new house of worship.
In 1910 the move to Laura and Ashley Streets was made with Rabbi Pizer Jacobs delivering the dedication address. We had several rabbis until Rabbi Israel Kaplan came in 1916. He was responsible for the formation of the Interfaith Thanksgiving Services first held in 1917 with 3 other religious congregations participating. We now have over 30 houses of worship taking part.
We continued to grow and in 1927, we purchased a beautiful residence in Riverside.. It is a Henry Klutho design and was built in 1907.
The Temple purchased this building in 1927 and served as our religious community center and all activities formerly held in the Laura and Ashley street Vestry rooms moved to Riverside. Sisterhood, Brother, Hunior Congregation, TempleMen's Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts met there.
It served us well until 1940 when a fire destroyed this beautiful building. All records of the Congregation, including boy scouts, brotherhood, sisterhood and TIR were also destroyed.
On the retirement of Rabbi Kaplan in 1946, Rabbi Sidney M. Lefkowitz became our spiritual leader. Plans to build a new house of worship on the grounds of the Temple Home became a reality. The location was ideal and in 1950 we dedicated a new temple for our Congregation. In the mid 1960’s, enough land was purchased on San Jose Boulevard to build a large synagogue with room for growth.
In 1979 we dedicated our new facility. In 1986, we added our current Chapel and more classrooms, and most recently, we completely remodeled the building to house a new Education Wing, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a larger Library and the Archives Display room and storage.
Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Congregation_Ahavath_Chesed_(Jacksonville,_Florida) : QuoteAlthough Jews were already living in Florida in the late 1700s, Jacksonville probably was the first Jewish community organized in Florida. The Jacksonville Hebrew Cemetery was established in 1857. It is the oldest Jewish communal institution in Florida of which a record has been found.[1]
In 1867 the “Israelites of Jacksonville†formed a congregation.[2] For a number of years an organization called the Hebrew Benevolent Society also existed. [3] Congregation Ahavath Chesed was organized in 1880.[4] This congregation, led by Jacksonville's Jewish Mayor, Morris A. Dzialynski, received a legal charter in 1882.[3] The congregation hired Rabbi Marx Moses, and dedicated, on Sept. 8, 1882, a synagogue building.[2]
nice post stjr....I was about to do that....you beat me to it
Great article. It's hard to believe how many buildings have been flattened for no real purpose.
Wow; Jacksonville's Jewish heritage is immense. And remember, after leaving LaVilla, which was taken over by African Americans, the Jews dispersed throughout Jacksonville (those that remained in Jax), and who knows, there maybe whites and/or blacks who intermarried with some of those Jews who have a mixed Jewish DNA in with their natural ethnicity.
I remember when we lived in LaVilla, at the age of 11 I had a girlfriend who was Jewish, everyone knew her parents were Jews. They ran a confectionary/bar on Davis Street a block or two from our house. Ah memories.
So, all of you whites of scottish, german, irish and other white ethnic descent in Jacksonville, and African Americans who married some Jewish girls, you are all mixed up like planters dry roasted nuts with Jewish blood.
Heights Unknown
One more Wikepedia tidbit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oldest_synagogues_in_the_United_States#Florida :
QuoteAhavath Chesed in Jacksonville, and Temple Beth-El in Pensacola each has claims to being the oldest Jewish congregation in Florida. The Jacksonville congregation was meeting for prayer by 1867, but appears to have incorporated later than Pensacola which dedicated its first building in 1876, well before Jacksonville's 1882 building.
Quote from: Lunican on July 28, 2009, 10:48:34 AM
Great article. It's hard to believe how many buildings have been flattened for no real purpose.
It is painful.
Quote from: copperfiend on July 28, 2009, 11:30:59 AM
Quote from: Lunican on July 28, 2009, 10:48:34 AM
Great article. It's hard to believe how many buildings have been flattened for no real purpose.
It is painful.
Yes, Painful is the right word. We should do something about it. How about a Day of Remembrance in Hemming Plaza in front of City Hall with photos of what was and is now lost or destroyed? I'm willing to help out.
I would say Mandarin has a Jewish ethnic enclave presently.
Yes we do, along with a growing Russian and Eastern European population. Hell, 3 houses up the street is a couple from Croatia. I like it, they're very nice people.
Quote from: stjr on July 28, 2009, 10:43:47 AM
Ennis, I believe there is a lot more to this story. Morris A. Dzialynski was Jacksonville's first and only Jewish mayor in the late 1800's. The first Jewish cemetery was established here in 1857. Per below, this history of the oldest synagogue in Jax, Congregation Ahavath Chesed, now on San Jose just north of Baymeadows, shows activity to at least 1867. For those unfamiliar, there are 3 primary "branches" of American Jewry: Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox. All are represented in Jax. The oldest synagogues are Ahavath Chesed which is Reform, and The Jewish Center which is Conservative.
Thanks, great additions, as always. I did not dig too much into the overall local Jewish community's history because my focus was strictly showing a historical local example of an ethnic urban enclave. Do you know of any other examples (past or present) of tight knit ethnic communities in our region today?
Quote from: thelakelander on July 28, 2009, 01:04:09 PM
Do you know of any other examples (past or present) of tight knit ethnic communities in our region today?
Growing up here in Jax, I don't recall having met anyone I would call an identifiable "ethnic" based on their lifestyle, culture, or language other than "whites" (only two types, Southerners or Northerners!), African Americans, Jews, and Arabs (mostly Syria, Palestine, Jordan, and Lebanon).
Today, it appears we also have substantial "enclaves" from at least the Phillipines, Korea, China, Mexico, various other Hispanic countries, the Caribbean, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Croatia, Serbia, Greece, Somalia, South Africa. It's clear, that like the rest of the world, we are no longer isolated and are becoming part of the "global community". Most of these groups appear to have religious, cultural, and/or social organizations in town that could probably offer you insights into their presences in the City of Jax. (The Irish seem ever present but I don't know if they have an organization other than maybe a "Notre Dame" fan club or local Irish pub :D )
Quote from: fsujax on July 28, 2009, 08:08:38 AM
Wormans is a great place to meet and eat! wish the article would have said more about Wormans and their history in Jacksonville.
Actually, FSU, interesting thing about Wormans, it originally opened up on 8th St in Springfield, in that cool two story building (with the 'H' name, Im drawing a blank) at Market and 8th.
Surely the Pilton Bldg could be saved. What a cool structure. Perfect for a coffee shop or small Cheers type bar. Business would be pretty good being that close to the new courthouse.r
I remember coming downtown with my Dad (in the 1960s) to shop a Finkelstein's - wonderful place for a kid, full of interesting stuff - luggage, furniture, and I don't know what all, and my Dad liked the prices.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on July 28, 2009, 11:04:33 PM
I remember coming downtown with my Dad (in the 1960s) to shop a Finkelstein's - wonderful place for a kid, full of interesting stuff - luggage, furniture, and I don't know what all, and my Dad liked the prices.
There used to be at least two "catalog showrooms" in Jax: Finkelsteins and Standard Sales. They had catalogs and/or the items on display and you picked your items out and got a ticket to hand to the order takers. Then they pulled the merchandise from the warehouse in the back and brought them out on a conveyor belt to the pick up area where they would call your number to give you the msds. and you paid. Most merchandise was things for the home: knickknacks, small appliances and gadgets, electronics, china, crystal, silverware, jewelry, folding furniture, toys, gift items, household goods, luggage, lawn and garden, etc. This retailing concept was really the forerunner to the club stores of Costco, Sams, and BJ's. Biggest difference is the stores today are much larger in size and merchandise selection (notably the addition of food and clothing) and customers pull most of the stuff themselves from the "warehouse" shelves.
One of stores used to be on Bay Street near the Terminal as I recall. Standard Sales eventually moved to the suburbs and had two stores, one on University Blvd. at what is now Memorial Plaza next to the hospital and one in Orange Park. Finkelsteins moved to Beach Blvd. and their building is now the Fraternal Order Of Police as I recall.
Quote from: downtownparks on July 28, 2009, 04:10:33 PM
Actually, FSU, interesting thing about Wormans, it originally opened up on 8th St in Springfield, in that cool two story building (with the 'H' name, Im drawing a blank) at Market and 8th.
The Halsema building?
LaVilla was really something --
Quote from: sheclown on August 04, 2009, 09:27:39 PM
LaVilla was really something --
sheclown, you cannot imagine in your wildest dreams just how diverse and cool LaVilla was. Wandering around there between 1965 and 75, one could find just about anything in LaVilla.
From Missions to Bordellos, Freight cars to catalogs and maybe the worlds coolest Pawn Shop strip.
As Joni Mitchell said, we don't know what we have till it's gone... Why didn't I take more photos?
LaVilla had more grit like the great Cities of the World then any other Jacksonville locale and we blew it away. OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Wacca Pilatka on July 29, 2009, 08:46:30 AM
Quote from: downtownparks on July 28, 2009, 04:10:33 PM
Actually, FSU, interesting thing about Wormans, it originally opened up on 8th St in Springfield, in that cool two story building (with the 'H' name, Im drawing a blank) at Market and 8th.
The Halsema building?
Yes, thanks!
Very nice pics and info...when I began working in the late 1970s, I recall passing by a very old building in Riverside (I know, duh - : ) but there was a sign outside that said it had been a synagogue. I remember it being 2 or possibly even 3 stories and there were fire escapes /stairs outside. Can't find anything - anyone have a clue? I believe it was in the vicinity of King Street. I'm a Jax native (born OP, raised here) I'm not Jewish, but I looooove their traditions, the shofar, the music, Yiddish, Friday night Shabbat...just not enough to give up my Christian beliefs. Christians and and Jews do share a LOT of the same beliefs, though we call them by different names. Anyway, I'm all about OLD Jacksonville. Wish we could travel through time, sometimes...
Quote from: sandyshoes on October 13, 2009, 06:03:15 PM
Very nice pics and info...when I began working in the late 1970s, I recall passing by a very old building in Riverside (I know, duh - : ) but there was a sign outside that said it had been a synagogue. I remember it being 2 or possibly even 3 stories and there were fire escapes /stairs outside. Can't find anything - anyone have a clue? I believe it was in the vicinity of King Street.
Congregation Ahavath Chesed, "The Temple", mentioned previously in this thread, was in Riverside, but at St. Johns and Mallory, not King Street. Their building, built in 1950 per below, is now condos. If you look carefully, I think you can still see a Star of David in a round window viewable from the St. Johns Avenue side.QuoteWe continued to grow and in 1927, we purchased a beautiful residence in Riverside.. It is a Henry Klutho design and was built in 1907.
The Temple purchased this building in 1927 and served as our religious community center and all activities formerly held in the Laura and Ashley street Vestry rooms moved to Riverside. Sisterhood, Brother, Hunior Congregation, TempleMen's Club, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts met there.
It served us well until 1940 when a fire destroyed this beautiful building. All records of the Congregation, including boy scouts, brotherhood, sisterhood and TIR were also destroyed.
On the retirement of Rabbi Kaplan in 1946, Rabbi Sidney M. Lefkowitz became our spiritual leader. Plans to build a new house of worship on the grounds of the Temple Home became a reality. The location was ideal and in 1950 we dedicated a new temple for our Congregation.