In 1884, twelve community pioneers gathered in the back of Wasserman’s store on Elm Street in Dallas. They secured a sefer Torah and called their new shul “Shearith Israel” – “the Remnant of Israel.” The first Shabbat services were held above an old grocery and those who came to that first service had no idea of the long history awaiting the tiny Shearith Israel.
The founders of Shearith Israel believed in the centrality of the synagogue to daily life. They believed in the enduring value of Jewish rituals, teachings and in the eternal significance of the Torah and the Jewish people. They had faith in the power of community and in the importance of achdut, the sense of all belonging to one family.
From its humble beginnings, Shearith Israel was among the few Conservative Congregations in America to pre-date the establishment of the Jewish Theological Seminary. Ours was among the congregations that inspired the early leaders of Conservative Judaism to establish the Seminary, now the world-wide academic and spiritual center of Conservative Judaism.
The early leaders of Shearith inspired successive generations to build upon their dream. Over the years, Congregation Shearith Israel firmly established itself as one of the pillars of faith in the city of Dallas and became integral to the development of spiritual life and Jewish learning for area families. Our shul members have always been steadfast leaders in social action and civil rights, as well.
Over time, Shearith Israel grew from a humble prayer minyan to include a well-developed religious school and youth program, ultimately founding the Solomon Schechter Academy, the Conservative Day School of Dallas, now renamed The Ann and Nate Levine Academy.
The Jewish people are a family whose children are meant to be seen and heard. At Shearith, children are the center of our world… but that requires a tight circle of caring adults around them to give the world definition and support. Without our elders, our children have no role models. Whether it’s a Friday night service followed by kiddush and a lively Shabbat meal, a holiday service or a Bar Mitzvah, wedding or funeral, everyone counts.
Congregation Shearith Israel is a second home to our members. It is the place we gather to pray, to learn, to shmooze, to grow and to relax. It is here that we raise ourselves and our children to a life of mitzvot and acts of loving kindness. Shul is the home of many formative experiences. Our shul is so much more than a building, it is where you and your family experience transformative lifecycle events and celebrate the passage of time through the Jewish holidays.
Shearith Israel is the spiritual home of Dallas Jewish families. Come take your place!
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