Historical Guide to Jewish Congregations

 
Hamilton County Jewish Congregations
Roughly chronological list of the Jewish congregations of Hamilton County
Last update: 14 Sep 2016
 
Index
 
Adath Israel KK Bene Israel
Agudas Israel. See Bnai Jacob KK Bene Yesherun
Agudath Achim (1902) KK Beth Hamedrash
Agudath Achim (1948) KK Beth Tefila
Ahebeth Achim KK Sherith Israel
Anshe Chesed Kneseth Israel
Anshe Polen Lithuanian shul. See KK Beth Tefila
Anshei Sholom Louis Feinberg Synagogue. See Adath Israel
Austrian-Hungarian shul. See Yad Charuzim New Hope. See Tikvoh Chodoshoh
Avondale Synagogue. See Adath Israel North Avondale Synagogue. See Yad Charuzim
Beit Chaverim Northern Hills Synagogue
Beth Adam Ohav Shalom
Beth Hackneseth. See Bnai Jacob Polish shul. See Bnai Jacob and Adath Israel
Beth Hamedrash Hagedol Reading Road Temple. See KK Sherith Israel
Beth Jacob Rockdale Temple. See KK Bene Israel
Beth Sholom Romanian shul. See Bnai Israel
Bnai (Bene) Israel Roselawn Synagogue. See Agudath Achim
Bnai Avraham Russian shul. See Ohav Shalom
Bnai Jacob Sefardic Synagogue. See Beth Sholom
Bnai Tikvah Sha’arei Torah
Bnai Tzedek Shevet Achim
Bond Hill Synagogue. See Beth Hamedrash Hagedol Society of Brotherly Love. See Ahebeth Achim
Carmels shul. See Kheleth Bnei Israel Sycamore Minyan See Shevet Achim
Downtown Synagogue Temple Sholom
Etz Chaim. See Ohav Shalom Tifereth Israel
Forest Ave Synagogue. See Bnai Jacob Tifereth Zion
German shul. See Tikvoh Chodoshoh Tikvoh Chodoshoh
Golf Manor. See Bnai Jacob Vaad Synagogue. See Downtown Synagogue
Hevra Beth Hakenisis Valley Temple
Holy Congregation Gates of Heaven Village Schul. See Sha’arei Torah
House of Prayer. See KK Beth Tefila Washington Ave Synagogue. See Kneseth Israel
Joseph Meyer Congregation. See Bnai Jacob Wise Temple. See KK Bene Yesherun
Kashir Israel. See KK Sherith Israel Wohafte Fredo Jewish Church
Kheleth Bnei Israel Zichron Eliezer. See Kneseth Israel
 
 
 Listings as follows:
 
Formal name (Current or more common name). Years in existence. Tradition within Judaisim
Addresses and dates at those addresses*
Associated Cemetery (with link to JCGC**)
Resources***
Images
 
*Address examples:
Carlisle (Central-John) (426 Carlisle) = Carlisle between Central and John; sometimes also 426 Carlisle
sec 6th & Broadway = SE corner of intersection of 6th and Broadway
***Resources
 
HUC-AJA: lists related archival material available at the American Jewish Archives on the campus of Hebrew Union College http://americanjewisharchives.org/
PLCH: lists materials available at the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County (with call no.)
 
Other Resources.
Cincinnati History Library and Archives. Guide to Jewish Resources. Congregations
 
 
KK Bene Israel (Rockdale Temple). 1824-  Reform.
Addresses:
Early:         Main St (3rd-4th), Front (Main-Sycamore), Johnston’s Row
1830-1834: 4th (Sycamore-Broadway)
1836-1852: sec 6th & Broadway
1852-1868: 538 Broadway
1868-1904: 8th & Mound
1905-1969: Rockdale & Harvey (3484 Harvey)
1969-          8501 Ridge Rd
Cemetery: UJC Walnut Hills (1850)
Resources:
PLCH: The oldest Jewish congregation in the West: Bene Israel, Cincinnati / by David Philipson [296 qP554b]; Data of K.K. Bene Israel : Rockdale and Harvey Avenues, Avondale [296 K12]; K.K. Bene Israel : Rockdale Temple, dedication 1969 [296.0977178 qC574]
 
Holy Congregation Gates of Heaven. 1851-1852. Orthodox (Polish).
 Addresses:
1851-1852: Vine (4th-5th)
                                1852 Split: part merged with Bene Israel; rest became Adath Israel
    Resources:
HUC-AJA: Act of incorporation, March 24, 1851 [SC-2082]
 
KK Bene Yesherun (Wise Temple). 1839-  Reform.
 Addresses:
1842-1848: 4th (Main-Sycamore)
1848-1865: Lodge (5th-6th)
1866-1930: Plum St Temple (Plum & 8th) 
1931-1975: Isaac M Wise Temple (Plum & 8th)
1927-1973: Wise Center Crescent & Reading (regular services)
1976-            8329 Ridge Rd
Cemetery: UJC Walnut Hills (1850)
Resources:
PLCH: The history of the K. K. Bene Yeshurun, of Cincinnati, Ohio, from the date of its organization [296.09771 K62] [virtual library]
Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati. Greater Cincinnati Memory Project (Lodge Street Synagogue) ;  Greater Cincinnati Memory Project (Plum Street Temple) Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (Wise Center)
 
Adath Israel (Polish shul). 1853- Orthodox-Conservative.
                                Also known as: Avondale Synagogue; Louis Feinberg Synagogue
 Addresses:
Early:         Lodge St (7th-Walnut)
1853-1857: 6th & Western
1858-1860: Walnut & 5th 
          1861-1888: Walnut & 7th 
1889:            7th (Central-John)
1891:            278 W 6th
1892-1895: 7th & Cutter
1896-1917: 9th & Cutter
1917-1927: 658 Rockdale
1927-1967: Lexington & Reading (3552 Reading Rd)
1967-         3201 E. Galbraith Rd
Cemetery: Price Hill and Montgomery
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Article of incorporation, November 2, 1853 [SC-2033];   Dedication, September 2, 1917 [SC-2036]; Membership roster, 1917-1919 [SC-2037]; Minutes, 1922-1951 [MF-402]; Minutes and clippings, 1884-1967 [MF-2197 to MF-2198]; History notes, 1972 [SC-13430]; Photos [PC-731]; Nearprint
Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati ; Reading Road Synagogue: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati
 
Ahebeth Achim (Society of Brotherly Love). 1850-1906. Orthodox.
 Addresses:
1851-1857: Race (14th-15th)
1860-1865: Race (15th-Liberty)
1866-1868: John (Liberty-15th)
1869-1903: John & Melanchton
1904-1906: Richmond & Mound
1906 Merged with KK Sherith Israel to form Ahebeth Achim-Sherith Israel
Cemetery: Clifton
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Act of incorporation, March 23, 1850 [SC-2041]
 
KK Sherith Israel. 1855-1931. Orthodox.
 Also known as: Reading Road Temple, Kashir Israel
Addresses:
 Early:           Gerson’s Hotel,  Walnut (4th-5th)
1856-1859: 7th & Walnut
1860-1883: Lodge (6th-7th)
1884-1885: nec 9th & Walnut
1885-1905: Mound & Richmond
                                1906 Merged with Ahebeth Achim to form Ahebeth Achim-Sherith Israel
1906-1907: 622 June St
1908-1931: Reading & Ridgeway in Avondale (3212 Reading Rd)
                                1931 Merged with Wise Temple
Cemetery: UJC Price Hill (1857)
Resources:
                HUC-AJA: Deed, December 1, 1882 [SC-2089] Papers, 1904-1910 [SC-2090]; Minutes, 1906-1922 [X-53]; Minutes, 1922-1931 [MF-1971], Photos [PC-744, PC-4959]; Nearprint
               Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati ; Reading Rd: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati ; Greater Cincinnati Memory Project
 
KK Beth Tefila. (Lithuanian shul) 1869-1959. Orthodox.
                                Also known as: House of Prayer
Addresses:
 Early:           Richmond & Central, 8th & Central 
1880-1888: 184 Longworth
1889-1906: Carlisle (Central-John) (426 Carlisle) (former Baptist church)
1906-1958: 8th & Mound (formerly Bene Israel)
1959           543 W 8th
Cemetery: Schachnus (1874)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Papers, 1902 [SC-2079]; Photos [PC-4893]
 
KK Beth Hamedrash. 1880-1900. Orthodox.
Addresses:
1880-1891: 342 Central Ave
1892-1894: 363 W Court
1895-1900: 613 W Court
 
Ohav Shalom (Russian shul - Etz Chaim). 1882-  Orthodox then Conservative.
Addresses:
Early:         Spencer House on Broadway
1887           4th & Sycamore
1891-1895: 131 George
1896?-       615 W Court
1901-1904: 615 W Court
1905-1944: Richmond & Mound (sold 1940) (formerly Sherith Israel)
1949-1959: 425 Forest
1959-1998: 1834 Section Rd
1994 Affiliated Conservative
1998-         8100 Cornell Rd
2014 Merged with Bnai Tzedek to form Etz Chaim
(see also Tifereth Zion – Avondale branch)
Cemetery: Love Brothers (1903)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Ohav Shalom and Love Brothers Cemetery records 1942-1956 [MF-3394], Letter, September 2, 1945 [SC-2085]; Receipts, 1936 [SC-2086]; Records, 1935-1982 [MF-795]; Photographs [PC-737, CD-1342]; Nearprint
Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (425 Forest) ; Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (1834 Section Rd)
 
Tifereth Zion. 1923-1949. Orthodox (Avondale branch of Ohav Shalom)
Addresses:
1924-1949: Burnet & Hickory (3464 Burnet)
                               
Hevra Beth Hakenisis. 1883-1899. Orthodox (Lithuanian)
Split from Beth Tefila     
Addresses:
1883:           8th & Central
1884-1887: 359 Central Ave
1887-1895: 170 George St
1896-1899: 514 George St
 
Beth Hamedrash Hagedol (Bond Hill Synagogue). 1886-1979. Orthodox (Lithuanian).
Addresses:
1888-1894: 239½ W 5th 
1895-1896: 307 W 5th
1897-1916: 718 Kenyon (former Protestant church)
1916-1932: 1018 Wesley Ave
1934:            547 Hale
1935 Merged with Anshe Polen
1935-1948: 626 Prospect Pl (former Anshe Polen = St Andrew Catholic Church)
1936 Split into two factions (see Kheleth Bnei Israel)
1949-1955: 3464 Burnet (Hickory & Burnet former Love Bros)
1955-1979: 4906 Reading Rd
Cemetery: Covedale (1906) (Golf Manor #4)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Photos [PC-747]
Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (Reading Rd)
 
Kheleth Bnei Israel (Carmels shul). 1936-ca. 1999. Orthodox
Addresses:
1936-1955: 3225 Harvey
1955-          761 S Crescent
1965-1999 1546 Kenova (formerly Kneseth Israel)
 
Wohafte Fredo Jewish Church. 1888-1890. Orthodox?
Addresses:
1888-1889: 44 E 4th
1890:           356 W 6th
 
Anshe Polen. 1894-1935. Orthodox (Polish).
Addresses:
1897:           1590 Central Ave
1898-1900: 1522 Central Ave
1901-1909: 1829 Elm
1911-1927: Clinton & Cutter (715 Clinton)
1920-1935: 626 Prospect Pl Avondale (formerly St Andrew Catholic Church)
1935 Merged with Beth Hamedrash Hagedol
 Cemetery: shared with Beth Hamedrash Hagedol
 
Yad Charuzim (Austrian-Hungarian - North Avondale). ca. 1895-1998. Orthodox.
 Addresses:
1896-1944: 414 Clinton St 
1946 Merged with Tifereth Israel to form North Avondale Synagogue
1946-1998: 3870 Reading Rd
Cemetery: Covedale (North Avondale)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Minute book. 1948-1964 [SC-15108]
 
Tifereth Israel. 1910-1946. Orthodox.
Addresses:
1912-1914: 2524 Gilbert Ave (Walnut Hills Business Club)
1916-1946: 2524 Victory Pkway (2524 Alms Pl)
1946 Merged with Yad Charuzim to form North Avondale Synagogue
 Resources:
  HUC-AJA: Papers, August 26, 1910 [SC-2093]
 
Anshe Chesed. 1898-1908. Orthodox.
Addresses:
1898-1900: 929 Central
1901-1908: 514 George St
 
Agudath Achim (1902). 1902-1924. Orthodox
 Addresses:
1902-1904: Clinton St
1904-1916: Apple & Vandalia
1917-1920: Mad Anthony & Spring Grove (4138 Spring Grove)
1924 Merged with Bnai Israel to form Anshei Sholom
 
Bnai (Bene) Israel (Romanian shul). 1917-1924. Orthodox.
 Addresses:
1917-1921: 415 Clinton
1924: John & Hopkins
1924 Merger with Agudath Achim (1902) to form Anshei Sholom
 
Anshei Sholom. 1924-1933. Orthodox.
Addresses:
1924-1933 422 Clark St 
1933 Merged with Bnai Jacob to form Agudas Israel (Bnai Jacob - Golf Manor)
Resources:
               
Bnai Jacob (Polish shul - Agudas Israel - Golf Manor). ca. 1923 [1902]-  Orthodox.
Also known as: Forest Ave Synagogue, Beth Hackneseth, Joseph Meyer Congregation
Addresses:
1924-1927 428 Clinton St
1927-1932 547 Hale St in Avondale
1933            519 Forest
1933 Merged with Anshei Sholom to form Agudas Israel
1933-1956 521 Forest
1957-          6442 Stover Ave in Golf Manor
Cemetery: Covedale (Golf Manor)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Regulations, April 24, 1939 [SC-2040]; Synagogue questionnaires. 2005 [SC-15671]; Photos [PC-733, PC-734]; Nearprint
Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (Forest Ave)
 
Kneseth Israel (Washington Ave Synagogue). 1912- Orthodox.
Current: Zichron Eliezer
Addresses:
1917-1922: 514 Hickman
1923:           Rockdale & Harvey
1924-1959: Washington & Rockdale (610 Rockdale)
1959-1961: 1546 Kenova
1961-2009: 1515 Section Rd
2009-           2455A Section Rd
2008 name changed to Zichron Eliezer
Cemetery: Covedale
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Nearprint
Images:  Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (Washington & Rockdale) ; Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (1515 Section Rd)
 
Bnai Avraham. 1914-1967. 
Also known as: Sons of Abraham
Addresses:
1917-1919: 2112 E Sherman Ave in Norwood
1924-1967: ne Hopkins & Allison (2006 Hopkins) in Norwood
Merged with Northern Hills in 1967
Cemetery: Covedale (Northern Hills)
 
Beth Jacob. 1922-1970. Orthodox.
 Addresses:
1922-1970: 3770 St. Lawrence Ave (Price Hill)
Cemetery: Covedale (Golf Manor)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Papers, 1938-1940 [SC-2007];  Photos [PC-730]; Nearprint
 
Beth Sholom (Sefardic). 1933-1993. Orthodox.
Addresses:
1935-1955: 1264 Manss
Cemetery: Spanish-Hebrew (inside Love Brothers)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Photos [PC-732]; Nearprint
 
Tikvoh Chodoshoh (German shul - New Hope) 1939-1999. Orthodox.
Addresses:
1940-1942: American Legion, Jewish Center
1944-1948: 658 Rockdale Ave (former Adath Israel)
1949-1959: 615 Prospect Pl
1959-1999: 1626 Crest Hill
Cemetery: Covedale
Resources:
Images: Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (615 Prospect Pl) ; Hidden Jewish Cincinnati (1626 Crest Hill)
 
Agudath Achim (1948) (Roselawn Synagogue). 1948-2006. Orthodox
Addresses:
1952-2006: 7600 Reading
2002-2006: 7610 Reading Ste 10
Resources:
 
Temple Sholom. 1954- Reform.
Addresses:
1954-1967: 7414 Ross Ave (former Lutheran church)
1967-2016: 3100 Longmeadow
Feb. 12, 2016: 10828 Kenwood Rd temporary home - new bulding planned
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Nagel, Randi Chudakoff. A Jewish community a half century in the making [SC-15701];  Wolf-Prusan, Peretz. A history of Temple Sholom of Cincinnati … 1954-1971 [SC-13163]; Constitution and by-laws, April 16, 1984 [SC-2092]; Temple Sholom : “So long, Longmeadow” [SC-16418]; Photos [PC-746m]; Nearprint
 
Valley Temple. 1959- Reform.
Addresses:
1959-          Variously in Wyoming
1964-1970: 1580 Summit Rd
1974-            145 Springfield Pike
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Minutes, August 7, 1973-March 14, 1978 [SC-2094];  Nearprint
 
Northern Hills Synagogue (Bnai Avraham). 1960- Conservative.
Addresses:
1960-           Congregation Beth El rented space
1964-2014: 715 Fleming
1967 merged with Bnai Avraham (Norwood)
March 19, 2014  5714 Fields Ertel
Cemetery: Covedale
Resources:
HUC-AJA: DVD: From our lips : the story of a Jewish congregation [CD-183]; Nearprint
PLCH: DVD: From our lips : the story of a Jewish congregation [DVD 296.097717 F931 2005]
 
Bnai Tzedek. 1964-2014. Conservative
Addresses:
[1964]:       1580 Summit = JCC
2001-2014: 6280 Kugler Mill Rd
2014 Merged with Ohav Sholom to form Etz Chaim (Ohav Shalom)
Resources:
HUC-AJA: Records, 1983-1990 [SC-13572]; Photos [CD-1342]; Nearprint
 
Beit Chaverim. 2004-2007. Reform.
Addresses:
Met in homes
2007 merged with Bnai Tzedek
 
Downtown Synagogue (Vaad Synagogue). 1945-2004.  Orthodox
Addresses:
1945-1965: 534 Vine R307
1967-1985: 617 Vine Rm 610
1986:           617 Vine Rm 618
1988:           Bartlett Building #734
1999-2004: 36 E 4th
 
Beth Adam. 1980- Humanistic
Addresses:
1991- 1720 Section Rd
-2000: 4790 Red Bank Rd
2001- 10001 Loveland-Madeira Rd
Resources:
 
Bnai Tikvah. [1998-2011]. Reconstructionist
Addresses:
1998-2008: 6461 Tylersville Rd (St Anne Episcopal Church)
2008-2011: 8596 Lake Chetac Dr, Mason, OH
 
Sha’arei Torah (Village Schul) 2011- Modern Orthodox
Addresses:
2011-     2400 Section Rd
 
Shevet Achim (Sycamore Minyan). 2013- Traditonal