History Department

Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities
Overview >> Mississippi >> Canton
History of B'nai Israel Temple

Interior of B'nai Israel TempleLocated just twenty miles outside of Jackson and serving as a railroad hub between Memphis and New Orleans, Canton saw huge economic growth and development in the early twentieth century.  With both its convenient location and cheap land, Canton offered commercial opportunities that became very attractive to Jewish immigrants who moved from Europe to the United States.  Beginning in the 1840s Jews began to trickle into Canton, mainly setting up stores selling groceries, clothing, and shoes. As their population grew, Jews in Canton began to organize for religious worship.  In 1871, Canton Jews sent out a plea for financial assistance from other Jewish communities.  Citing their “fast-growing and wide-spreading young generation” in a notice in the American Israelite newspaper, they asked for funds to build a house of worship:

“Kind friends and dear Brethren, the late war, the most cruel battle between the North and South, has made poor people out of us, and we will have to remember it for years to come.  Yes, we are poor, none of us, however, suffers for meat or bread, but it is entirely impossible for us to contribute sufficient for the accomplishment of our undertaking.  Help us, assist us, as we always assisted you whenever called upon.  We have sent contributions north, south, east and west, wherever it was, for the erection of a “House of Worship,” and now your aid and assistance for our undertaking is most respectfully solicited, and will be duly appreciated by this congregation, which the undersigned have the honor to represent.”

In 1873 B’nai Israel was formed by C.L. Gross, Jacob Loeb and Joseph Perlinsky.  Other charter members included M.B. Hesdorffer, I. Gross, A. Karpe, S. Levy, N. Hiller, and Ralph Stadeker.  Though the congregation was originally Orthodox, they soon adopted elements of Reform Judaism.  In May of 1878, Congregation B’nai Israel published a help wanted ad in the American Israelite for a minister and teacher.  They solicited an individual with, “competency to lecture in English language, conduct divine service according to Minhag America, and to teach the English and German languages in all their branches.”

B’nai Israel relied on a series of fundraisers to raise money for a synagogue.  One such fundraiser was a benefit affair held at the Oddfellows Hall, yielding a profit of $1,200.  In 1877, B’nai Israel’s simple frame building was built, but due to an epidemic of yellow fever it was not dedicated until 1879.  Rabbi Joseph Sopher served as the Temple’s first rabbi and teacher, and Julius Loeb served as the first President.  The initial congregation was about 25 member families.  The community never grew, and went into prolonged decline.  In 1907, B’nai Israel had 20 member families.  By 1959, they only had 10 families.  The Jewish population of Canton declined from 150 in 1878 to only 85 in 1937.

The congregation had a rabbi periodically during its history.  In 1940, Rabbi Max Lewinthal served the congregation.  Although they used the Reform Union Prayer Book, B’nai Israel had not affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations as of 1940.

Historical marker at former site of B'nai IsraelCanton’s Jewish population continued to dwindle as many of the Jewish children chose not to follow in the store-owning footsteps of their parents.  In 1934 Mrs. Pauline Perlinsky Michael noted the lack of growth in the congregation, writing, “Though we have not grown as we should have, services have always been conducted on each Friday and our Holy Days strictly observed.”  Throughout the next several decades, however, the aging congregation continued to shrink.  Improved roads linked Canton with the capital city of Jackson only 20 miles to the South.  The remnants of the Canton Jewish community became enfolded within Jackson’s growing Jewish community.  Finally, in 1974 B’nai Israel was purchased and torn down by Lee Breland, and there now stands a funeral home at the former site.  Though the temple no longer stands, the Canton Torah is now housed in Jackson, and the site is commemorated with a historical marker.