Texas Progressive Alliance Round-Up With History Of Jews In Texas

At the bottom of this post is the weekly Texas Progressive Alliance round-up. The Texas Progressive Alliance is a confederation of the best political bloggers in Texas.

Along with this week’s round-up is some history of Jewish folks in Texas. 

(Above is the original synagogue of Galveston’s Congregation B’nai Israel.  This building was constructed in the early 1870’s. B’nai Israel is still in existence in Galveston. It is the oldest reform congregation in Texas.)

Here is a history of Jews in Texas from the Handbook of Texas Online.

From that history—

“Jews have been a part of the warp and woof of the Lone Star State since the period of Spanish Texas. To the untamed future state came Jewish seekers of fortune and freedom. Heirs to the Spanish and European forms of Jewish ritual practice, the Jews of Texas adapted their seminal faith to the new ambience… Though some abandoned their roots, most were tenacious in the nurturing of their heritage. Before 1821, Jews who openly practiced their religion could not legally live in Texas, a Spanish colony where only Catholics could take up residence. …(However) by 1838 Jews were living in Velasco, Bolivar, Nacogdoches, Goliad, San Antonio, and Galveston. Their settlement pattern was repeated numerous times: first the formation of a cemetery-benevolent society, followed by a synagogue, formal or informal. Jewish cemeteries were established in Galveston in 1852, Houston in 1854, San Antonio in 1856, Victoria in 1858 and Jefferson in 1862. The first chartered Jewish congregation in Texas was Congregation Beth Israel, Houston, founded in 1859.”

Here is a link to a sermon called “The Uniqueness of Texas Jews” given by Rabbi Samuel M. Stahl of San Antonio’s Temple Beth-El.   

Here is the Texas Jewish Historical Society which is located in Austin. 

The TPA round-up— 

Halliburton was fracking for Cabot and…Oh Oops! We Spilled Some! TWICE! Deadly Hydraulic Fracture Fluid! Ironically, industry just released part of their $80 million propaganda campaign asking people to submit “Eureka” moments. From TXsharon at Bluedaze: DRILLING REFORM FOR TEXAS.

Congressman “Deer in the headlights” Pete Olson (R-TX) gets called out at his town hall meetingand the police are called in! John Coby at Bay Area Houston posts the deets.

The Texas Cloverleaf wonders when police departments will enter the 21st century. A San Antonio lesbian couple sues in federal court over blatant harassment in their own home.

This week at McBlogger, Mayor McSleaze took the time out of his life to educate you people on some things going on around the country.

CouldBeTrue of South Texas Chisme notes Rick Perry won’t admit execution might have been a mistake. To be a Republican is never to say you’re sorry.