Beth Israel Congregation (Beaufort, South Carolina)

Beth Israel Congregation (or Beth Israel Synagogue) is a historic Conservative synagogue located at 304 Scott Street in Beaufort, South Carolina. Built in 1908, it is one of the few wooden synagogues in continued usage in the southeastern United States.
==History==
The first Jewish settler recorded as having lived in Beaufort, South Carolina was Peter Lavien, half-brother to Alexander Hamilton. Though the number of Jews remained sporadic and sparse until the 1880s, Jews always fared well in the small, coastal town. With the mass immigration of Eastern European Jews to Beaufort beginning in the 1880s, the Jewish population of the town grew to well over 30 families and soon prompted the need for a formal congregation.
Beth Israel was officially organized in 1905 with the actual building on Scott Street (still in use today) being constructed in 1908. Initially an Orthodox congregation, Beth Israel became a Conservative congregation in 1949.
==Current status==
Beth Israel is still an active Conservative congregation today with approximately 70 member families.
==External links==
* Beth Israel Website
* Institute of Southern Jewish Life History of Beaufort Jews
Category:Synagogues in South Carolina
Category:Religious organizations established in 1905
Category:1908 architecture
Category:Beaufort County, South Carolina
Category:Conservative synagogues in the United States