[Stained Glass Window Pane of the Ten Commandments]

Photograph of a stained-glass window pane depicting two stone tablets inscribed with the Ten Commandments; each of the lines contains the opening words of a commandment. It is one of more than two dozen circular stained-glass discs created for the sanctuary of Fort Worth's Temple Beth-El; most of the images were copied from a book on Jewish treasures to represent a collection of Judaica in miniature. When the congregation moved to a new building, this disc was removed and placed in the Temple Archives.
Date: 1999
Creator: Lauer, Ralph
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Stained Glass Window Pane of a Wooden Platter]

Close-up photograph of a stained-glass window pane depicting a wooden platter in the shape of a Jewish star with a double eagle at the center and the date 1770 (in Hebrew). It is one of more than two dozen circular stained-glass discs created in 1947 for the sanctuary of Fort Worth's Temple Beth-El; most of the images were copied from a book on Jewish treasures to represent a collection of Judaica in miniature. This kind of platter is meant to hold Matzo at Passover. The double eagle is a symbol of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. When Beth-El moved in August of 2000, this pane was removed, framed and presented to Broadway Baptist Church, Beth-El's long-time neighbor on Broadway Avenue on the city's near Southside.
Date: 1999
Creator: Lauer, Ralph
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[1930 Ahavath Sholom Dues Statement] (open access)

[1930 Ahavath Sholom Dues Statement]

Bill for $125 in annual dues for the Ahavath Sholom Congregation, in Fort Worth, Texas. The dues statement is for congregation member, B. Max Mehl.
Date: October 28, 1930
Creator: Ahavath Sholom Congregation
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Freeman-Fram Marriage Certificate] (open access)

[Freeman-Fram Marriage Certificate]

Printed marriage certificate (called a "Ketubah" in Hebrew) for Nathan Freeman of Waco, Texas, and Etta Rebecca Fram of Dallas, Texas. The couple were married on January 19, 1913, by Rev. Abraham Fram, Etta's father and the cantor at Dallas' Sheareth Israel Congregation. The Hebrew quotation at the top of the document translates as: "The voice of joy; the voice of happiness; the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride." There is an illustration of a marriage ceremony at the top of the certificate in blue ink.
Date: 1913
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Sample Jewish Marriage Certificate] (open access)

[Sample Jewish Marriage Certificate]

Sample marriage certificate (called a Ketubah) presented to couples married at the Congregation Ahavath Sholom in Fort Worth, Texas as of 1990. The certificate includes three panels. On the far left, text primarily in English describes the vows of marriage. In the center, the main text of the certificate is in Hebrew with blanks for specific information; the text is surrounded by illustrations of plants and crops. On the far right there are lines for names and signatures of participants and witnesses. This form was designed by the Rabbinical Assembly (an organization of American Conservative rabbis).
Date: 1990
Creator: Rabbinical Assembly
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Confirmation Bible of Rose Levenson, Beth-El Congregation (open access)

Confirmation Bible of Rose Levenson, Beth-El Congregation

Confirmation Bible, Beth-El Congregation. Presented to Rose Levenson for Confirmation on Shevuoth, May 26, 1909 at Fort Worth, Texas by Rabbi George Zepin. Title page and inscription of the bible states that this volume contains "the Twenty-Four Books of the Holy Scriptures, carefully translated according to the Massoretic text, after the best Jewish authority by Isaac Lesser."
Date: May 26, 1909
Creator: Rabbi George Zepin
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Confirmation Certificate, 1989] (open access)

[Confirmation Certificate, 1989]

Confirmation Certificate to Mark Weiner. (Torah Quotation in left hand corner) "Ye shall be holy for I the Lord your God am Holy" - Lev.19:2 (Corresponding text in Hebrew in opposite corner) "CONFIRMATION CERTIFICATE THIS IS TO RECORD THAT Mark Weiner WAS CONFIRMED IN THE FAITH OF ISRAEL ON June 2 1989 29 Iyar 5749 IN THE PRESENCE OF THE CONGREGATION Beth-El Fort Worth, Texas" Signature 1 Signature 2 Signature 3 (Torah quotation on bottom) "All that the Lord hath spoken we will do and we will obey" - ex.24:7
Date: unknown
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History

[Holiday Succot in 2007]

Two photographs of Rabbi Ralph Meckleburger entertaining children during the Holiday of Succot in 2007, outdoors at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Rd. The succah, or tabernacle, is built outdoors. Page from a thank you letter to the rabbi. " Thank you! 2007 Dear Rabbi Mecklenburger, Thank you for helping us celebrate Sukkot. We all loved the story you told and enjoyed swaying to the songs you played. Todah, Rachel Yaacobi on behalf of Lil Goldman's students and staff."
Date: unknown
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Photograph
System: The Portal to Texas History
[Certificate] (open access)

[Certificate]

Union of American Hebrew Congregations certificate of membership for Beth-El Congregation of Fort Worth. The certificate is orange in color and has a star-burst design radiating out from a scroll in the center. There is Hebrew text at the top beneath which is the quotation: "Come, let us take counsel together. --Nch. 6:7." The text on the scroll states: The Union of American Hebrew Congregations Established 1873 Hereby certifies that Beth-El Congregation Fort Worth, Texas on March 22, 1907 (Nisan 7, 5667) became a duly affiliated member, entitled to all the rights and privileges of membership and to full participation in its plans and activities for the PERPETUATION AND PROGRESS OF JUDAISM IN AMERICA. Samuel S Hollender Chairman, Executive Board Maurice N. Eisendrath President Presented on November 5, 1955.
Date: March 22, 1907
Creator: unknown
Object Type: Text
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 19, 1958 (open access)

Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 25, Ed. 1 Thursday, June 19, 1958

Weekly Jewish newspaper from Fort Worth, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: June 19, 1958
Creator: Wisch, J. A.
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History
Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 4, 1958 (open access)

Texas Jewish Post (Fort Worth, Tex.), Vol. 12, No. 49, Ed. 1 Thursday, December 4, 1958

Weekly Jewish newspaper from Fort Worth, Texas that includes local, state, and national news along with extensive advertising.
Date: December 4, 1958
Creator: Wisch, J. A.
Object Type: Newspaper
System: The Portal to Texas History