Keneseth Israel (Louisville, Kentucky)
Synagogue in Louisville, Kentucky
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Keneseth Israel is a Conservative synagogue located at 2531 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, Kentucky, in the United States. The congregation's original synagogue building was constructed in Louisville in 1928. It was designed by Joseph & Joseph and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1][2][3] The original synagogue building suffered extensive damage in a fire in 2021 and after a structural assessment, was demolished.[4]
| Keneseth Israel | |
|---|---|
Keneseth Israel Congregation | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Conservative Judaism |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Synagogue |
| Leadership | Rabbi Ben Freed |
| Status | Active |
| Location | |
| Location | 2531 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, Kentucky |
  Location in Kentucky | |
| Administration | United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism |
| Coordinates | 38°13′26.6″N 85°40′29.5″W |
| Architecture | |
| Architect | Joseph & Joseph (1928) |
| Type | Synagogue |
| Established | 1882 (as a congregation) |
| Completed |
|
| Website | |
| kenesethisrael | |
History
The congregation was founded in 1882 as an Orthodox congregation, B'nai Jacob, and merged with another Orthodox congregation, Beth HaMedrash HaGadol in 1926 to create Keneseth Israel Congregation.[1] In 1928, the congregation had a synagogue built at 232–236 East Jacob Street in Louisville. The congregation moved to its current home in 1964.[5]: 157
The earliest building was a former church. In 1901, the congregation, then B'nai Israel, dedicated a new building on the site of the former church building at 432 E. Jefferson Street. The building has twin towers with pyramid-form roofs and was striped in red-and-white in the Moorish Revival style then fashionable for synagogues.[5]: 72
For most of its history, Keneseth Israel was an Orthodox synagogue affiliated with the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America. In 1994, its members voted to affiliate with the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism.[5]: 18
Clergy
The congregation is led by Rabbi Ben Freed and Cantor Sharon Hordes.