By Morris Kaplan


The year was 1900. Edward Lewis (1859-1914) and family were the first Jews to settle in Hendersonville, NC. Mr. Lewis opened an apparel store for ladies, men and children. Six years later, the Harry Patterson Family arrived and opened a general mercantile business. Relatives and friends of both families were encouraged to move here and establish businesses.

Religious services were held on a rotation basis in the homes of the residents. A special meeting was held on September 24, 1922, at the residence of Mrs. Abe Kantrowitz for the purpose of organizing a congregation. Twenty-seven men and women attended. They voted to name the organization Agudas Israel Congregation.

Some of the Jewish settlers were the Families of: Louis Sherman, Louis Williams, George Lazarus, Harry Mottsman, Dan Michalove, Abe Horwitz, Rose Lipsitz, Max Markowitz, Sam Cooley, Jake Rosenberg, Alex Patterson, Ben Kaminsky, Morris Weisberg, Nathan Patla, Sam Kalin and Nathan Brenner.

A dream came true on July 16, 1925, when the building at 328 N. King Street was purchased and renovated as a synagogue. By May 3, 1938, the Agudas Israel Cemetery was established through the purchase of a plot of land in the Oakdale Cemetery from the City of Hendersonville.

The founding of the Congregation and purchase of the synagogue increased the popularity of Hendersonville as a Jewish summer resort. The Jewish Community, prior to World War II, was strengthened by the presence of five Jewish boarding houses. Families from Florida, Georgia and South Carolina spent their summers and High Holy Days in Hendersonville, adding to the religious and social life of our Congregation.

The need for a teacher to instruct the youth and a shochet for kosher meats was met by Abraham Lewis, who sent for his brother-in-law Beryl Cohen. He was a graduate of Diskin Orphanage and Yeshiva Seminary in Jerusalem, certifying him to teach Hebrew. Mr. Cohen arrived in Hendersonville in 1920, at which time he led religious services, taught Hebrew school and ritually slaughtered chickens. He served faithfully until his death at the age of 63 in 1964. The need for a qualified person to conduct Rosh Ha-Shannah and Yom Kippur Services was filled by traveling qualified lay persons, in later years by senior student rabbis, and presently by a full-time Rabbi in residence.

Records reflect that in 1958 the Congregation purchased a home with three and one-half acres on the corner of Sixth Avenue and Oak Street. In 1964, it was sold to the YMCA, the proceeds from which were used to undertake a major expansion and modernization of the N. King Street synagogue. In 1996, the Congregation chose to affiliate with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

After much consideration and with a look towards the future, it was the decision of the Congregation to begin a major building campaign in 2000. Five acres were bought in Laurel Park and the construction of a new synagogue was underway. The new home of Agudas Israel Congregation was completed in 2002.

As long as we live, we continue to dream. The sacred dream of a new synagogue has been met. May we be blessed and re-dedicate ourselves to the observances and study of Torah – our most precious heritage. This is the moment in our history where we see a bright future with people willing to step up and be involved – a new generation waiting in the wings. Let us look forward to many more years of celebrating Jewish life together.