Congregation B'nai B'rith: Los Angeles' Oldest Jewish Community
historic place
Congregation B'nai B'rith, in Los Angeles, California, is the city's oldest Jewish community. It was formed downtown in 1862, during the presidency of Abraham Lincoln. The congregation built its first synagogue in 1873 on Broadway near 2nd Street. As the community grew, the reform congregation moved to a new home on Ninth and Hope streets in 1896. The temple dedicated its third and current home on Wilshire Boulevard in 1929. This structure is the sole example of religious architecture on Wilshire Boulevard honored with a listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was designed by architects David Allison, Abraham Edelman, and S. Tilden Norton. This site represents the enduring presence and development of the Jewish community in Los Angeles.