Today in Wheeling History: February 7--The Jewish community in Wheeling prepared to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the founding of what became the Eoff Street Temple congregation (1935).
The Congregation L'Shem Shomayim (Hebrew, meaning “For the sake of Heaven”) in Wheeling, West Virginia, prepared to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the founding of what became the Eoff Street Temple congregation on February 7-9, 1935. The anniversary commemorated both the 1849 founding and the 1891 laying of the Eoff Street Temple cornerstone. Events included a banquet with a speaker, anniversary religious services, an entertainment program, and a service for the religious school children. There was also an exhibition of historical artifacts, photos, and other memorabilia documenting the congregation's growth over 85 years. Overall, the anniversary weekend allowed the Jewish community to reflect on its history and development in Wheeling over nearly a century.
The first Jewish organization in West Virginia was a Jewish burial society established in Wheeling in 1849 by a small group of German-Jewish immigrants who formed Congregation L'Shem Shomayim. Between 1849-1856, they held High Holiday services on the third floor of a house at 14th and Main Streets. By 1861, they moved to Melodeon Hall on Main Street near 13th Street. In 1872, they moved to the Hub Building at Market Street and 14th Street. In 1877, they moved to the Odd Fellow’s Hall at 12th and Chapline Streets. In the 1880s, they voted to erect a temple, transferring Mt. Wood Cemetery to the congregation. The Eoff Street Temple was built and dedicated at Eoff Street between 12th and 13th Streets in 1892.
Other congregations formed over the years. Ohev Shalom, an Orthodox congregation, was founded in 1913. The Synagogue of Israel was founded in Woodsdale in 1926 and built a temple on Edgington Lane in 1927. In the 1950s, the Eoff Street Temple built a new temple on Bethany Pike and Edgwood Street, which opened in 1957. In the 1970s, Eoff Street Temple and Synagogue of Israel merged to form Temple Shalom (Hebrew, meaning “Peace”), designating the Bethany Pike building as the House of Worship. Over the years the congregations moved locations and merged due to needs for larger spaces as the Jewish community grew and changed. Today Temple Shalom remains an active congregation in Wheeling.
The Congregation L'Shem Shomayim (Hebrew, meaning “For the sake of Heaven”) in Wheeling, West Virginia, prepared to celebrate the 85th anniversary of the founding of what became the Eoff Street Temple congregation on February 7-9, 1935. The anniversary commemorated both the 1849 founding and the 1891 laying of the Eoff Street Temple cornerstone. Events included a banquet with a speaker, anniversary religious services, an entertainment program, and a service for the religious school children. There was also an exhibition of historical artifacts, photos, and other memorabilia documenting the congregation's growth over 85 years. Overall, the anniversary weekend allowed the Jewish community to reflect on its history and development in Wheeling over nearly a century.
The first Jewish organization in West Virginia was a Jewish burial society established in Wheeling in 1849 by a small group of German-Jewish immigrants who formed Congregation L'Shem Shomayim. Between 1849-1856, they held High Holiday services on the third floor of a house at 14th and Main Streets. By 1861, they moved to Melodeon Hall on Main Street near 13th Street. In 1872, they moved to the Hub Building at Market Street and 14th Street. In 1877, they moved to the Odd Fellow’s Hall at 12th and Chapline Streets. In the 1880s, they voted to erect a temple, transferring Mt. Wood Cemetery to the congregation. The Eoff Street Temple was built and dedicated at Eoff Street between 12th and 13th Streets in 1892.
Other congregations formed over the years. Ohev Shalom, an Orthodox congregation, was founded in 1913. The Synagogue of Israel was founded in Woodsdale in 1926 and built a temple on Edgington Lane in 1927. In the 1950s, the Eoff Street Temple built a new temple on Bethany Pike and Edgwood Street, which opened in 1957. In the 1970s, Eoff Street Temple and Synagogue of Israel merged to form Temple Shalom (Hebrew, meaning “Peace”), designating the Bethany Pike building as the House of Worship. Over the years the congregations moved locations and merged due to needs for larger spaces as the Jewish community grew and changed. Today Temple Shalom remains an active congregation in Wheeling.
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