Texas Exhibition Hall
“The stereotypical Texan stands legs apart, hands on hips, and brashly proclaims that everything is bigger (and, therefore, better) in Texas. Texas abounds in stereotypes—some that celebrate the Lone Star mythology, some that denigrate it. Jews, too, are often perceived stereotypically—in positive ways as being scholarly and studious, and negatively as being weak and miserly. When Jewish identity cross-pollinates with the Texas persona, the weakling becomes strong; the Shylock turns into a generous spender with an unlimited charge account at Neiman-Marcus. Beaumont’s Rabbi Samuel Rosinger, who moved to Texas in 1910, when oil wells were gushing 75,000 gallons of crude a day, noted the change in himself: ‘I caught the contagion of bragging about . . . my great state.’”
– Hollace Ava Weiner, from the Introduction to Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas (Brandeis University Press, 2007)
Stamp of unknown origin and value, pictures the Texas capitol and Hebrew letters spelling “Austin, Texas”
Exhibits
Brownsville
Early Jewish Brownsville, Texas & Matamoros, Mexico – Border Towns, 1876 & 1882
Dallas
Temple Emanu-El Dedication, Dallas, Texas, 1876
The Jewish Fashion Pioneers of Neiman-Marcus, Dallas, Texas
East Texas
The Goldbergs: Two Generation Jewish Pioneers of Jefferson, Texas
El Paso
Sam Dreben, D.S.C.: “The Fighting Jew”
Rabbi Martin Zielonka: the “Reform Rabbi of the West,” El Paso, Texas
Fort Worth
Beth-El Congregation of Fort Worth, Texas, est. 1902
Central Texas
Herman Lehmann: Jewish “Little Big Man” Apache & Comanche
Calvert, Texas, Jewish Pioneers, 1873 – 1880
A View of Central Texas Jewry, 1875
Galveston
Rabbi Henry Cohen: Pioneer Rabbi of Galveston and “Chief” Rabbi of Texas
Henry Jacob Labatt: Pioneer Jewish Lawyer During His Texas Years
Isabella Offenbach Maas: Jewish Opera Singer of Early Galveston, Texas
Samuel Maas: Jewish Polyglot Businessman of Early Galveston, Texas
Nacogdoches
Adolphus Sterne: Early Pioneer and Patriot of Nacogdoches, Texas
San Antonio
Anna Goodman Hertzberg: The Tuesday Musical Club of San Antonio, Texas
Nathan Kallison: Pioneer Jewish Businessman & Rancher of San Antonio, Texas
Perry Kallison: Jewish Community Businessman, Rancher & Radio Personality of San Antonio, Texas
Frances Elaine Rosenthal Kallison: Jewish Community Leader & Rancher of San Antonio, Texas
Temple Beth El of San Antonio, Texas, 1874 to the Present
Waco
Sam Sanger: Merchant and Jewish Community Leader of Waco, Texas
Rodef Sholom Congregation: The Early Days of the First Synagogue of Waco, Texas
