BIRMINGHAM: Shelby County

Jewish History: [January 2009]

Synagogues of Birmingham: "Nearly 90% of the Jews here associate with synagogues. The Birmingham Jewish community is served by three synagogues; Reform, Conservative and Orthodox…"1919 Jewish population was 3,500 according to "Directory of Jewish Local Organizations in the United States", pp. 330-583, American Jewish Year Book 5680 September 25,1919 to Sept. 12, 1920; vol. 21, edited by Harry Schneiderman for the American Jewish Committee and submitted by Alan Hirschfeld.

1. Congregation Beth El: 2179 Highland Avenue. Established in 1901, Conservative. Style of Architecture: Moorish Byzantine Revival built 1926. See photos [January 2009]
2. Knesseth Israel Congregation: 3225 Montevallo Road, Birmingham, AL 35223 Phone: 205-879-1664. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Orthodox congregation established in 1891. The only Orthodox synagogue in Alabama except for Chabad established around 2000. The Congregation relocated to their building at 3100 Overton Road, 1955.
3. Temple Emanu-El: 2100 Highland Avenue. Reform congregation established in 1882. 1914 Classical Revival building. Temple Emanu-El is one of Alabama's largest and most well-known Jewish Congregations. Jewish History of Birmingham and Temple Emanu-El (founded 1882).

• Enon Ridge Cemetery also known as Northside Cemetery (Temple Emanu-El) also known as Kneseth Israel-Beth El Cemetery:

11th Court North, 252-5552. Knesseth Israel Cemetery/Beth El Cemetery Association, PO Box 13404, Birmingham, AL 35213-0404 (may be original cemetery for Jews buried in B'ham) Source: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  [December 2000]

Update:  Actually, two distinct cemeteries are on either side of 11th Court North at 4th Street North:  on one side is Cemetery Emanu-El and directly opposite is Knesses Israel-Beth El Cemetery. [November 2012]

Photos courtesy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. [November 2012]

• Cemetery Emanu-El
  • Mediabox CK message : No files found in the directory : /images/stories/USA/Alabama/Birmingham/EmanuEl
  • Photos courtesy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. [November 2012]
• Cemetery Knesseth Israel: Old Beth El-Kl. 120 Eleventh Courth North, Birmingham, AL 35204-2524
• • Mediabox CK message : No files found in the directory : /images/stories/USA/Alabama/Birmingham/KnessesIsrael
  • Entrance photo. [June 2014]
• Elmwood Cemetery:
  • Birmingham, AL (Temple Emanu-El Section) Block 36. Temple Emanu-El, P.O. Box 55403, Birmingham, AL 35255. Phone: (205) 933-8037, Fax: (205) 933-8099,. [December 2000] Current burials are at Elmwood. KI/Beth-El are in one section, Emanu-El (Reform) in another. Source: Larry Brook, Deep South Jewish Voice, Birmingham, AL. [June 2001]
  • Update: Cemetery Address/phone: 600 Martin Luther King Junior Drive, Birmingham, 35211.  Office phone: 205-251-3114. [November 2012]
  • Photos courtesy This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. [November 2012]
  • Elmwood Cemetery, Section unknown
  • Mediabox CK message : No files found in the directory : /images/stories/USA/Alabama/Birmingham/Elmwood
• West Highlands Cemetery: municipal cemetery (suburb) of Bessemer. Source: Larry Brook, Deep South Jewish Voice, Birmingham, AL. [June 2001]