Congregation Ahavas Chesed, 705 Regents Way. Conservative congregation established in 1894. Former Building (Dauphin Avenue Synagogue) at 1717 Dauphin Avenue is now a Senior Center. photos. [January 2009] This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./. [December 2000]
Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim-Springhill Avenue Temple: 1769 Springhill Avenue, Mobile, AL 3607. Reform congregation established in 1844 with 1955 current Mid-Century Modern building. Congregation Sha'arai Shomayim is the oldest existing Jewish Congregation in the State of Alabama. [January 2009]
Cemetery list: 1846-1963, Vital Statistics file at AJA: American Jewish Archives, 3101 Clifton Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45220-2488; 3101 Clifton Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45220. 513-221-1875 (tel) 513-221-7812 (fax).
1919 Jewish population was 2200 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.
Jewish history and photographs. [January 2009]
- Magnolia Cemetery (Shaarai Shomayim): see Postal & Koppman Jewish Tourist's Guide to U.S. (Jewish Publ. Soc., Phila. PA 1954), p.10". Sha'arai Shomayim Cemetery: "Sha'arai Shomayim Cemetery, located on Owen Street in Mobile, consists of fifteen acres. A long driveway leads to the cemetery proper, which is surrounded by century-old live oaks and a nineteenth century ornamental cast iron fence. The gate features an archway with the congregation name in metal Hebrew letters. Paved lanes allow each access throughout the cemetery and a cast iron gazebo sits in the center. The graves themselves are oriented east west. There are some spectacular family plots with stone revetments and finely carved markers. A number of mausolea are located on the grounds. The first interment took place December 28, 1876. This was Israel I. Jones, one of Mobile's most prominent early Jewish citizens and president of the congregation for thirty years. The funeral was attended by a multitude of friends. Members of a local fire company and Masonic fraternity led the procession. It should be noted that the current cemetery is our newest cemetery. The Temple's original cemetery was located in Magnolia Cemetery and was almost completely filled by 1875." See the website for photos.
- Ahavas Chesed Cemetery: Ahavas Chesed (formerly Dauphin Ave Synagogue) and Springhill Avenue Temple (Shaarei Shomayim) have cemeteries next to each other. Source: Larry Brook, Deep South Jewish Voice, Birmingham, AL; . [June 2001]