About Us
History
Temple Beth El was founded after World War II when the established USO at the airfield was disbanded. Under the leadership of Ben Glast, the Jewish community of the Permian Basin met for religious purposes, raised funds, and built its first building at 4th and West County Road in Odessa. That building was dedicated in the fall of 1946. Eventually, our congregation moved into its present facility uptown, which was dedicated in January 1962. As today, the membership came from many cities, large and small, in West Texas and Eastern New Mexico.
By WWII, about 20 Jewish families lived in the Permian Basin. They gathered for religious and social events at the Midland Bombardier Base. In 1945, they established Congregation Temple Beth-El, the only synagogue within 140 miles, built at 4th Street and West County Road in Odessa. It opened in September 1946. The sisterhood was formed and conducted religious school classes. The first full-time rabbi arrived in 1952 but laymen or visiting rabbis always have led services. When membership grew to 60 families, a larger location was built at Redbud and Grandview streets in 1961. Membership totaled 112 people in 1982 and is now 23 members. The Temple affiliated with both Conservative and Reform movements after 1982.
The spirit of our earlier days remains with us, represented by the cornerstone from the original building, which the synagogue members brought with them when they moved. The “melting pot” of Judaism established in the Permian Basin has survived only through the dedication and willingness of its members. The duties of leadership, administration, fund-raising, education for the religious school and adults, as well as the religious services and rituals rely upon members.
