Temple B’Nai Israel

604 North Main Street

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The congregation of B’Nai Israel was informally organized in 1858 by five pioneer families, and has served the Jewish community in Victoria for 163 years.

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The present temple was designed by Victoria architect Jules Leffland and constructed in 1923 by Victoria contractor Joseph Gruy. The classically-inspired brick temple is rectangular in shape. The building features a wood truss gabled roof and paired windows with round-arched transoms on the west elevation, or Main Street facade. Also on the west elevation are double doors with a transom, shaded by a three-bay pedimented portico.

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In 1990, Temple B’Nai Israel underwent an extensive renovation project to restore and repair the foundation and exterior walls. New electrical wiring, plumbing, central air conditioning and heating were installed. Interior wall coverings, improvements to the floor, and the installation of new carpeting were made. It also included stripping away the existing paint which revealed the red masonry that had been hidden away for many years.

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You can learn more about this home and the families that have lived here in Volume II of Historic Homes of Victoria, available here online through our SHOP or at the Victoria Preservation, Inc. office.