The Texas Jewish Historical Society

P.O. Box 10193
Austin, TX 78766-0193
817/927-8765
Our Email
Updated Sep 6, 2002

Agudas Achim History

This information can be found on the Agudas Achim website with searching. However, their site isn't constructed to allow a link to the historical content. It is included here with all acknowledgment to Agudas Achim for content.

The dream began in 1889 when Congregation Agudas Achim was charted as an Orthodox Congregation. In the first few years, since we did not have a permanent site, services were held at the Hebrew Institute and also in private homes. In 1893, land was purchased at the corner of Guilbeau and Aubrey Streets on the West bank of the San Antonio River. The first Synagogue was consecrated in 1898 under the leadership of our first Rabbi, Reverend Moses Sadovsky. Twenty years later, the membership had outgrown the Aubrey Street location. Together with the Hebrew Institute, Agudas Achim purchased land in 1920 at the corner of Main and Quincy and in 1921 moved into the new Synagogue building. However, that same year just prior to High Holidays, a heavy rainstorm exploded over the Ohnos Basin causing the San Antonio River to flood the downtown area, including our new building. This disaster forced the membership to begin construction again. After two years of holding services in temporary quarters, our second Synagogue was dedicated in August of 1923, on Main and Quincy in downtown San Antonio. During this period, Rabbi Dr. Gerson Feigenbaum led Agudas Achim from its Orthodox roots to its present Conservative ideology. He began weekly Friday evening services conducted both in Hebrew and English, started the confirmation program, and ended the practice of separate seating for men and women at services. The 1920's saw tremendous growth in membership and, by 1929, the Congregation had outgrown the Main Avenue building. However, with the Great Depression, followed by World War II, our membership diminished and there was no longer a need to move. Rabbi David Tamarkin and Reverend David Kanter, along with a strong lay leadership, helped Agudas Achim survive this difficult period. In the late 1940's the membership again outgrew the Main Avenue building and the drive for a third building began. With Rabbi Sidney Guthman and Cantor Emanuel Barkan, property was purchased on Donaldson Avenue on the west side of town and construction began on our third home, which was dedicated in 1954. In the 1950's the Synagogue became the focal point for the Community. Shabbat dinners for the military, community seders and blood drives were only a few of the many activities. The Men's Club and the Sisterhood played an important role in many of these events. In 1957 and 1958, Rabbi Emanuel Kumin acted as an interim rabbi while he continued his responsibilities as Director of the Jewish Welfare Board.

Under the leadership of Rabbi Amram Prero, beginning in 1958, Congregation Agudas Achim was recognized as one of the leading Conservative Congregations in the country. Our Half-Century Club became a model organization, not only for San Antonio, but for other Conservative Synagogues. Lunch with the Rabbi, Adult Chavurot and high school programs were all initiated by Rabbi Prero. In the years that followed, Rabbis Kaufman, Pinsker, and Schechter served our Congregation during a transition period. During that time, membership decreased and our building was no longer central to the Jewish community. It was apparent that the Synagogue needed to be more accessible and that the Donaldson building, after 40 years, needed major renovation. In the late 1980's the Congregation realized that it was time to move to a new location. The 1990's brought tremendous changes for Agudas Achim. The Congregation welcomed a new Rabbi in 1990 and a new Cantor in 1991. Rabbi Richard Spiegel and Cantor Joseph Lutman brought a new vision to the Congregation. Their vision to strengthen our Congregation spiritually energized our members. Many programs were initiated; one of which is the Tot Shabbat service, which occurs the first Friday of every month and continues to be one of the Congregation's most popular Shabbat services. The Cantor's Youth Chorale program, youth's participation at services, and a strong education program has strengthened our young people's Jewish identity. The Congregation, revitalized with new enthusiasm, once again redirected its efforts to relocate. Together with the Rabbi, Cantor and lay-leadership, new committees were formed to carry out the mission. In 1992, 11 acres of prime real estate were purchased at the corner of Huebner and Bitters in north central San Antonio. After purchasing the land, an exhaustive search for an architect began and 12 month later, Moe Finegold, a world-renowned Boston architect, was selected. In August 1995, construction of our new Synagogue began and, with the hard work of many dedicated people, the dream of the spiritual and beautiful new building became a reality. The fourth building in the history of Agudas Achim was dedicated on September 8, 1996. Our new building has won several architectural and design awards. It has also been displayed in a marvelous new book of modern synagogue and church architecture entitled Architecture for the Gods by Michael J. Crosbie. Since the move to our ideally located, beautiful new Synagogue, our Congregation has dramatically increased in members and in vitality. Our Religious School, our Preschool and our Youth Groups are all thriving. We look forward to a wonderful future as we begin the 21st century.