Odessa in Ector County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Temple Beth El

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 12, 2017

1. Temple Beth El Marker

Inscription. 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 Sunday 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 75 families. The Temple affiliated with both Conservative and Reform movements after 1982.

Erected 1996 by Heritage of Odessa Foundation. (Marker Number 34.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. In addition, it is included in the Synagogues series list. A significant historical month for this entry is September 1946.

Location. 31° 52.046′ N, 102° 20.768′ W. Marker is in Odessa, Texas, in Ector County. It is at the intersection of Redbud Drive and

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North Grandview Drive, on the right when traveling west on Redbud Drive. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1501 North Grandview Avenue, Odessa TX 79761, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Texas.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Comanchería,

the Republic of Texas,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Ector County's First Dry Hole (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sewell Ford (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Parker Family (approx. 0.9 miles away); First 911 System in Texas (approx. 1.7 miles away); Site of Blackshear High School (approx. 1.7 miles away); John Ben Shepperd (approx. 1.8 miles away); Old Buffalo Wallow (approx. 1.8 miles away); Tom Lea's "Stampede" (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Odessa.

Other markers

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 12, 2017

2. Temple Beth El Marker

no longer nearby. Site of Homestead of William C. Sublett (was approx. 0.7 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Ector County Newspapers (was approx. 1.8 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Temple Beth El image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Kirchner, November 12, 2017

3. Temple Beth El

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2018. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona. This page has been viewed 450 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on July 22, 2018, by Bill Kirchner of Tucson, Arizona.