| 1735 | Augusta was founded |
| 1802 | First “Israelite”, Isaac Hendricks, came to Augusta |
| 1825 | The Florence Family and Issac and Jacob Moishe arrived. |
| 1845 | Several German Jewish families arrived, forming a religious school |
| 1846 | The “B’nai Israel” (Children of Israel) Hebrew Society was formed, electing Mr. John J. Cohen as its first president. The society held high holiday services in 1846. Although it considered itself Orthodox, services were in both Hebrew and English with a mixed Portuguese and Ashkenazi flavor. A mixed choir sang. There were twenty charter members, fifteen from Augusta and five from Hamburg, South Carolina. . About a dozen students attended religious school. Augusta City officials presented a section of Magnolia Cemetery to the society |
| 1847 | Issac Henry fitted out a building for the society to use. This building was used until 1852. Isaac Hendricks, Augusta’s first Jewish citizen, died and was the first Jew to be buried in a section of the Augusta City Cemetery designated for the Jewish community. |
| 1849 | In June, a charter of incorporation is made. |
| 1851 | The society hires its first Rabbi and spiritual leader, Reverend Mr. Marcassohm who later left and converted to Christianity. |
| 1852 | The congregation leases its first “permanent” building at Greene and Jackson Streets |
| 1860-1865 | Four congregants died in the Civil War. Captain Rush and the Levy Brothers were buried in Magnolia Cemetery. Mrs. John J Cohen was described as a “Ministering Angel” during the war |
| 1869 | Work began on the Telfair Street Temple with the laying of the cornerstone. Reverend Issac M Wise travelled to Augusta to address the gathering. Members of all denominations participated. It cost $1500 to build Obadiah Lodge No 119 of B’nai B’rith. |
| 1870 | The Telfair Street Temple was completed and the congregation was using the Jastrow Prayer Book. The congregation was now considered Reform. The Telfair Street building was used through 1950. |
| 1873 | The Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC) was formed. Congregation Children of Israel was its fourth member. |
| 1880-1890 | Many Jews from Russia and Poland arrived in Augusta. In 1890 Augusta’s Orthodox Congregation, Adas Yeshuron, was formed |
| 1888-1898 | Most Temple records were lost in the 1888 flood |
| 1914-1918 | Many Congregants fought in WWI |
| 1935 | YMHA was formed and a building erected on Greene Street. Half of the original cost of $5000 was borne by Augustans of many faiths. David Slusky was honorary chairman and N Nathan Jolles was its first President. The YMHA. used as a Jewish USO during WWII |
| 1936 | Bella Barr Slusky dies and a memorial fund is established in her honor. |
| 1939 | 43 were children enrolled in the Religious School |
| 1941-1947 | The Congregation had 65 families. Rabbi Schwartzman published a home holiday bulletin to “stimulate Jewish observance in Your home.” |
| 1941-1945 | Jewish soldiers at Camp Gordon outnumbered congregants and Rabbi Schwartzman filled in as Jewish Chaplain at the Camp for most of the war. 43 members of the Congregation served in the Armed Forces. Lt. Herman Brown, Jr. was killed in action. |
| 1942 | Lee Blum became the first Augustan Jew to win Scouting Silver Beaver Award. Five of six Simowitz brothers run five businesses in Augusta. A Sisterhood Golden Jubilee was held. |
| 1943 | Howard Jolles became the first Bar Mitzvah of the modern era of the Temple. |
| 1944 | Rabbi Schwartzman urged a building fund to build a new Temple because the Telfair Street facility could not hold all the activity of the Congregation, especially the religious school. $12,000 in pledges and $11,000 in immediate collections were received. $50,000 was set as goal |
| 1944 | Abe Friedman initiates the monthly meeting of the Temple board and starts the archiving of the minutes. |
| 1945 | Lee Blum becomes first Augustan Jew to win Scouting Silver Beaver Award. Five of six Simowitz brothers run five business in Augusta. A Sisterhood Golden Jubilee held. |
| 1946 | Five families pledged $26,000 to the building fund if the balance of the congregation pledged $25,000 (Moshe Slusky, Abe Friedman, I.D. Shapiro, Lee Blum, and Leon Simon) |
| 1946 | The Board was increased to 18 people. There were 105 members. A Building plans committee was formed with Mose Slusky as chairman and Abe Friedman and Clarence Cohen as members. On Sept 8th the congregation voted to buy the lot on the corner of Walton Way and Bransford Road. |
| 1948 | Temple membership was up to 98 families, The Board voted to purchase a Torah to be sent to a struggling European Congregation. |
| 1949 | Sisterhood sent a letter to the Board demanding the beginning of the construction of the Walton Way religious school facility. |
| 1950 | Ground was broken for the new Walton Way Temple on June 14. The Telfair Street facility was sold but the new Temple was not ready. For six months the Congregation was invited to meet at the Hill Methodist Church. The symbols of both congregations stayed on the alter for the entire six month period. Rabbi Goldburg set a standard of ministering to hospital patients of all religions. |
| 1951 | On November 16 the new Walton Way Temple was dedicated. Abe Friedman was chair of Building Committee and Harry Steine was chair of dedication service. An invocation was given by Rev. J. Hambry Barton, Pastor of Trinity Hill Methodist Church. Rabbis Starrells, Glasner and Schwartzman took part. Rabbi Goldburg participated in the dedication of two new sanctuaries while Rabbi |
| 1952 | A volunteer choir was formed and participated in Friday Services dressed in choir robes. |
| 1953 | Harry Jacobs was engaged as Choir Director and served for 15 years. The Ark and Pulpit from the Telfair Street Temple were given to the Jewish Chapel at Fort Gordon. |
| 1954 | The Constitution was amended to create a three man Historic Commission. The Corner Stone from the Telfair Street temple was moved to the Walton Way facility but the 1869 papers had all disintegrated. |
| 1955 | The Congregation enrolled 15 new families for a total of 142. This number included several Jews by Choice. |
| 1956 | Air-conditioning was installed and the social hall was enlarged. |
| 1963 | 103 children were enrolled in the Temple Religious School which had 10 teachers. Religious school students adopted a poor child from another country |
| 1964 | The Board decided that a new sanctuary, social hall and kitchen were needed to keep up with the growth of the Congregation. $150,000 was set up as a goal for the addition which was not to exceed $250,000. The Temple Youth Group was formed. |
| 1965 | Abe Friedman was made Building Fund Chairman and Bernard Simowitz named Chairman of the Building Committee |
| 1966 | A donation to the building fund was received from the First Baptist Church of Augusta. Abe Korn made a donation to the Temple Youth Group that helped programming for a number of years. |
| 1967 | In March the new Temple Sanctuary, social hall, and kitchen were dedicated. The final cost was $225,000 and the dedication service was attended by many Inter-faith Clergymen, Mayor Sancken and a telegram was received from former Gov Carl Sanders. The dedication address was given by Dr. Ariel Goldburg, Rabbi Goldburg’s brother. On March 18 there was a dedication service for the Temple Youth Group and children attending the religious school which had 100 children. |
| 1967 | A donation to the Temple Building Fund was received from the Unitarian Church. |
| 1968 | Rabbi Goldburg retired after 19 years. |
| 1969 | The Randy Shapiro Memorial Fund was established. The.Temple Youth Group was formed again, and the religious school had 82 students. Pesident Isaac Jolles sent a scathing letter to Rabbi Maurice Eisendrath regarding the Rabbi’s views on the Vietnam War. |
| 1970 | Jackie Wetherthorn was appointed “Temple Coordinator of Administration” |
| 1971 | The Temple Youth Group was given a non-voting chair on the Temple Board. |
| 1971-1984 | Rabbi White requests the Board purchase 25 “Gates of Prayer” books. These were the first new prayer books since 1922 |
| 1972 | The Constitution was amended to include as voting members representatives from the Brotherhood, Sisterthood, and Temple Youth Group. Rabbi White suggested the immediate purchase of a Holocaust Torah. Funds were raised and the Torah was dedicated in April 1973. Adam Korn passed away. 75 students were in the religious school. |
| 1975 | The Religious School was renamed in honor of Bart D. Wittenberg. 160 families belonged to the Temple |
| 1976 | 55 students were in religious school |
| 1978 | The Congregation opened a new Cemetary Plot at Hillcrest Memorial Park. |
| 1981 | Abe Friedman was given a testimonial service. |
| 1982 | Land was purchased across Martin Lane from the Temple for a supplemental parking lot. |
| 1990 | Temple membership reached its peak of 225 families and individuals and the religious school census reached 140 children. |
| 1993 | Rabbi Emeritus Norman Goldburg died |
| 1995 | Programs were held such as outreach, Tot Shabbat, and Caring Congregation aiding the sick and dying. |
| 1995 | The Temple celebrated its 150th anniversary. The Small Congregations Conference was held in Augusta for the first time, with over 350 representatives from 200 congregations in the United States and Canada. |
| 1996 | Machon Hebrew High School was formed |
| 1997 | The Temple T’s program was started. The first annual Jewish Festival was held. There was a Congregational Trip to Israel and an interfaith program, “A Taste of Judaism – Are You Curious”, The Temple Choir performed in Savannah, WWII veterans were honored |
| 2002-2004 | Roof repairs were performed at a cost of $180,000 . Michael Friedman passed and bequested a large sum to the Temple. |
| 2004-2005 | Suzanne Shapiro, Temple Secretary and member was honored for 25 years of service to the Temple. |
| 2005 | The Temple holds its first Congregational Retreat. Over 80 members gathered for a weekend of prayer and fellowship at Hickory Knob Park on Strom Thurmond Lake as part of the 160th anniversary. |
| 2006 | A Presidents’ Ball honored all past and present Temple presidents and Rabbis. |