Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim ("Acts of Lovingkindness") is located in Alexandria, Louisiana.
In 1852 three men -- Samuel Bernstein (a resident of Winn Parish), Henry Klotz, and Abraham Mitchell -- purchased a piece of property in Pineville for the burial of Augusta Bernstein. In 1861 this property was purchased from these three men for use as a cemetery, and it is the Jewish Cemetery today.
In October of 1859 the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Rapides was founded as a charitable organization to dispense funds for the needy and sick of the Jewish population of Rapides Parish. Its first president was Isaac Levy. This organization eventually became Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim.
The congregation initially held religious services in various private homes with lay leadership. The first Jewish sanctuary was built at Third and Fisk Streets in 1870-71. The beginning of fund-raising for the sanctuary was a ball sponsored by the Ladies Hebrew Benevolent Society on January 11, 1870.
The first rabbi Marx Klein arrived sortly thereafter in 1873. Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim became a founding congregation of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations on October 14 of that year.
in 1908 a new sanctuary was built behind the first one on Fourth and Fisk Streets, and it remained the house of worship until 1952, when our present structure was built at Turner and Beech Streets.
Congregation Gemiluth Chassodim has been served by 32 presidents and 23 rabbis, and it enjoys the respect and support of the non-Jewish community in Alexandria.
Address:
2021 Turner Street
Alexandria, LA 71301
phone 318-445-3655
fax 318-445-7991