Our Past is Prologue to the Future

The building that houses Temple Beth-El today and the one that housed us in the past are simply man made structures in which we worship, socialize, and observe important events. It is wonderful to have a sanctuary, a social hall, a kitchen, and classrooms; but the history of the dedication of a handful of Jews to raising their children in their tradition did not begin in any building.

Jewish families in Las Cruces go back a very long way. Originally, most of them settled here as merchants. In time, White Sands and the University brought more Jewish families to Las Cruces. Many of them traveled to El Paso’s B’Nai Zion and Temple Sinai as a place to worship. Others wished to share with their children the precepts of Judaism here in Las Cruces. In 1953 this sturdy group established a Jewish Sunday School so that their children, far from the east or west coast or the mid-west where they would not be so much in the minority, could learn what it meant to be a Jew. Teaching guides and curriculum were gleaned from a trip to New York by one of the dedicated mothers.

A rabbi from El Paso traveled here to consecrate the first Sunday School class, a class of 26 children, which met in the yards of two of the families. At various times the religious school met at Branigan Library, the Corbett Center, and above the popular Popular Store, and for many years congregants served as lay rabbis, performing b’nai mitzvahs, officiating at High Holy Day services and doing whatever else they could to serve this growing Jewish community.

It would take around 20 years before these stalwart Jewish families were able to build a sanctuary, then a social hall and kitchen, and finally classrooms. We can sense the pride these families had in the building, even after we have move on to another. The building on Parker, no matter what it becomes in the future, will always be a symbol of the determination of a number of Jewish families to do their part for the growth of Judaism in general, and especially in the Southwestern town of Las Cruces, NM.

Just as we are trying to do today, the members of the Sisterhood were involved in fundraising. It has been reported that the Deli Dinners that became famous in this town led to what we now know as The Gala. It seems that the Jews, like Jews everywhere, knew that the way to the hearts of the townspeople was through their stomachs. The Deli Dinners are still spoken of today.

There are many people for us to thank for being such pioneers in establishing a Jewish community here. Many are still with us, no doubt kvelling at the traditions they established; many have moved on and remain in our memories as Founding Fathers and Mothers of this, our Temple Beth-El.

In addition to these families, we must also honor and thank our rabbis.

• Rabbi Joseph Klein, our first rabbi in our previous temple served from September 1977 - June 1984;
• Rabbi Howard O. Laibson, followed him between July 1984 and July 1989;
• Rabbi Cy S. Stanway  served between July 1990 and June 1998
• Rabbi Emeritus Gerald M. Kane led us from December 1998 -June 2007
• Our current Rabbi, Paul Citrin, who has been leading us since July 1st, 2008.

Note: The Sisterhood post of Historian has been established. Watch for more glimpses of the history of Temple Beth-El as the years go by.