LITERATURE + LECTURES

The Center for Jewish Living and Learning at the Jewish Community Center of Houston presents Exploring Jewish Texas: A Visit to the Baytown and Beaumont Jewish Communities. Sunday, October 24.  Instructor: Keith Rosen.

Join the JCC as we visit the only two congregations east of Houston and still in Texas. Congregation Knesseth Israel in Baytown is the third oldest building still in operation as a Jewish House of Worship in Texas. Temple Emanuel in Beaumont (pictured) has some of the finest Jewish-themed stained glass windows in the US. It is the second oldest temple building in use as a temple in Texas.

We will also visit the cemeteries of these communities.

Keith Rosen has lead tours of Houston since 1985. He shares his love of the city and the histories that few people know, have been written, or read. Keith is a research historian. He has taught with colleges and universities in Alvin, Hurst, Denton, Dallas, Houston, and Melbourne, Florida since 1987. Currently, he is a professor of history and government with local community colleges and the Florence Melton School. He has also taught history at Texas Southern University (TSU). He has been nominated or selected as the teacher of the year four times.

In 2003, Keith was chosen as the Master Tour Guide for the City of Houston multi-cultural tours; in 2007, he was appointed to the Harris County Historical Commission. Keith has been profiled in several books and newspapers.

In his spare moments, Keith enjoys hiking, tubing, spelunking, horseback riding, rafting, and camping. He also plays tennis and softball. He also teaches courses in backgammon, blackjack, roulette, and craps. He currently is working on a book about the history of Jews in Houston.

The Jewish Community Center has founded the Center for Jewish Learning and Living, a collaborative process that brings together the arts and culture programming of the Center, such as the Book and Arts Fair, the Jewish Film Festival, and the Jewish Music Festival, and the education initiatives of the Center, such as the Florence Melton Adult Mini-School, and the Bunny and Leo Horvitz Scholar-in-Residence Program. In addition, this collaboration brings additional programs and staff to the Jewish initiatives of the JCC, with high hopes that more members of our community may be touched by meaningful Jewish experiences.