The Schachtel Library & Archive is partnering with the Joan and Stanford Alexander South Texas Jewish Archives (STJA) at Rice University on a project called, "The Voices of Beth Israel: Preserving our Stories with the South Texas Jewish Archives". 

Many years ago, members of Congregation Beth Israel provided oral histories of their experiences in Houston and at the Temple. In preparation for their 1975 film, The Beth Israel Experience: A Tribute to Spirit, Linda May and Gay Block recorded oral histories of 64 Congregation Beth Israel members on tapes. Additional interviews were also conducted in the 1980s and 1990s of Sisterhood (now, The Women of Beth Israel) Presidents and other local Houstonians. 

Now in 2025, we want to continue preserving the history of our Temple and experiences of our beloved members. Together, The Schachtel Library & Archive and STJA will record new oral histories and host them on both STJA's website and in The Schachtel Library's digital archive.

If you are interested in recording an oral history, click here to sign up!

- For more information on the Joan and Stanford South Texas Jewish Archive, click here.
- To view the oral histories already living in STJA's collection, click here.
- To listen to the oral histories that were recorded in the 1970s-1990s at Congregation Beth Israel, click here.

If you have any questions, contact Susan Whitman, Temple librarian, at swhitman@beth-israel.org or 713-820-6410.