Kickin' KKBE Synagogue

While exploring the Holy City of Charleston, I saw a glimmer of gorgeous reds, blues, and greens. These were the stained glass windows of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, or KKBE, a synagogue who's roots trace back to the very cornerstone of the American Reform Jewish practice. Intrigued by the style that was so different from other synagogues, me and my classmate Alex Stribling decided to see what KKBE was all about.

On Sunday, we made our way in the rain to the KKBE's cemetery, found at 189 Coming Street. There we met Randi Serrins and Anita Rosenberg, two members of the synagogue who graciously let us into the locked cemetery and gave us a tour. Interestingly enough, the cemetery is not located near the synagogue as this is not allowed in the Jewish faith. Upon first look, we noticed that all the headstones pointed towards the East. Randi explained that this was because Jerusalem is in the East. Next to the entrance, there was also a hand washing station and a container full of rocks. The hand washing station was placed there to follow the tradition of washing hands before leaving a cemetery to separate the living from the dead. In Jewish tradition, rocks were placed on graves to show remembrance, much like flowers are used, but unlike flowers, rocks are eternal. The graveyard itself was quite large and had almost every type of tombstone imaginable, including a prominent mausoleum. 

Standing off to the side, almost hidden upon first view of the cemetery, is the aforementioned mausoleum dedicated to the Lopez family. Why was this mausoleum facing a different way and built in such a different style, we wondered. That question unraveled a large part of the synagogues past. 

Charleston was a haven for Jews who were being prosecuted all throughout Europe. Here, they had religious freedom and could even establish a practice if they had only 7 other members of their faith. In 1749, there were finally enough Jews (mainly from Spain and Portugal) to organize a synagogue and KKBE was built on 90 Hassel Street. Later, in 1764, the man who helped found the congregation, Isaac Da Costa, dedicated his family burial ground to KKBE. This would become the burial ground for Sephardic Jews in Charleston. Things began to change in the Jewish community as a group of men decided the current practice did not cater to the new wave of Jews in the community that did not speak Hebrew. These men petitioned for a change in the services provided, including music and a sermon in English. The old members of the congregation denied these requests and the group split off to create "The Reformed Society of Israelites." With this move, a new sect of Judaism known as Reformed Judaism was created. 

Because of their disagreement, the Reformed Society of Israelites did not practice at the synagogue. That is until 1838 when the original synagogue burned down in the Great Fire that took place. Still knowing those who practiced at the synagogue the groups overcame their differences and built a new temple in 1840 that still stands today. Like many prominent buildings of its time, the temple was built to resemble the architecture of Ancient Greece and was made to not only replace the old synagogue, but enhance it.

Now you may be asking where David Lopez comes into play. Being a prominent member of the synagogue, Lopez was hurt by its destruction and decided to build the new temple in 1840. So if he was so important, why was his mausoleum isolated from the rest? Lopez had a wife who was not Jewish. Unfortunately, she died in 1843 and because she refused to formally become a Jewess, she was denied burial in the traditional lot. Angered by this after all he had done for the synagogue, Lopez bought a parcel of land that jutted out of the original cemetery. It was here he buried his wife in a grand mausoleum, larger and more intricate than any grave found in the synagogues cemetery.