West Virginia Jewish History

The first official Jewish settlement in West Virginia was at Wheeling where a Jewish cemetery and informal congregation was established in 1849. At the time it was still the state of Virginia as West Virginia did not become a state until 1863. Jews lived and traded in West Virginia prior to 1849, and as early as the late 18th century, but the official community did not get its start until Congregation L'Shem Shomayim was established in Wheeling in 1849. An earlier Jewish cemetery was established in Charleston in 1836, but the B'nai Israel Congregation in Charleston was only informally organized in 1856 and legally chartered as the "Hebrew Educational Society" in 1873.

Jewish Communities were established throughout the state in Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Clarksburg, Fairmont, Huntington, Keystone, Kimball, Logan, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Weirton, Welch, Wheeling and Williamson. In addition, small numbers of Jews also settled in the towns of Grafton, Harper's Ferry, Keyser, Montgomery, Mount Hope, Oak Hill, Piedmont, Romney, Thomas & other locations. Though the Jewish population of the state has declined over the years, mostly in the coal region of southern West Virginia, dedicated Jewish communities can be found today in Beckley, Bluefield, Charleston, Huntington, Martinsburg, Morgantown, Parkersburg, Wheeling & Williamson. Some of these Jewish communities are small and face a daily struggle to keep Judaism alive in their area. Other Jewish communities are medium to large size and enjoy a stable community life with religious services as well as Jewish community organizations.

West Virginia possesses a rich and varied Jewish past and a bright Jewish present. The Jewish population of the state supports a variety of synagogues, temples and Jewish organizations. There are landmark synagogues, famous & historic businesses, cemeteries and notable families with a long history in the state This website will be an introduction to the Jewish history, Jewish architecture, and Jewish genealogy found in the "Mountain State". It will be a work "in-progress"

Please "CLICK" on the names below to learn more about West Virginia Jewish Life and History

"CLICK HERE" for a list & contact information for Synagogues and Jewish Organizations in WV

"CLICK HERE" for information on Jewish Cemeteries in WV & Links to Burial Listings

"CLICK HERE" for a listing of Archival & Library Collections with WV Jewish Materials

"CLICK HERE" for Interesting Genealogy, West Virginia, Jewish & History links

Featuring over 3200 original large color photographs of 1410 US Synagogue Buildings

My name is Julian Henri Preisler. I live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia and have been interested in Jewish history in the USA for many years. I am a professional Archivist & Genealogist and have published books on Jewish genealogy & also synagogue architecture and history. If you are interested in West Virginia Jewish history, have a connection to the state, or have materials you wish to share - Please feel free to contact me at jhp1963@yahoo.com - I welcome the addition of information, photographs, old business ads, stories and other materials related to WV Jewish life, history and genealogy.

I would like to thank all of the wonderful people all over West Virginia and the United States for contributing information, data, photographs and images to this project. Your interest in this project is most appreciated. Together we can all help to discover and document West Virginia Jewish History.