Order of Services. Dedication of Temple B’nai Israel, Butte, Montana.

(AMERICAN JUDAICA).

(Butte, Montana)

1904

Title-page with image of the exterior of the synagogue building.

Jews settled in Butte over a century ago, drawn by the business opportunities seeking to serve the rough and bawdy miners carving out Montana’s copper, silver and gold. Butte’s first mayor was Jewish, elected in 1879 and the Jewish citizenry of Butte became formally organized in 1881 with the formation of the Hebrew Benevolent Society. In 1885 land was granted from the Northern Pacific Railroad to B’nai Israel, Butte’s first synagogue. Today, B’nai Israel remains the city’s only synagogue, still worshipping in the same prominant Victorian structure dedicated in 1904, located at the corner of Galena and Washington Streets.