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Texas Jews

Certified elementary school librarian Sarah Pepin speaks at a State Board of Education meeting in Austin on June 22, 2026. (Aiden Gonzalez/The Texas Tribune via JTA)
June 27, 2026, 9:50 am
Texas creates required reading list that includes Anne Frank and the Bible
State board of education votes 9-5 for the list, over objections from Jewish leaders concerned about injecting Christian content into lessons for the state’s 5.5 million public school students
By Grace Gilson and Andrew Lapin
Congregation Beth Israel in Houston, Texas in a screenshot taken on on April 23, 2026. (Screenshot/Google Street View)
April 23, 2026, 11:30 pm
Woman, minor charged with plotting attack on Houston synagogue ‘to kill as many Jews as possible’
Law enforcement arrests 18-year-old in North Carolina and a 16-year-old in Texas for planning car ramming attack on Congregation Beth Israel
By Agencies
The Shlenker School's website announced the school had closed for the day, on April 22, 2026. (Screenshot)
April 23, 2026, 8:41 pm
Unspecified threats temporarily close Houston synagogue and Jewish day school
Jewish Federation of Greater Houston says it does not believe there was a risk to the broader Jewish community
By Jackie Hajdenberg
Clergy at Congregation Shearith Israel in Dallas perform a parody of 'Y.M.C.A' on March 1, 2026. (Jewish Telegraphic Agency)
March 3, 2026, 3:20 pm
At this Dallas synagogue, Purim comes with fog machines, zip lines and Broadway flair
For the past 8 years, Rabbi Adam Roffman has brought his music theater chops to the annual performance at Congregation Shearith Israel – and doubled its attendance in this Bible Belt community
By Grace Gilson
The entrance to the Barshop Jewish Community Center in San Antonio, Texas, is seen in a local news report on an alleged planned mass shooting at center, aired June 19, 2025. (Screen capture: KSAT12)
June 21, 2025, 11:38 am
Suspect arrested for planning mass shooting at Texas Jewish community center
Director of San Antonio’s Temple Beth El says FBI told him plot targeted the city’s entire Jewish community; mayor vows to take ‘all necessary steps’ for Jewish safety
By Grace Gilson
The Texas State Capitol photographed on Monday, February 24, 2025 in Austin. (Elizabeth Conley/JTA via Houston Chronicle via Getty Images)
April 18, 2025, 2:14 pm
Texas lawmakers pass $1 billion school voucher bill, dividing Jewish community
Reform Jewish organization says program would undermine public education, while principal of Modern Orthodox school backs initiative to send state money to private institutions
By Grace Gilson
A fire at Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas set on October 31, 2021 damaged the sanctuary, historic front doors and stained glass windows at the Reform synagogue. (Austin Fire Department via JTA)
November 30, 2023, 10:15 am
Austin synagogue arsonist sentenced to 10 years in prison for 2021 attack
Term is twice the federal sentencing guideline; prosecutors asked judge to consider ‘tremendous damage’ Franklin Sechriest caused, and his ‘deep-seated hatred’ of Jewish people
By Agencies
Avshalom Cohen, son of Hayim Nissim Cohen, in a video posted to social media in February 2023. (Screenshot; used in accordance with clause 27a of the copyright law)
August 2, 2023, 12:23 pm
After Texan who posed as Hasid charged with sex crimes, son charged with abuse too
One of Hayim Cohen’s 9 adopted sons, Avshalom, charged with sexual assault of his brother, and human smuggling, amid fallout from high-profile scandal in Houston
By Luke Tress
In this December 22, 2022, photo, Lawrence Schwartz, left, Shane Woodward, center, and Jeff Cohen, right, smile as they pose for a photo inside Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
January 12, 2023, 6:22 pm
On first anniversary of Texas synagogue standoff, survivors cope, carry on
Rabbi and three worshippers held hostage at Colleyville synagogue last year say their trauma has not disappeared, despite the FBI’s killing of their captor
By BOBBY ROSS Jr.
Pleasant Run Baptist Church's sign showing solidarity with Congregation Beth Israel in Colleyville, Texas on January 16, 2022. (Screen capture/Lupe Zapata/Spectrum 1 News)
January 18, 2022, 2:11 pm
Daily Briefing Jan. 18 – Colleyville attack plays into oldest antisemitic trope
US correspondent Jacob Magid reports from Texas; environment reporter Sue Surkes illuminates a new tree law for Tu Bishvat and a game-changing water purifier
By ToI Staff
Police stand in front of the Congregation Beth Israel synagogue, January 16, 2022, in Colleyville, Texas. (AP Photo/Brandon Wade)
January 17, 2022, 12:18 pm
Tight-knit Texas synagogue bowled over by support but has had ‘painful awakening’
Synagogue founder says despite the intensity of support the congregants have gotten during the hostage ordeal, she is aware that ‘our history is now going to be changed’
By Jamie Stengle
A fire outside Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas, on October 31, 2021. (Austin Fire Department)
November 11, 2021, 7:49 pm
18-year-old suspect arrested for arson targeting Texas synagogue
Blaze destroyed carved wood doors of Austin’s Congregation Beth Israel, damaged the building’s stained glass windows and sanctuary
By Shira Hanau
A fire was found outside Congregation Beth Israel in Austin, Texas Sunday, Oct. 31. (Austin Fire Department via JTA)
November 1, 2021, 4:26 pm
Austin police investigate fire outside synagogue as possible arson
No injuries reported; incident comes a week after banners emblazoned with the words ‘Vax the Jews’ were hung by a neo-Nazi group nearby
By Shira Hanau
Illustrative: Kosher Palate in Dallas originally decided to follow the governor's lead, ending its requirement that customers be masked, before backtracking amid customer complaints. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images via JTA)
March 10, 2021, 3:47 am
A Dallas kosher grocer removed its mask requirement, then came the backlash
Kosher Palate store reverses course after outcry from Jewish community, illustrating the high stakes of the latest phase of the pandemic
By Shira Hanau
A Texas mask on March 3, 2021 in Austin, Texas. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images via JTA)
March 5, 2021, 3:17 am
Dallas Jewish Conservatives plan ‘mask-burning’ party to mark end of mandate
Organizer says he’s not ‘personally anti-mask,’ but opposes government orders to wear one
By Andrew Lapin
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