Congregation Emanu-El after the great San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906.

Community Building--and Rebuilding

By the early 20th century San Francisco was one of the most important Jewish communities on the west coast. As with other earlier communities, the Jews of San Francisco established themselves in the town's economic life and once secure built a synagogue. One of the oldest, Temple Emanuel-El, was founded before the Civil War. The building was damaged during the great earthquake of 1906, yet the community endured and their temple was rebuilt.