Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities History of
Congregation B'nai Israel, Little Rock B’nai Israel congregation
was first organized at the close of the Civil War, as increasing
numbes of Jewish merchants and businessmen settled in Little
Rock. In the summer of 1866, residents raised money to purchase
a Torah scroll and ram’s horn for the upcoming High Holy Day
services. Originally called the Little Rock Congregation, the
group formally incorporated as B’nai Israel in 1867 and elected
Morris Navra as its first president. Samuel Peck joined the
congregation as a spiritual leader the following year. Many
early congregants were adherents to Reform Judaism, and in
accordance with the practices of some Reform congregations at
the time, they referred to their leader as Reverend Samuel Peck.
B’nai Israel was one of the founding members of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations, now the Union for Reform Judaism.
The group met in a small room on East Markham Street during its
early years. The single room wa