Our New Bern History

Jewish people began immigrating to New Bern in 1710 when New Bern was founded believing that in New Bern, North Carolina, they were able to practice the Jewish religion freely. Because of the growing Jewish community, the United Hebrews of Chester was formed in 1868 on the urging of a young boy in the community named Chester Reizenstein. As numbers began to grow the congregation decided to purchase land in 1894 and build a house of worship.

Architect Herbert Wooley Simpson was hired and the building was consecrated in 1908 and named Chester B’nai Sholem Synagogue. An integral part of New Bern’s rich history, Temple B’nai Sholem’s building is on the National Registry of Historic Place and is included in New Bern’s tour of historic places.

Temple B’nai Sholem owns and maintains a Cemetery on land that was originally purchased by United Hebrews of Chester in1877.