The Congregation Children of Israel Synagogue

In 1846, Augusta-area Jews founded the city’s first congregation, B’nai Israel, later Congregation Children of Israel (CCI), building its first synagogue here in 1869. Membership reflected Jewish migration to the United States, including Central and Eastern European Jews seeking to escape persecution to find economic opportunities and social freedoms. CCI was founded as Orthodox, representing traditional views, like other congregations across the US between 1860-1880, and later adopted the progressive practices of Reform Judaism to serve its diverse congregation. Jewish migration to Augusta increased until the federal 1924 Immigration Act limited Eastern European Jewish immigration. In 1951, CCI moved to a larger synagogue on Walton Way. The city used the original synagogue as offices until 2015. Now preserved, it is the oldest standing synagogue building in Georgia and operates as the Augusta Jewish Museum Cultural Center.