Jewish Communities in South Carolina: Charleston Guide

Quick answer: South Carolina’s Jewish life is anchored in Charleston, one of the most historically important Jewish communities in America and the birthplace of Reform Judaism in the United States, alongside long-established Orthodox and Conservative congregations there. Columbia has its own Reform and Conservative congregations sharing a community campus, and Myrtle Beach hosts a smaller but growing community representing all three movements.

Charleston: where American Reform Judaism began

Charleston’s Jewish history is among the oldest and most significant in the United States. Jewish settlers arrived under the Carolina colony’s charter, which explicitly protected liberty of conscience for “Jews, heathens, and dissenters,” and by the early 19th century Charleston was home to the largest Jewish community in the country. Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE), founded in 1749, is the nation’s fourth-oldest Jewish congregation — and it was here, in 1824, that a group of members petitioned to modernize the service and introduce English-language prayer, a movement that, after a period of division, grew into what we now recognize as American Reform Judaism. KKBE’s 1840 sanctuary on Hasell Street is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use for Jewish worship in the country.

Charleston’s Orthodox community is anchored by Brith Sholom Beth Israel (BSBI), formed in 1954 when two Orthodox congregations — known locally as the “Big Shul” and “Little Shul” — merged. BSBI is the oldest continuously used Orthodox Ashkenazi congregation in the country. West of the Ashley River, Congregation Dor Tikvah, an Orthodox congregation established as a minyan in 2006 and formally incorporated in 2012, serves the growing Jewish population on that side of the peninsula. On the Conservative side, Synagogue Emanu-El traces its founding to 1947, when a large group left Brith Sholom after a proposal to affiliate with the Conservative movement was voted down by the wider congregation.

Charleston’s Jewish life extends into academia, too: the College of Charleston’s Yaschik/Arnold Jewish Studies Program, established in 1984, is the largest Jewish studies program in South Carolina and a genuine draw for Jewish students and their families. The Jewish Federation of Greater Charleston coordinates communal life across the tri-county area, home to an estimated 9,500 Jewish residents. Families exploring the Lowcountry can browse homes near Charleston’s historic congregations or check rentals on both sides of the Ashley.

Columbia: Reform and Conservative on a shared campus

Columbia’s Jewish community dates to 1896, when eighteen founding members organized Tree of Life Congregation, which affiliated with Reform Judaism shortly after and remains a proud member of the Union for Reform Judaism today. In 1905, a group seeking more traditional practice broke away to found what became Beth Shalom Synagogue, originally Orthodox; the congregation moved to the Conservative movement in 1955 and remains Columbia’s Conservative congregation.

Notably, Tree of Life and Beth Shalom worked together to build the Katie and Irwin Kahn Jewish Community Center, located on the same community campus as the Columbia Jewish Federation — many families in Columbia hold membership in both congregations, a real expression of the inclusive, all-denominations spirit this guide is built on. Job seekers relocating to the capital can check the HeimishMart jobs board, and newcomers can browse the Community Explorer to find their footing.

Myrtle Beach: a smaller community, all three movements

The Grand Strand’s Jewish community is younger and smaller than Charleston’s or Columbia’s, but it has grown enough to support congregations across the spectrum. Temple Emanu-El, founded in 1963, is the only Conservative synagogue on the Grand Strand, worshipping from a sanctuary built in 1969 and expanded in 1990 and 2002. Temple Shalom serves as the area’s Reform congregation, and a local Chabad center provides Orthodox-style services and programming. Together, the three give Myrtle Beach real denominational range for a coastal community of its size.

Finding your place in South Carolina

Whether you’re drawn to Charleston’s centuries of history, Columbia’s close-knit congregations, or Myrtle Beach’s newer community, South Carolina welcomes Jewish families of every affiliation — Reform, Conservative, Orthodox, and unaffiliated alike. Check the Jewish Events calendar for holiday programming statewide, lean on local chessed networks when you’re new in town, and add your listing if you run a Jewish-friendly business or service.

Frequently asked questions

Why is Charleston important to American Jewish history?

Charleston’s Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim, founded in 1749, is where American Reform Judaism began in 1824, and its 1840 sanctuary is the oldest synagogue building in continuous use for Jewish worship in the country.

Is there an Orthodox community in Charleston?

Yes. Brith Sholom Beth Israel is the oldest continuously used Orthodox Ashkenazi congregation in the country, and Congregation Dor Tikvah serves the growing Jewish population west of the Ashley River.

Does Columbia, South Carolina have a Conservative synagogue?

Yes, Beth Shalom Synagogue, which moved from Orthodox to Conservative affiliation in 1955, serves Columbia’s Conservative community alongside the Reform Tree of Life Congregation.

Is there a Jewish community in Myrtle Beach?

Yes, a smaller but active one, with Temple Emanu-El (Conservative), Temple Shalom (Reform), and a Chabad center all serving the Grand Strand.

By the HeimishMart Community Desk — HeimishMart is the community marketplace for Jewish homes, jobs, and local life across North America.