Leon Toubin
Encyclopedia
Leon Toubin, a Jewish Texan civic
leader
, philanthropist
, and historian
is the caretaker of B'Nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham
, which he began attending in the late 1930s
as part of the daily minyan
.
website states that, "Sam Toubin, long-time businessman, owned and operated the New York stores in nine towns in Texas. Rosa Toubin, a Brenham native, attended local schools, Blinn College and Rice University
. Both were civic leaders and well respected in the Brenham area for their philanthropic endeavors." Leon Toubin was raised in Brenham.
Toubin was interviewed for several books and a documentary which focused on oral histories of Jews in America, and specifically in Texas. In the book Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas, Toubin discusses the history of the Brenham, Texas Jewhish community and laments the lack of participation at the synagogue. He expounds on the subject in Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History, mentioning that many of the descendents of the Brenham Jewish community "were probably all Jewish once, but we're Lutheran now." In the documentary At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas, Toubin tells a similar story about a Washington County Sheriff. The sheriff once told Toubin that "I was probably Jewish. But the family came here and there weren’t any Jewish girls to marry. Everyone intermarried and I'm Lutheran today. But I was probably Jewish at one time."
on Toubin's mainstreet
property. He is also on the board of trustees for Blinn College
, and on the board of directors
of the Economic Development Foundation of Brenham. Toubin is also the caretaker of the B'Nai Abraham Jewish cemetery
.
"Main Street Brenham will be able to complete its Toubin Park Project with the help of a $25,000 community development grant. This grant, provided by the Lower Colorado River Authority
, will be used to purchase benches, trash receptacles and lampposts for the new park area in downtown Brenham."
, the "Julie Rogers 'Gift of Life Program'", the Camp Young Judea program in Texas, and The University of Texas "Longhorn Foundation".
Civic engagement
Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern."-Forms:...
leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
, philanthropist
Philanthropist
A philanthropist is someone who engages in philanthropy; that is, someone who donates his or her time, money, and/or reputation to charitable causes...
, and historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
is the caretaker of B'Nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham
B'nai Abraham Synagogue, Brenham
-History:Early Jewish settlers in the Washington County, Texas arrived during the 1860s. B. Levinson, an original founder, arrived in 1861. Alex Simon arrived in 1866. These individuals became active in the business community of Brenham, and as other Jewish settlers arrived, the need for a...
, which he began attending in the late 1930s
1930s
File:1930s decade montage.png|From left, clockwise: Dorothea Lange's photo of the homeless Florence Thompson show the effects of the Great Depression; Due to the economic collapse, the farms become dry and the Dust Bowl spreads through America; The Battle of Wuhan during the Second Sino-Japanese...
as part of the daily minyan
Minyan
A minyan in Judaism refers to the quorum of ten Jewish adults required for certain religious obligations. According to many non-Orthodox streams of Judaism adult females count in the minyan....
.
Family
Leon Toubin is the son of Sam H. Toubin and Rosa (Levin) Toubin. The Blinn CollegeBlinn College
Blinn College is a two-year academic institution based in Brenham, Texas with campuses in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. While the Brenham campus is Blinn's main campus, more than 70% of students attend the Bryan campus....
website states that, "Sam Toubin, long-time businessman, owned and operated the New York stores in nine towns in Texas. Rosa Toubin, a Brenham native, attended local schools, Blinn College and Rice University
Rice University
William Marsh Rice University, commonly referred to as Rice University or Rice, is a private research university located on a heavily wooded campus in Houston, Texas, United States...
. Both were civic leaders and well respected in the Brenham area for their philanthropic endeavors." Leon Toubin was raised in Brenham.
Religious activities
After his mother's death in 1989, Toubin became the caretaker of B'Nai Abraham Synagogue. The synagogue was formally organized in 1885. Toubin and his wife are the last two members of the congregation.Toubin was interviewed for several books and a documentary which focused on oral histories of Jews in America, and specifically in Texas. In the book Lone Stars of David: The Jews of Texas, Toubin discusses the history of the Brenham, Texas Jewhish community and laments the lack of participation at the synagogue. He expounds on the subject in Growing Up Jewish in America: An Oral History, mentioning that many of the descendents of the Brenham Jewish community "were probably all Jewish once, but we're Lutheran now." In the documentary At Home on the Range: Jewish Life in Texas, Toubin tells a similar story about a Washington County Sheriff. The sheriff once told Toubin that "I was probably Jewish. But the family came here and there weren’t any Jewish girls to marry. Everyone intermarried and I'm Lutheran today. But I was probably Jewish at one time."
Civic leadership
Toubin is involved in a project to restore an historic cisternCistern
A cistern is a waterproof receptacle for holding liquids, usually water. Cisterns are often built to catch and store rainwater. Cisterns are distinguished from wells by their waterproof linings...
on Toubin's mainstreet
MainStreet
MainStreet was a department store chain based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. The chain was launched in November 1983 by Federated Department Stores . Throughout the 1980s, the chain expanded to twenty-nine stores in Illinois, Michigan and Minnesota...
property. He is also on the board of trustees for Blinn College
Blinn College
Blinn College is a two-year academic institution based in Brenham, Texas with campuses in Brenham, Bryan, Schulenburg, and Sealy. While the Brenham campus is Blinn's main campus, more than 70% of students attend the Bryan campus....
, and on the board of directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
of the Economic Development Foundation of Brenham. Toubin is also the caretaker of the B'Nai Abraham Jewish cemetery
Jewish cemetery
A Jewish cemetery is a cemetery where members of the Jewish faith are buried in keeping with Jewish tradition....
.
"Main Street Brenham will be able to complete its Toubin Park Project with the help of a $25,000 community development grant. This grant, provided by the Lower Colorado River Authority
Lower Colorado River Authority
The Lower Colorado River Authority or LCRA is a nonprofit public utility that was created in November 1934 by the Texas Legislature. LCRA's mission is to protect people, property and the environment by providing public services for more than one million people in Central and Southeast Texas...
, will be used to purchase benches, trash receptacles and lampposts for the new park area in downtown Brenham."
Philanthropy
Toubin and his wife have given money to various philanthropic organizations, including the Texas HillelHillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life
Hillel: The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life is the largest Jewish campus organization in the world, working with thousands of college students globally...
, the "Julie Rogers 'Gift of Life Program'", the Camp Young Judea program in Texas, and The University of Texas "Longhorn Foundation".
See also
- History of the Jews in Brenham, TexasHistory of the Jews in Brenham, TexasThe history of the Jews in Brenham, Texas, covers a period of over 140 years. As one of the first areas in Texas, outside of major population centers, to develop a sizable Jewish population, the community boasts many things of historical note. The Brenham community was formally organized in...