The ownership of Brookhaven’s historic Jewish temple may soonchange hands to the Lincoln County Historical and GenealogicalSociety in a move that would guarantee the temple’s preservationand end the society’s approximately 18-month search for a place tocall home.

Hal Samuels, facilitator of the Temple B’nai Shalom at thecorner of Chickasaw and Church streets, said letters are being sentacross the country to descendants of the temple’s formercongregation to basically ask permission to donate the structure tothe historical society. He said the temple would be donated withthe understanding that it would be used as a museum permanently,both for the historical society and as a Jewish heritagemuseum.

“I don’t foresee any problem with us donating the temple to thehistorical society, as long as it’s maintained perpetually as amuseum,” Samuels said. “The big part is when we send the lettersout to our past congregation is that no one objects. We willprobably handle those objections, and I don’t foresee it being aproblem.”

Samuels said he expects to hear back from the formercongregation by the end of June. He said the Goldring/WoldenbergInstitute of Southern Jewish Life – a Jackson based non-profitgroup that provides Jewish services throughout the South – isassisting with the letters, the temple’s donation and any facets ofsetting up the museum.

If the past congregation approves of the temple’s donation,Samuels said the institute would send a rabbi to Brookhaven todeconsecrate the building, after which the temple would no longerbe considered an operational Jewish temple.

If the temple were donated to the historical society, the youngorganization would finally have a museum in which to display agrowing collection of artifacts that shed light on the history andgrowth of Lincoln County. Samuels said the temple would not be usedas a Jewish-only museum, though the county’s prominent Jewishhistory would be maintained at the altar, which will be leftintact.

“Our family has been six generations,” he said. “We would feelhonored if the historical society will be willing to take this onas a perpetual museum.”

Since Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Samuels’ family -the lastJewish family in Brookhaven, which includes former Brookhaven MayorHarold Samuels – and the families of Dr. Steven Liverman and Dr.Gordon Friedman, both of Wesson, have maintained the temple.Samuels said the cost of upkeep like utilities and pesticides forthe temple average $2,500 per month.

Samuels said renovations for the temple are a possibility. Tomake room for the museum’s displays, he said donated pews wouldhave to be removed, but the nameplates identifying the donatingfamilies would be displayed in the museum.

Historical society president Rita Rich said her organization isexcited to finally be within reach of a museum after exploringseveral avenues for acquiring a building to be used as such. If theTemple B’nai Shalom becomes a museum, it will be the second museumin Brookhaven behind only the Military Memorial Museum.

“All our surrounding counties have museums,” Rich said. “Thereare great benefits to having a museum in your town or county. Theeconomic impact gathered from tourism, educational value and youhave pride in your community. People are always wanting to know,’What can you see in Brookhaven?'”

Rich said the society would form a selection committee todetermine the types of artifacts that will be placed inside. Shesociety will also required additional funding to implement andmaintain the museum.

“It’s a lovely temple, and we would be so lucky to have it,” shesaid.