To put that in perspective, when San Jose's Temple Emanu-El was founded, the civil war was just starting.
The congregation dedicated its first building in 1870, on the corner of Third and San Antonio streets.
When that synagogue burned down in 1940, Temple Emanu-El moved to its current location on University Avenue.
The congregation is holding a special service Friday night.
"We're going to integrate the past liturgy or prayer structure because we've evolved so much over time; we're going to utilize the old prayer book as well as some of the modern prayer books we're putting it all together," Rabbi Dana Magat said.
Some 400 families belong to Temple Emanu-El, making it one of the Bay Area's largest congregations.
