Originally named Ohel [tent of] Jacob, the Kenesseth Israel Congregation was organized in 1888 by Orthodox Jews from Lithuania. The group initially met upstairs of a member's store at 605 2nd Ave. N. They later rented Turner Hall at Washington and 5th Ave. N.
1891: Ohel Jacob Dissolved and the Kenesseth Israel Congregation formed. The name was initially spelled Chnessis, but was changed in 1894 to Kenesseth.
1894: Erected a synagogue at 527-529 4th St. N.
1912: The second synagogue was erected at 518 Lyndale Ave. N.
1948: The building was sold to an African American congregation, the Church of God in Christ (which later moved into the former Tifereth B'Nai Israel [B'nai Jacob] at 808 Elwood Ave. N.)
Rabbis: I. Jaffa, 1892-1901; S.M. Silber, 1902-1925; Dr. Moses Romm, 1925-1931