On June 4, 1852, Alexander Myer, Charles Friedman, Joseph Levison, and Albert Priest, the officers of the Association of the Children of Israel, purchased the Methodist Episcopal Church on 7th Street between M and L Streets in Sacramento, California. On September 3, 1852, the building was dedicated by the B’nai Israel Congregation making it the first congregational owned synagogue in California. The congregation was founded by Moses Hyman in 1849, who previously held services above his jewelry store on Front Street. Albert Priest, also a founding member, was a partner in the mercantile firm Priest, Lee, and Company, who sold gold mining equipment at Sutter’s Fort from the summer of 1848 until the firm relocated their store to the corner of 2nd and J Streets in the spring of 1849. The first service at the synagogue in September 1852 was delivered by Joseph Shannon. The building, however, was severely damaged on November 2, 1852 during the Great Conflagration when 80 percent of Sacram...