Congregation Agudas Achim (CAA) was chartered on February 16, 1924 to serve Orthodox Jews who lived in Central Texas. The congregation purchased a one-story house at Seventh and San Jacinto for use as its synagogue.
In 1930 CAA needed to find a larger building to accommodate its expanding membership. In 1931 CAA built a two-story synagogue at 909 San Jacinto. The congregation continued to thrive there for the next 32 years, but by the 1960s it was evident that a larger synagogue was needed. This led to the construction of a new synagogue at 4300 Bull Creek Road. President Lyndon B. Johnson, a close friend of CAA’s then-president Jim Novy, traveled to Austin to dedicate the newly completed synagogue on December 30, 1963.
In the 1980s, with membership growing from 200 to over 350 families, Agudas Achim embarked on a building expansion project. Supported by land provided by the Dell family, the congregation began construction on the Dell Jewish Community Campus. This culminated in the completion of a new 27,500 square foot education building in December 1999 as well as a new synagogue. In March 2001 congregants hand-carried the CAA’s Torahs along a four-mile walk from the Bull Creek location to the new campus. Hundreds of congregants marched in the festive procession accompanied by klezmer music and shofarot. Today, Congregation Agudas Achim boasts over 700 families. Committed to Conservative Judaism, the congregation observes Shabbat and holiday services, offers religious education, and maintains strict kashrut. The synagogue helps families celebrate life cycle events and also offers daily morning and evening minyanim. Under the gifted leadership of Rabbis Neil Blumofe and Gail Swedroe, the synagogue serves as a vibrant center for cultural events, scholarly studies, social activities, and social action. With a renewed spirit of unity, Agudas Achim continues to grow by welcoming new members and enriching the Jewish lives of its congregants.
