The Early Years

In the early 1920s, Jewish men living in Utah and the surrounding states traveled to Salt Lake City every two months for meetings of the Salt Lake Lodge of B’nai Brith, a fraternal and philanthropic organization. Each identified himself as an Israelite for at that point in history, that’s what they were regardless of where they lived. They discussed issues of the day and philanthropic goals of the organization. They also talked about the need to purchase a place to hold their meetings. More than a place for meetings, however, they seemed to be looking for a home, a home where they belonged, where they could be who they were. They sensed that a Jewish Center was important for nurturing Jewish identity and perhaps even for the survival of the Jews.
Salt Lake Tribune - Early Jewish Businesses

On the recommendation of the B’nai Brith members, the Enos Wall mansion on South Temple, was purchased for $75,000. Named “the Covenant House”, it opened in September, 1925, the first Jewish Community Center in Salt Lake City. The mansion had three floors. Meetings of B’nai Brith and other groups were held in the large rooms on the first floor. The dining room was large enough to seat the 200 who attended the Men and Sons B'nai Brith dinners. Women’s organizations met on the second floor where some of the bedrooms were combined to allow for a larger meeting space. The ballroom was on the third floor and used for weddings, parties, and the annual bazaar, which provided funding for the women’s organizations and the Covenant House’s annual budget of $12,000. During WWII, the Covenant House served as a Jewish USO offering servicemen holiday meals in a welcoming Jewish home.

By the mid 1940s, many Salt Lake Jews felt that the Covenant House was not fulfilling its mission of being a true community center. They had learned of the multitude of leisure activities at Jewish Community Centers in other cities that were simply not possible at the Covenant House. Still, the community had owned the Covenant House for more than 20 years and they had no other place to call home. Simon Shapiro spoke eloquently against selling the Covenant House but when the vote was taken, the community voted to sell. According to Bernie Solomon’s history, “Simon Shapiro never looked back and from that moment on, he was a staunch supporter for a new center.” In fact, when the ground-breaking ceremony for the new Jewish Community Center took place in December, 1957, it was Shapiro who turned the first shovel. 

Between 1949, when the Covenant House was sold, and 1958, when the James L. White JCC opened, Jewish organizations met at the temple and synagogue, at the Hotel Utah, the Hotel Newhouse, and at private homes.  Though less than ideal, people got used to living without a center and it was difficult to maintain the momentum for a new Jewish Community Center. 

Learn About the 17th South JCC

Learn About the Current JCC