Day 344: Temple Beth El, Center for Southeast Asians, South Providence, Rhode Island
📌 APIA Every Day (344) - Temple Beth El, located at 688 Broad Street in South Providence, was built in 1910 to 1911, reflecting the early 20th-century growth of Providence’s Jewish community. After the congregation moved to the East Side in 1954, the building was sold and later fell into disrepair, despite being listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. It was repeatedly named one of the Providence Preservation Society’s Most Endangered Properties. In 2024, the building was donated by entrepreneur Carolyn Rafaelian to the Center for Southeast Asians (CSEA), which plans to restore it as a multicultural community center, preserving its architectural legacy while giving it new life as a hub for community engagement.
Southeast Asian immigration to Rhode Island took root in the late 1970s and early 1980s, as the state became a key resettlement area for refugees fleeing war and political upheaval in Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Following the end of the Vietnam War and the rise of the Khmer Rouge in Cambodia, Rhode Island—particularly cities like Providence and Woonsocket—saw an influx of Southeast Asian families through federal refugee resettlement programs, often coordinated locally by organizations such as the Diocese of Providence and Dorcas International Institute. Despite these obstacles, they began to form tight-knit communities, establishing temples, businesses, and cultural associations that helped preserve their identities while gradually integrating into Rhode Island’s civic and economic life.
Written by Billy Zeng
LEARN MORE:
Whats Up Newp: Historic Temple Beth El to become community center
#apiaeveryday #templebethel #centerforsoutheasasians #asianamerican #providencepreservaionsociety #jewish #southeastasian #carolynfafaelian #vietnamese #cambodian #lao #laos #providence #woonsocket #multiculturalcenter #communitycenter #nationalregisterofgistoricplaces
