Beth Yeshurun is the oldest continually active conservative Jewish congregation in Texas and has become one of the largest conservative congregations in the world. Its predecessors were Adath Yeshurun, an orthodox congregation formed in 1891, and Beth El, a conservative congregation formed in 1925. In 1946, Beth El and Adath Yeshurun merged to form Beth Yeshurun, chartered to serve both conservative and modern orthodox Judaism. William S. Malev served as senior rabbi for twenty-seven years from 1946 until his death and, as a nationally prominent figure in the Jewish conservative movement, helped advance women's ritual rights. In 1954, Beth Yeshurun established its foundation school, later known as the day school, then the only synagogue-affiliated and operated facility of its kind in the country. In 1959, the congregation began acquiring its present site on Beechnut Street, and the building was dedicated in 1962. Designed by associated architects Eugene Werlin and Lenard Gabert, Sr., the modernist synagogue, at 80,000 square feet, was one of the largest religious buildings in the South and was planned to serve the religious, educational, administrative, and social needs of more than 1,500 families. Its exterior is clad in red brick with a folded plate roof defining nine prowed bays detailed with stained glass and a redwood fascia. The central bay forms the historic main entrance, with alternating panels of abstract stained glass and clear glass in a gold anodized aluminum frame flanked by white marble panels, and a Star of David cut out of each end of the main entry roof overhang. As the congregation has grown, campus facilities have been added, and Beth Yeshurun continues to serve as a social and spiritual anchor providing worship and education services to its community.