Jews became part of Trinidad's social, economic, and political life after first arriving as traders along the Sante Fe Trail. Maurice and Isaac Wise opened a store on Main Street in 1867, and the Jaffa Brothers' Trading Company was established in 1872. Sam Jaffa was elected Trinidad's first mayor in 1876, and Sam, Henry, and Sol Jaffa built Trinidad's Jaffa Opera House in 1882. In 1883 Trinidad's Jewish community formally organized Southern Colorado's first Jewish congregation, which also drew members from Northern New Mexico, and fundraising began with ecumenical support from the non-Jewish community. Temple Aaron, designed by architect Isaac Hamilton Rapp in the hybrid Exotic Revival-Moorish style, was dedicated in 1889. The congregation's spiritual leader was Rabbi Leopold Freudenthal, it was affiliated with the Reform Movement, and it sponsored an early B'Nai Brith chapter. For 130 years and counting, Temple Aaron has visibly affirmed the American principles of Freedom of Assembly and Freedom of Religion.