As more Jews moved to Greenville, Mississippi they reorganized and formed Hebrew Union Congregation in 1879.  In 1880, they began building the structure for a temple on land given to them by Mrs. Harriet Blanton Theobold, a wealthy local plantation owner.  Theobold wasn't Jewish, yet her benevolence won her the nickname, “Mother of Greenville.”  The building was initially designed to serve primarily as a private school and only secondarily as a worship space. In 1870, when Greenville was officially incorporated as a town, there were approximately 25-30 Jewish families who lived within its borders.  By 1880 the congregation was growing and hired Rabbi Joseph Bogen.  He served until 1901 and was replaced by Rabbi Abraham Brill.  The present temple was constructed in 1906 with the sanctuary seating approximately 350 and with a membership by 1908 of 85 families. 
Though in 1962 Hebrew Union Congregation boasted the largest congregation in Mississippi with 200 families, today the congregation consists of about 50 families.    Hebrew Union Congregation continues to be the Jewish center of the Mississippi Delta.