The Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) stopped by Selma on Tuesday to learn about both Selma’s Civil Rights History and history of Selma’s Jewish community.

The group of Jewish leaders visited the historic Brown Chapel A.M.E. Church, The Jackson House and the Edmund Pettus Bridge before arriving at Temple Mishkan Israel on Tuesday afternoon.

Rabbis from all across the United States filled the pews of the 120-year-old building to hear about its history from Temple Mishkan Israel President Ronnie Leet.

Leet provided the Rabbis with an overview of the temple’s storied past, present and hopeful future.

After allowing the group to appreciate the temple’s architectural features, including its brightly colored stained glass windows, Leet corralled the Jewish leaders into the back room where the Rabbis viewed the Selma 200 short film featuring the temple made my Blue Magnolia Films earlier this year.

“This film says in five minutes what would take me 45 minutes to say,” said Leet.

The film features a background of the temple’s construction, the four remaining members of its congregation and its new plans to renovate the building’s roof and the neighboring home the temple hopes to convert into a Jewish cultural center featuring interactive displays sharing the testimonies of past members of its congregation.

Before visiting Selma Tuesday, CCAR Chief Executive Rabbi Hara Person  wasn’t really aware of the monumental role Jewish immigrants played in shaping the city’s history.

Person called Leet’s dedication to preserving the temple moving.

“They’re so proud and they’re keeping it going,” she said. “A lot of people would just sell the building to a church or close it down.”

The history of the temple has long been important to Leet.

“Selma has a rich Jewish history,” he said. “I don’t want to lose that.”