A Mohel's Compendium: Manuscript Record of Circumcisions (1836-1850)

Manuscript book containing 36 records of circumcisions performed by a mohel (ritual circumciser). Written in Ashkenazic Hebrew with names, places, and family names in English. The majority of the circumcisions were performed in New Orleans, Louisiana, beginning in 1836, with the last entry in New York City in 1850. This represents the most important extant Southern Jewish record of circumcisions from this early period. Early American mohel records are rare and are typically only found in institutional archives. This book predates the founding of the first synagogue in New Orleans (1827), and there is no evidence the first hazzan, Manis Jacobs, who served until 1839, also performed circumcisions.

Associated People/Businesses

• NUMEROUS NAMES 36

Geography

No geographic information available.

Subjects

• Circumcision
• Mohels

Physical Location

MuseumL2010.10.28