Subject: Charity

Collection of materials related to fundraising efforts by the Arion Lodge and Arion Temple, circa 1930. The materials mention a "Buck for Luck" campaign, a Passover Relief Fund, and the distribution of food baskets. Further details about the nature of the materials are limited.

Autograph letter written by Joseph Gibbs Barker to Frederick Chapman on February 7, 1828, in London, England. The letter discusses a request for financial assistance from Wolf Levi and the policies of the London Society for Promoting Christianity Amongst the Jews regarding such requests. Barker expresses concerns about the motives of those seeking aid from the Society.

Billhead from L. Straus & Sons, importers of earthenware, china, glassware, cutlery, and trays, as well as manufacturers of lamps, located at No. 44 Warren Street, New York City. Dated January 19, 1874. The billhead features ornate, script lettering and lists the buyer as 'M. Cou: of Charities' (likely the New York City charity, the 'Council of Charities'). The bill lists a single item purchased, likely a light fixture or lamp, for the 'Epileptic Hospital'. The billhead indicates 'Terms: Cash' and was shipped to 'W.S. Bimbo.'

Yiddish broadside announcing a public meeting at the National Bank Hall, 203 Pine Street, Philadelphia, on December 31, 1891, at 7 PM. The meeting was called to discuss an urgent letter from Rabbi Joshua Leib Diskin regarding the solicitation of funds for Kollel America. The call was issued in the name of Philadelphia's rabbinate. The broadside mentions Kollel America of Rebbe Meir Ba'al ha-Nes, which solicited funds for the poor of Eretz Israel.

Broadside advertising a performance of the play "The Mistletoe Bough" at the Academy of Music in New York City on Tuesday evening, April 10, 1876. The performance was a benefit for the Mount Vernon Endowment Fund. The broadside lists prominent attendees, including Mrs. Uriah Hendricks (Fanny Tobias Hendricks, 1809-1881).

Printed broadside issued by a Baltimore Citizens' Committee, chaired by Mayor General Samuel Smith, on or about December 23, 1835. The broadside appeals for aid for New York City following the Great Fire of 1835, detailing the committee's efforts to offer relief and suggesting Congressional action to alleviate the economic consequences of the disaster. The document is accompanied by two manuscript letters (described below) addressed to U.S. Congressman Gideon Lee, providing firsthand accounts of the fire's devastation and suggesting federal intervention. The letters express the scale of the destruction, the financial ruin of insurance companies, and the need for national support.

Broadside invitation from the Directors of the Baltimore United Hebrew Assistance Society to a general meeting at Rechabite Hall on February 1, 1853. The invitation expresses concern over declining membership and increasing needs of the poor, warning that the Society may cease to exist if the trend continues. It contrasts the situation in Baltimore with other cities where such societies are thriving.

A broadside promoting the Jewish Relief Campaign. The broadside features imagery of a loaf of bread with the word "SHARE" on it, and text emphasizing the need for aid for those "in the shadow of death". While the exact publication date is unknown, contextual clues suggest it may relate to post-World War I relief efforts.

Handwritten by-laws of the Maccabean Zion Circle, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, circa 1900. The document is written in Yiddish and English and decorated with charity stamps in the shape of a Jewish star.

Cast iron charity (tzedakah) box in the shape of a safe with a locking door and coin slot. Made of green and black metal. Below the coin slot, it reads "Alms" in English and "Tzedakah" in Hebrew. Circa 1880. This item was never previously cataloged.

A collection of seven daily newspapers, numbered 1 through 7, published from January 1, 1888 to December 8, 1888, in Chicago, Illinois. These newspapers covered the events of a Jewish charity fair organized by the Young Men's Hebrew Charity Association and the Ladies Sewing and Aid Society. The papers contain news and social updates related to the fair.

Decision of the Deputies of the States of North Holland concerning a request from M. Suasso da Costa to support indigent members of the Suasso Family Fund. This legal document, dated April 18, 1844, is part of a larger collection of manuscripts relating to the Dutch-Jewish noble families de Pinto and Lopes. It is related to a will and the administration of the Suasso Family Fund.

A ticket for free services at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated December 19, 1893. The ticket is in English, German, Yiddish, and Italian and indicates that free services are only for the truly poor. Instructions for return are included.

Check for $5000 issued to the Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society of the City of New York on July 10, 1869. The check is endorsed by Henry Goldsmith, Secretary of the Asylum, and signed by Mayor A. Oakley Hall and Comptroller Richard B. Connolly. Hall and Connolly were associated with the corrupt Tweed Ring.

Invitation and ticket to the Hebrew Charity Ball held at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia on February 15, 1898. The four-page brochure-style invitation lists eight Jewish charitable organizations in Philadelphia and details their work, primarily serving the poor, sick, women, and immigrants. Organizations mentioned include the United Hebrew Charities, the Jewish Hospital Association, the Orphans' Guardians, and the Association of Jewish Immigrants. The back of the invitation lists over 90 officers and members of the Hebrew Charity Ball Association, including prominent merchants such as Benjamin Gimbel, Samuel Lit, and Joseph Fels. The ticket, included with the invitation, was priced at $5. The invitation highlights the significant role of these organizations in supporting vulnerable members of Philadelphia's Jewish community.

Printed invitation to a fair held on December 18, 1886, in New York, NY, to benefit the Montefiore Home for Chronic Invalids. The invitation is addressed to Frederick Cook, Secretary of State of New York.

Invitation to a Soirée Dansante held at Dodworth's Academy in New York City on January 5, 1858, issued by the Society for the Relief of Indigent Persons of the Jewish Persuasion. The invitation is printed on a ticket and includes the location (806 Broadway).

Invitation to assist with the preparation of clothing for the deceased, issued in Paramaribo, Suriname in August 1938 by Chesed Weemeth. The invitation is part of the Willy Lindwer Suriname Collection.

Printed invitation to the annual festival of the Baltimore United Hebrew Assistance Society, held on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 1854, in Baltimore, Maryland. The invitation was issued by Ignatius Lauer and S. G. Putzel, the Society's President and Secretary, respectively. This is the earliest known surviving invitation for a charity event held by the Baltimore United Hebrew Assistance Society.

Printed invitation to Isaac Leeser for the second annual Hebrew Charity Dinner, to be held on December 18, 1853, at Mikveh Israel Synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The invitation is signed by A. Hart, Jos. Newhouse, and I. Binswanger, and was folded for hand delivery.

A two and a half page letter written by a father in New York City to his son Jacob on December 26, 1835. The letter, which is numbered 7, offers advice on living a meaningful life, emphasizing kindness, charitable work, and the importance of encouraging labor over mere alms-giving. Portions of the letter containing checks or bills of exchange have been removed, resulting in a missing address. The letter's content is otherwise complete.

Letter from A. H. Hart and I. Binswanger to Reverend Isaac Leeser and M. A. Dropsie expressing gratitude for their speeches at the first annual charity dinner. A copy of the resolution is included in the letter. Written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 13, 1853.

A small note written by E. Wolff to Isaac Leeser in New York City on December 15, 1856. Wolff encloses free tickets to the Ladies Fair and requests a contribution.

Letter from George Randorf, Agent of the Association of Jewish Immigrants, to Louis E. Levy, President of the Association, dated August 8, 1890. The letter discusses an immigrant woman and her five children who arrived in Philadelphia without their husband and are facing potential deportation due to concerns about becoming a burden on the community. The letter is written on organizational letterhead.

A Hebrew letter dated 18 Shevat 1850, written from Amsterdam by Jakob Meir Lehren and Zalman Rubens of the Pekidim ve-ha-amarkalim Society to Yitzchak Dov HaLevi Bamberger and Abraham Wechsler. The letter discusses issues with a charity collector misappropriating funds intended for indigent Jews in Eretz Israel, disputes between Sephardic and Ashkenazic agents collecting funds in America, and the death of a collector sent by Chief Rabbi Chaim Abraham Gaguin. It also requests that R. Bamberger not issue a proclamation against the organization's collectors. The letter is four pages long, written in Hebrew.

Letter from Jon. Ehrlich, Agent of the Association of Jewish Immigrants, to Louis E. Levy, President of the Association of Jewish Immigrants. Written on organizational letterhead, the letter discusses the Lerman family and their need for assistance in sending money to New York to retrieve their baggage from Russia. Philadelphia, PA and New York, NY. September 25, 1890.

A one and a half page letter from Joseph R. Blaudon (?), dated February 2, 1853, in New York City, providing Isaac Leeser with a brief update on Jewish charitable institutions in New York City. The letter is written in English.

A 1 ¼ page letter written by L. Jarodawski of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on November 11, 1852. Jarodawski describes the illness and impending death of Mr. Levy, who had traveled to Pittsburgh from Philadelphia. He appeals to Leeser to mediate with Mr. Levy's brother, Tobias, concerning the financial burden placed on Pittsburgh's small Jewish community (30 families) by Mr. Levy's illness and inability to pay.

A single-page letter from M. A. Mitchell, president of the United Hebrew Beneficient Society in Philadelphia, to Isaac Leeser, dated August 24, 1866. Mitchell informs Leeser that the Society lacks funds and is unable to provide relief, requesting that Leeser refrain from issuing recommendations for charity. This letter provides insight into the financial difficulties and eventual dissolution of the Society around 1869.

A one-page letter written by M. M. Davis of New York, New York, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 9, 1866. Davis requests Leeser's assistance in finding a Catholic orphanage in Philadelphia to train a young girl in domestic service, citing Leeser's extensive connections with charitable institutions. He also inquires about Leeser's health. The letter includes a few lines of response in Leeser's handwriting.

One-page letter written in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on March 7, 1848, from Moses Geisenberger to Philip Weitsel in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania. Geisenberger encloses payment for a barrel of Bedford spring water and promises further explanation in person the following summer. The letter includes a "LANCASTER/Pa." cds postmark and a blue "5" rate handstamp.

Letter from Nathaniel Levin in Charleston, South Carolina, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, dated November 3, 1852. Levin forwards a charity sermon by Rev. Solomon Jacobs for printing and discusses a potential reunion with the reformed congregation. Levin was the government inspector of imports and later wrote the history of Temple Beth Elohim.

Letter written on office letterhead by S. Haibloom, secretary of the Jewish Immigrant's Protection Society of New York, to George Raudorf, Esq., on August 11, 1890. The letter requests assistance with an enclosed letter, as per the request of Hon. Ferdinand Levy, President of the Jewish Immigrant's Protection Society of New York. The letter originates from 10 Battery Place, New York, NY.

Lottery ticket number 57 for a 1/4 share in the 1803 Lottery for the Relief of Poor Widows with Small Children. The ticket is signed by Naphtali Judah, Bookseller and Stationer, located at No. 84 Maiden-Lane, New York City. The verso is blank.

Issue of the Pennsylvania Packet, and Daily Advertiser newspaper published in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 22, 1785. Includes a story titled "Anecdote of a Jew," detailing a German Jew's delayed repayment of a debt to his savior from a shipwreck.

Four-page printed program for a Mendelssohn concert held at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Boston, Massachusetts, on Sunday afternoon, April 7, 1888. The concert benefited the South End Industrial School. The program includes details of the musical selections and performers.

Receipt for dues paid to the Society for the Education of Poor Children and Relief of Indigent Persons of the Jewish Persuasion in New York City. The receipt is dated December 12, 1842, and signed by M. H. Cardoza, Secretary of the Society. The recipient of the payment was Henry Hendricks.

Handwritten receipt from S. Steinheiser & Bro. to Charity Lodge No. 6, Independent Order of Odd Fellows (I.O.O.F.), for goods or services. The receipt is dated August 21, 1852, in Stockton, California, United States. Charles Walles' name appears on the receipt.

Tin charity box painted black and gilded with "Roxbury Mutual Society" in English and Hebrew. The box is from the Roxbury section of Boston, Massachusetts, and is similar in form to European charity boxes. The Roxbury Mutual Society was founded in 1892.

Silk ribbon used as a souvenir or decoration for the Hebrew Charity Ball. The ribbon features the words "MASTER OF CEREMONIES OF THE HEBREW CHARITY BALL" printed in large blue lettering and includes gold braided fringe. Printed by Scheler Printer and Bookbinder. Date: February 15, 1882.

Silver presentation bowl inscribed "PRESENTED BY THE LADIES HEBREW BENEVOLENT SOCIETY TO THEIR PRESIDENT MRS. JOHANNA DAVIS JULY 24TH 1880." The inscription also refers to a charter from 1864 (item 17.115) and a marriage certificate from 1853 with the name Chas. Davis (item 18.58).

Sterling silver wine cup with three handles, presented to Samuel D. Levy on his birthday, January 12, 1902, by the Hebrew Sheltering Guardian Society (H.S.G.S.) of New York. The cup features an inscription commemorating the occasion. It is a ritual washing cup.

Ticket stub and rule sheet for the Purim Association Fancy Dress Ball held on March 15, 1881. The event was a fundraiser for the Building Fund of the Hebrew Benevolent and Orphan Asylum Society in New York City. The ticket features lithographic artwork depicting Queen Esther on her throne, surrounded by children in ragged clothes, a jester offering a coin, and a masked prince and princess. The rule sheet includes a 'No Smoking' rule. This item provides insight into 19th-century Jewish community life in New York City and fundraising practices for charitable organizations.

This trade card advertises C.H. Meussdorffer, located at 151 Front Street in Portland, Oregon. The front of the card features an image of a child and a blind man begging. The back of the card is blank.

This book contains twelve sermons delivered at the annual meetings of the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Baltimore from 1856-1873. All sermons were delivered in December to the members of the Hebrew Benevolent Society of Baltimore, the first Jewish charity in Baltimore, founded in 1843. The sermons were given by Rabbi Henry Hochheimer, who served as Baltimore's rabbi from 1849-1859. Published in Baltimore by Bingswagner.