Skip to content

Subject: Synagogues


A Church Directory for New York City, 1867: Listing 28 Synagogues A Church Directory for New York City, 1867: Listing 28 Synagogues

This book is a church directory for New York City, published in 1867. Pages 50-51 contain a listing of the 28 synagogues operating in New York City at that time. The directory provides valuable insight into the early development of Jewish communities in New York City, highlighting the growth of congregations, many stemming from Landsmannschaften (immigrant societies). The included historical context explains the significance of these congregations and their role within the evolving social landscape of the city's Jewish population.

A Guide to Philadelphia, 1868 A Guide to Philadelphia, 1868

This 1868 guidebook to Philadelphia, published by John Dainty, provides a comprehensive overview of the city, including a city map and lithographs of notable buildings. The guide lists seven Jewish synagogues in Philadelphia but notably lacks advertisements from Jewish merchants.

Benoth Israel Sheltering Home Dedication Ceremonies Benoth Israel Sheltering Home Dedication Ceremonies

This pamphlet commemorates the dedication ceremonies of the Benoth Israel Sheltering Home, held at the Baldwin Place Synagogue in Boston on October 18, 1891. The 14-page pamphlet features an illustrated front cover depicting the building and attendees. The Sheltering Home is also documented in the 1899 American Jewish Yearbook and Sarna's *The Jews of Boston*. This is a first edition, originally issued in illustrated paper wrappers.

Billhead: Work for Mikvah Israel, Repair Gate Billhead: Work for Mikvah Israel, Repair Gate

Billhead for work performed for Mikvah Israel Congregation. The bill details repairs to a gate. The billhead features a vignette of an iron door and hardware. This is bill 11 of 12. Date: December 29, 1876. Found in: Arc.MS.56, Box 10, Folder 7.

Business Card and Cornerstone Report: Clarence A. Hart and Mickve Israel Congregation Business Card and Cornerstone Report: Clarence A. Hart and Mickve Israel Congregation

This archival item consists of two parts: a business card for Clarence A. Hart, advertising military equipment at 133 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and a report detailing the articles placed in the cornerstone of the new Mickve Israel Synagogue. The report, circa 1885, lists items such as newspapers, coins, and tokens dated 1859, among them a California gold quarter-dollar deposited by nine-year-old Clarence A. Hart.

Charter and By-Laws of Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel Charter and By-Laws of Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel

This book contains the charter and by-laws of Kahal Kadosh Mikveh Israel, a Jewish synagogue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Published in 1824 by John Bioren, it represents the first printing of a charter and official incorporation of a Jewish synagogue in America. The book is a significant historical document, illustrating the early development of Jewish communities in the United States. This copy is an ex-library copy with stamps, and has contemporary wrappers (slightly chipped).

Dedication of the New Synagogue Beth El Emeth Dedication of the New Synagogue Beth El Emeth

This is a program from the dedication ceremony of Congregation Beth El Emeth in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 3, 1857. The program includes an address delivered by Reverend Solomon Jacobs. Congregation Beth El Emeth was formed by a group of pro-Isaac Leeser members of Mikvah Israel, primarily to provide Leeser with a pulpit after his retirement from Mikvah Israel. This program is significant as it documents the establishment of a new synagogue and the role of key figures in 19th-century American Judaism.

Dedication of the Temple Gates of Hope: Sermon by Edward B. M. Browne Dedication of the Temple Gates of Hope: Sermon by Edward B. M. Browne

This book commemorates the dedication of Temple Gates of Hope, a Reform congregation founded by German Jews in 1882 at 86th Street between Lexington and Park Avenues in New York City. The book includes the sermon, "The Evolution of Religion," delivered by Edward B. M. Browne on January 28, 1883, at the dedication ceremony. Published by the Jewish Herald Pub. Co., New York.

Doggett's New York City Directory for 1846-47 Doggett's New York City Directory for 1846-47

This is Doggett's New York City Directory for the years 1846-47. A significant feature of this directory is its listing of eight synagogues and a burial ground in New York City on page 36 of the appendix. The directory provides a valuable resource with names, occupations, and addresses of New York City residents during this period, offering insights into the city's demographics and the Jewish community's presence.

Engraving of New Orleans, Showing Nefutzoth Yehudah Synagogue Engraving of New Orleans, Showing Nefutzoth Yehudah Synagogue

Engraving depicting New Orleans, Louisiana, published circa mid-1850s in Germany. The print shows the Nefutzoth Yehudah (Congregation Dispersed of Judah) synagogue. This rare souvenir sheet is from a work showcasing picturesque views of famous cities, their churches, monuments, and public places. The sheet measures 15 x 21 cm and was created by Hermann S. Meyer. Dating is based on the depiction of the Odd Fellows Hall (dedicated 1852, destroyed by fire 1866) and Christ Church (whose third Gothic-style building, depicted in the lithograph, was used until the mid-1880s). The Nefutzoth Yehudah congregation occupied a renovated Christ Church building at the corner of Bourbon and Canal Streets from 1846 (date may be slightly off). The two Jewish congregations reunited in 1881 and moved to a building on Carondelet Street.

Financial Records of the 85 Race Street Bakery and Congregation Mikveh Israel: Payment for Passover Bread, Philadelphia, 1857 Financial Records of the 85 Race Street Bakery and Congregation Mikveh Israel: Payment for Passover Bread, Philadelphia, 1857

Two financial notes on a letter sheet featuring lithographs of steamships, sailing ships, and the 85 Race Street Bakery in Philadelphia. The notes detail payments for Passover bread made to William Essen's bakery by the Congregation Mikveh Israel in May 1857. One note, dated May 11, 1857, is from Isaac Rheinstrom authorizing Abraham Hart to pay Essen $80. The second note, dated May 19, 1857, confirms that A.S. Wolf, Treasurer, paid Essen $80 for the bread.

Form of Service for the Dedication of the New Synagogue of the Portuguese Hebrew Congregation Shearith Israel Form of Service for the Dedication of the New Synagogue of the Portuguese Hebrew Congregation Shearith Israel

This book contains the order of service for the dedication of the new Shearith Israel Synagogue on West 19th Street, near Fifth Avenue, in New York City, on September 12, 1860. The service, which commemorated the 206th anniversary of the arrival of the first Jews in New Amsterdam, included seven circuits of the Torah with accompanying Psalms, a discourse by Rev. A. Fischell, and a consecration prayer by Rev. J. J. Lyons. The Hebrew and English texts are presented on facing pages. The book was printed by John M. Jackson in New York. This copy is from the library of Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool.

Guide to Philadelphia, 1868 Guide to Philadelphia, 1868

This is an 1868 guide to Philadelphia featuring steel engravings of numerous buildings and sites, along with numerous advertisements. Page 101 lists seven synagogues, and page 110 lists the Hebrew Educational Society. Notably, the guide does not list any Jewish merchants or cemeteries.

Hand-colored Map of Surinam Indicating Jewish Plantations and Synagogues, circa 1769 Hand-colored Map of Surinam Indicating Jewish Plantations and Synagogues, circa 1769

A hand-colored map of Surinam (Dutch Guiana), circa 1769, depicting Jewish-owned plantations, two synagogues (including the German Synagogue), the Jewish market, and other relevant locations. Surinam, a territory of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, is situated in northeastern South America, bordered by Guyana, Brazil, and French Guiana, and the Atlantic Ocean to the north. This map shows a second synagogue, the German Synagogue, which is not present on pre-1718 maps of the area. The map was exhibited in the inaugural year-long exhibition at the National Museum of American Jewish History in Philadelphia from November 2010 to November 2011. Historical note: In 1627, Abraham van Pere, a Flushing merchant possibly of Portuguese Jewish refugee descent, founded a settlement in the Berbice River, Surinam, under a license from the Dutch West India Company. He sent settlers upriver, and later supplied goods to Dutch settlements in Essequibo.

Home and School: A Sermon Preached at the Rampart Street Synagogue Home and School: A Sermon Preached at the Rampart Street Synagogue

This 18-page sermon by Rev. I.L. Leucht was preached at the Rampart Street Synagogue in New Orleans on December 7, 1870. Published in 1871, it's a plea for support of the Jewish educational system in New Orleans. The text is in both English and German. The pamphlet is considered scarce, with only one known copy previously recorded.

Invitation to the Inaugural Dinner of the B'nai Jeshurun Educational Institute, New York, New York, 1863 Invitation to the Inaugural Dinner of the B'nai Jeshurun Educational Institute, New York, New York, 1863

Broadside invitation to the inaugural dinner of the B'nai Jeshurun Educational Institute, a college preparatory school for American Jewish children, held at the Chinese Assembly Rooms on Broadway, New York, New York, in 1863. The invitation also announces a dedication ceremony at the adjoining synagogue. It lists the board members with their addresses, including Commodore Uriah P. Levy and Captain Jonas Phillips Levy.

Legal Documents Concerning the Relocation of the Shaaray Tefila Cemetery, New York, New York, 1856-1857 Legal Documents Concerning the Relocation of the Shaaray Tefila Cemetery, New York, New York, 1856-1857

This archival collection contains three legal documents related to a lawsuit concerning the relocation of the Shaaray Tefila Cemetery in New York City. The lawsuit, filed in the New York Supreme Court on May 30, 1856, pits plaintiffs Benjamin J. Hart and David J. Levy against defendants Louis Levy, John M. Davies, Edward Josephs, Aaron S. Solomons, and Joseph Aden (trustees of Shaaray Tefila). The documents include a request for deposition of the plaintiffs (dated May 30, 1856), a copy of an affidavit from Alexander Kursheet for the defendants (filed June 20, 1856), and a group of possibly incomplete draft documents. The suit stemmed from a New York State law passed in 1850-1851 prohibiting further burials in Lower Manhattan, prompting Shaaray Tefila to establish the Beth Olam Cemetery in 1851 with two other Manhattan congregations. The documents detail the legal proceedings surrounding the sale and relocation of the original Shaaray Tefila cemetery. The Shaaray Tefila Synagogue, founded in 1845, was officially chartered in 1848 by primarily English and Dutch Jews who had previously been members of B'nai Jeshurun. Its first rabbi, Samuel Isaacs, was one of few English-speaking rabbis in the United States at the time and remained in that post until 1877.

Letter from Abraham De Young to Isaac Leeser Regarding the Formation of a Congregation in Lafayette, Louisiana, November 9, 1849 Letter from Abraham De Young to Isaac Leeser Regarding the Formation of a Congregation in Lafayette, Louisiana, November 9, 1849

A one-page letter written by Abraham De Young, President of a newly formed congregation in Lafayette, Louisiana, to Isaac Leeser on November 9, 1849. The letter announces the congregation's new rented temple and lists its officers: Jacob Meyer (VP), H. Asher (VP), Benjamin Goldenberg (Trustee), B. Frank (Trustee), Julius Sayer (Secretary), and N. Grunsburger (Treasurer). An excerpt from a later Occident article provides an update on the congregation's status and membership.

Letter from L. Freudenthal to Charles Ilfeld, January 6, 1893 Letter from L. Freudenthal to Charles Ilfeld, January 6, 1893

Letter from L. Freudenthal, Rabbi of Congregation Aaron in Trinidad, Colorado, to Charles Ilfeld in Las Vegas, New Mexico, dated January 6, 1893. Freudenthal expresses thanks for a contribution. Congregation Aaron was formed in 1883 and built in 1889; Freudenthal served as rabbi for over 20 years.

Letter from Lewis Samuel to Isaac Leeser, September 9, 1852 Letter from Lewis Samuel to Isaac Leeser, September 9, 1852

A one and one-quarter page letter written by Lewis Samuel of Liverpool, England, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 9, 1852. Samuel responds positively to a prospectus for Leeser's Bible translation, orders copies, and offers publishing suggestions. He also expresses his views on congregants deemed unworthy of religious roles.

Letter from Louis Spanier to Isaac Leeser, August 4, 1850 Letter from Louis Spanier to Isaac Leeser, August 4, 1850

A one-page letter written in German (with a provided translation) by Louis Spanier of Albany, New York, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1850. Spanier expresses his disdain for Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise and urges Leeser to publicly censure him. The letter foreshadows a contentious event at Beth-El in Albany the following month.

Letter from Moses N. Nathan to Isaac Leeser, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 9, 1853 Letter from Moses N. Nathan to Isaac Leeser, New Orleans, Louisiana, January 9, 1853

Four-page letter written by Reverend Moses N. Nathan to Reverend Isaac Leeser on January 9, 1853, from New Orleans, Louisiana. Nathan discusses his departure from his position at the K.K. Beni Israel Synagogue, his financial difficulties, and his relationship with Judah Touro. The letter provides insight into the challenges faced by Orthodox rabbis in mid-19th-century American congregations.

Letter from W. B. Simmons to Isaac Leeser, July 19, 1844 Letter from W. B. Simmons to Isaac Leeser, July 19, 1844

Two-page letter written by W. B. Simmons of St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, to Isaac Leeser in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 19, 1844. Simmons details the recent death of his wife, discusses challenges within the St. Thomas Jewish community, including the dismissal of the Hazan, Mr. Carrillon, and mentions book and newspaper matters.

Letters from New York Letters from New York

This book, published in 1843, is a collection of letters written by Maria L. Childs detailing her travels and observations in New York. Childs's letters cover a range of topics, including her visit to a German synagogue in September 1841 (pp. 25-35), slavery, Native Americans, and daily life in the city. This is a first edition.

Map of Paramaribo, Suriname, 1791 Map of Paramaribo, Suriname, 1791

Engraved map of Paramaribo, Suriname, created in London in 1791 by J. Johnson. The map depicts the Portuguese Synagogue (letter 'G') and the German Synagogue (letter 'H'). The map measures 8 1/2" x 11".

Map of Paramaribo, Suriname, Showing the Portuguese Synagogue (1799) Map of Paramaribo, Suriname, Showing the Portuguese Synagogue (1799)

French copper plate engraving map of Paramaribo, Suriname, titled "Plan de la Ville de Paramaribo Suivant les Plans Hollandois." Created in 1799 by Pierre François Tardieu in Paris. The map measures 8 x 5.5 inches and includes the annotation "Sinagogue Portugais" (Portuguese Synagogue). Unlike another map in this collection (item 1.300), this map does not depict the German Synagogue.

Map of Suriname Showing the Congregation Beraha VeSalom Synagogue, 1687 Map of Suriname Showing the Congregation Beraha VeSalom Synagogue, 1687

Hand-colored copperplate engraving map of Suriname, likely from the second edition of Johannes van Keulen's *Zee-Atlas*, depicting the coastline, rivers, and settlements, including the location of the Congregation Beraha VeSalom Synagogue in Jodensavanne. Published in Amsterdam in 1687 by Johannes van Keulen. Shows the earliest cartographic evidence of the second synagogue built in Suriname.

Mincha and Maariv Prayerbook (Portuguese Rite) Mincha and Maariv Prayerbook (Portuguese Rite)

This is a two-volume prayer book containing the afternoon (Mincha) and evening (Maariv) services according to the Portuguese Jewish rite. Published in Amsterdam in 1865 by Lopes Cardozo Jr., it belonged to Reverend Chazan J.J. Levie, who served the Jewish Community of Paramaribo from 1860 to 1888. His handwriting and name appear within the book.

Miniature Synagogue Ark and Bema: American Folk Art, circa 1930s-1940s Miniature Synagogue Ark and Bema: American Folk Art, circa 1930s-1940s

Miniature synagogue ark (Aron Kodesh) and bema (podium) crafted in the American folk art style, circa 1930s-1940s. The ark features inlaid contrasting woods, free-standing turned columns, and a crest with a large Star of David flanked by stylized lions. The ark's interior, illuminated and rewired (preserving the original wiring), displays floral decoration and a miniature Torah or Megillah. The accompanying bema is of similar design and construction. Made in Detroit, Michigan (if before 1940). A full description of the origin and maker is included in the provenance information.

Minutes Book of the B'nai Israel Congregation, Keokuk, Iowa, 1885-1906 Minutes Book of the B'nai Israel Congregation, Keokuk, Iowa, 1885-1906

Handwritten minutes book of the B'nai Israel Congregation, Keokuk, Iowa, covering the period 1885-1906. The 206-page ledger includes a 1902 copy of the 1855 deed for the congregation's cemetery on the last page (#384). This book represents the earliest surviving communal records of the Keokuk Jewish community. The book also contains approximately 25 additional documents, including letters related to congregation affairs and bill heads. Keokuk, Iowa, had one of the largest Jewish communities in the Midwest during the 1880s. B'nai Israel Congregation was the first permanent Jewish house of worship in Iowa, founded in 1855, with a permanent synagogue built at 8th and Blondeau streets in 1877.

Minutes of the Congregation Mikveh Israel Election of Isaac Leeser as Hazan, September 6, 1829 Minutes of the Congregation Mikveh Israel Election of Isaac Leeser as Hazan, September 6, 1829

One-page handwritten document recording the election of Isaac Leeser as Hazan (cantor) of Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on September 6, 1829. The document, signed by Abraham Myers Cohen, Secretary pro tem, details the election process and the resolution to engage Leeser for a two-year term at a salary of eight hundred dollars per annum. A subsequent resolution appointed a committee to inform Leeser of his appointment. This document is significant as it marks the beginning of Leeser's career as a prominent American Jewish leader and writer.

New York Illustrated News, May 14, 1853: Featuring Congregation Rodeph Sholom New York Illustrated News, May 14, 1853: Featuring Congregation Rodeph Sholom

Complete issue of the New York Illustrated News, dated May 14, 1853, featuring an illustration of the interior of the new Jewish Synagogue, Congregation Rodeph Sholom, located on Clinton Street between Stanton and Houston Streets in New York City. The newspaper also includes illustrations and reports on Henri Franconi and his horse Bayard, the Latting Observatory at the New York Crystal Palace, the opening night of the Hippodrome, the ruins of a recent fire in Boston, Massachusetts, and the Norwalk Railroad calamity.

Order of Prayers and Responsive Readings for Jewish Worship Order of Prayers and Responsive Readings for Jewish Worship

This book, published by Isaac S. Moses in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1884, provides a set order of prayers and responsive readings for Jewish worship. The book likely contains traditional Jewish prayers and liturgical texts arranged for congregational use. Further details on the specific prayers and their arrangement would require examination of the book's contents.

Order of Service: Consecration of the Synagogue of the United Congregation of Israelites, Kingston, Jamaica Order of Service: Consecration of the Synagogue of the United Congregation of Israelites, Kingston, Jamaica

This 16-page octavo pamphlet contains the order of service for the consecration of the Synagogue of the United Congregation of Israelites in Kingston, Jamaica, on July 19, 1888 (19 Tammuz 5648). The service was conducted by Reverend Solomon Jacobs, the congregation's minister. The text is presented bilingually in Hebrew and English on facing pages. The pamphlet commemorates the completion of a new synagogue building, replacing one that had previously burned down. The United Congregation of Israelites resulted from a merger of Kingston's Sephardic and Ashkenazic congregations.

Order of the Consecration of the New Synagogue of the Congregation B'nai Israel Order of the Consecration of the New Synagogue of the Congregation B'nai Israel

This is a program for the consecration ceremony of the new synagogue of Congregation B'nai Israel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, held on Thursday, January 8, 1857 (12th of Tebeth 5617). Published by R. Stein, the program details the order of service for the event. The Congregation B'nai Israel was founded by Dutch Ashkenazi Jews in the 1850s and served as an important ethnic synagogue before merging with other congregations in 1879.

Postcard: Jewish Synagogue in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Postcard: Jewish Synagogue in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Postcard depicting a Jewish synagogue with the Pennsylvania State Capitol building in the background. The postcard is undated, but based on architectural styles, it may date from the late 19th or early 20th century. The image shows the synagogue's exterior and is possibly located on Second Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Preface to a Book Dedicated to the Rabbis of the Amsterdam Synagogue Preface to a Book Dedicated to the Rabbis of the Amsterdam Synagogue

This pamphlet comprises the preface pages to an unknown book dedicated to the Rabbis of the Amsterdam Synagogue. Written in a tongue-in-cheek style, the dedication suggests the main book might be "The Translator of the Letters Juives." The preface is printed on 18th-century laid paper and likely dates from around 1780, based on the style and paper used. The authors or dedicators are listed as Aaron Monceca, Jacob Brito, and Isaac Onis. The name Haagse Snoge is also associated with this pamphlet.

Report on the Revision of the Liturgy of the Nefutzot Yehudah Congregation, New Orleans, and the Objections of Rabbi Joseph H. M. Chumaceiro Report on the Revision of the Liturgy of the Nefutzot Yehudah Congregation, New Orleans, and the Objections of Rabbi Joseph H. M. Chumaceiro

This 11-page book, from the library of Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool, records the proposed changes to the liturgy of New Orleans' Portuguese Congregation Nefutzot Yehudah (Dispersed of Judah) in 1875. It details the motions supporting the revisions and the counterarguments presented by Rabbi Joseph Hayim Mendes Chumaceiro, who opposed the changes. The Congregation Nefutzot Yehudah merged with Congregation Shaarei Chesed in 1881 to form the present-day Touro Synagogue of New Orleans.

Richardson's Almanac, 1861: Cotton Edition Richardson's Almanac, 1861: Cotton Edition

This is Richardson's Almanac for the year 1861, a Cotton Edition. The almanac features a full-page spread dedicated to the Jewish calendar and includes information on the two Richmond synagogues, specifying the times for commencing the Sabbath. The synagogues' founding years are noted as 1791 and 1841.

Seder Chanukath HaBayith: Order of Service for the Consecration of Shaaray Tefila Synagogue Seder Chanukath HaBayith: Order of Service for the Consecration of Shaaray Tefila Synagogue

This 1847 book contains the Hebrew and English order of service for the consecration of Congregation Shaaray Tefila, located on Wooster Street in New York City. Published by J. M. Jackson, the book features type-ornament borders on each page. It is from the library of Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool and represents an early example of the liturgy used by this congregation, which later transitioned from Orthodox to Reform Judaism.

Sermão Moral e Panegírico Sermão Moral e Panegírico

This is a printed sermon delivered by Rabbi Jacob Lopes da Fonseca at Congregation Mikveh Israel in Curaçao in 1780. The sermon, in Portuguese and Hebrew, was given in honor of David Morales. Jacob Lopes da Fonseca (1736-1815) was the first rabbi born in the Americas, having studied at the Eits Haim Seminary in Amsterdam before returning to Curaçao in 1764 to serve as chief rabbi for 52 years.

Sermon Delivered at the Consecration of the Synagogue Adas Israel Sermon Delivered at the Consecration of the Synagogue Adas Israel

This pamphlet contains the sermon delivered by Reverend James Koppel Gutheim at the consecration of the Adas Israel Synagogue in Louisville, Kentucky, on Nissan 7, 5609 (March 30, 1849). The sermon reflects the religious and communal context of the Jewish community in Louisville at the time. The pamphlet is listed in Singerman's bibliography with four known copies.

Stereoscopic Photograph of Congregation Emanu-El, New York, New York, circa 1885 Stereoscopic Photograph of Congregation Emanu-El, New York, New York, circa 1885

Stereoscopic photograph depicting Congregation Emanu-El in New York, New York, circa 1885. The image shows the congregation's Moorish-style building located on Fifth Avenue and 43rd Street, designed by Leopold Eidlitz. This building is described as "a vivid combination of Viollet-le-Duc's structural theories and Saracenic ornament" (Robert A. M. Stern, Gregory Gilmartin, and Thomas Mellins, *New York 1930, Architecture and Urbanism between the Two World Wars*, Rizzoli International, 1987). The photograph is part of the School Set Series II, No. 37.

Synagogue Service of the Congregation B'nai Jeshurun Synagogue Service of the Congregation B'nai Jeshurun

This 10-page book contains the order of service for Congregation B'nai Jeshurun, adopted on July 25th and August 22nd, 1869. The service is primarily in English with significant use of Hebrew. It includes orders of service, codes of conduct, and dress regulations established by the congregation. This copy is from the library of Rabbi Dr. David de Sola Pool and was published by L.H. Frank in New York.

Synopsis of Jewish History from the Return from the Babylonish Captivity to the Days of Herod the Great Synopsis of Jewish History from the Return from the Babylonish Captivity to the Days of Herod the Great

This book provides a synopsis of Jewish history from the return of the Jews from Babylonian captivity to the time of Herod the Great (circa 1859). It details the different Jewish sects of that era, the development and usage of synagogues and schools, the origins and implementation of Jewish prayer, the Urim and Thummim, the Mishna (oral law), and the completion of the Gemara, which comprises the Talmud. The author was Rabbi Henry A. Henry, the first rabbi of Congregation Sherith Israel in San Francisco.

Tanner's Picture of Philadelphia and Its Environs Tanner's Picture of Philadelphia and Its Environs

This 1840 book, "Tanner's Picture of Philadelphia and Its Environs," provides a description of Philadelphia and its surrounding areas. The book contains 156 pages and notably lists the three Jewish synagogues in Philadelphia on page 56. The accompanying map is missing from this copy.

The Beth Elohim Organ Controversy: A Lawsuit in Charleston, South Carolina, 1843 The Beth Elohim Organ Controversy: A Lawsuit in Charleston, South Carolina, 1843

This 34-page pamphlet details a lawsuit between members of Congregation Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina, concerning the installation of an organ in 1840. The dispute highlighted the conflict between traditional and reform Jewish practices in the United States. The lawsuit, printed on May 25, 1843, provides detailed accounts of the allegations and arguments presented in court, ultimately representing a significant early victory for the Reform movement in America. The case's resolution established a precedent for future disputes over religious practices within American synagogues.

The Hebrew Language Demonstrated on Ollendorff's Method: Practical Parts 1 & 2 The Hebrew Language Demonstrated on Ollendorff's Method: Practical Parts 1 & 2

This book, published in 1850 in New York City by J. M. Jackson, is a two-part Hebrew language textbook based on Ollendorff's method. It was printed at the first Hebrew publishing house in New York City, founded by Solomon Jackson. The author, G. M. Cohen, was a prominent cantor and educator, known for introducing modern pedagogical techniques into Hebrew education and establishing the first permanent synagogue choir in America. The text emphasizes a practical approach to learning Hebrew.

Wedding Invitation: Baer and Nieto, New York, June 6, 1888 Wedding Invitation: Baer and Nieto, New York, June 6, 1888

This item consists of a tripartite wedding invitation suite for the marriage of Thersa Baer and David Nieto. The invitation announces a ceremony at the Nineteenth Street Synagogue in New York City, followed by a dinner at Mazetti's restaurant. Published in New York, New York on June 6, 1888.