Tin: .IKWISII
America
EXCYCLOPEDIA
498
Ills time; and not more than three others have left sutli an impress npon Aincriean-Jewish afTairs as lie. Minister, teaeher, organizer, translator of the ]Jil)le, editor, and piih-
a half-dozen of them as grantors in a conveyance, executed Dec. 21, 1733. of town lots, gardens, and farms. These original .settlers, all of Savannah, whose names have been recorded, were
he was in everj' way prominent jiersons were the
the ])rogenitors of families still in exThe istence in various parts of the Unite until Ins death in phia Jews. IH'JT was a leading ligiire in AmerieanJewish alVairs. He first suggested the Jewish Theolo.ijieal Seminary in New York. The tirst (lernmn congregation was the Uodeph Shalom, which received a charter on Aug. T,'. 1S02. but which no doubt had meetings at an earlier dale. The most prominent of it^ rabbis was Marcus Jastrow: the best-known cantor, Jacob Frankel. The latter acted during the Civil War as chaplain of The hospitals under the United Slates government. Congress.
first leadin.ir
Hefonn minister
installe<l in Philadel-
phia was rabbi Samuel Hirsch. Many other congregations have since been formed, more especially since 1882. when the Hussian immigration brought large
numbers
to the city.
Philadelphia has always been prominent in educaThe tirst Jewish Sunday-school was tional matters. organized there in 18:38; the Hebrew Education Society, in 1848; and the JIaimonidcs College, in 1867, The largest fund in the United States for higher Jewish education is that provided by a deed of gift from Hyman Gralz to the Mickve Israel Congregation in ti'ust, from which Gratz Colh'.sie is supported. One of the most comprehensive of works relating to Jews of any single community in Maimon- the United States is " The Jews of Philadelphia." by Henry Samuel ides
and Gratz
Morais, p'dilished in Philailelphia in
Philadelphia Jews have been prominent in many professions, in the fine arts, and in all the avenues of manufacture and commerce. Up to 1894 as many as 116 had been admitted to the bar; and the number has since been greatly increased. Three Jews served in Congress
Colleges.
18'J4.
as representatives of the state. .lews gradually made their way to the western part of the state, settling in large numlnTs in Pittsburg, which, after Phila<leli)hia. is the next largest conununity in Pennsylvania. That of Wilkesbarre is notable for its numbers and for the high character Since the Russian immigration of its members. .Tews have made their way to ever)- part of the state and there is scarcely a town of any size which is now without its community or congregation. Georgia In noui' of the colonies which afterwaril formed the United States did tbi' Jews arrive in numln-rs .so early after the establishmc'nt of the colony as in Geor.sia. On July 7, l~'ti>. Oglethorjie, its' founder and .uovernor, had assembled the colonists, who had arrived one month previously, on the site of the present city of Savannah for the purpo,se of allotting to each .settler his proportion of land. While the colonists were partaking of a public dinner, given at theclo.seof the day's ]iroceedings, there came up the Savannah river, from London, a vessel containing 40 Jewish emigrants. Their arrival was not e.xpccted; but on the whole they were kindly received. One of their number. Dr. Nunis. was esThe pecially valuable for his attention to the sick. trustees in London were opposed to the settlement of the Jews; but Oglethorpe included the names of
Charlesion. In 1774 another congregation
was started, which until the outbreak r>f the Immediately after the close .'Vmeriean Revolution. of the war many Jews returned to Savannah; and on July 7, 1786, they hired a dwelling-house for a On Xov. 30, 1790, a charter for a place (if worship. congregation, tmder the name of "Mickve Israel of Sftvannah." was .irranted. The religious exercises was gradually augnicnted
of the congregation were conducted gniluitously by Dr. de la .Slotta; and in 1820, on the occasion of the consecration of the synagogue, he delivered an address which is still a document of the very greatest
value to American-Jewish history. The synagogue was destroyed by tire in 1829, and was replaced by a substantial .structure of brick. Augusta was the next town in the state settled by Jews. The first arrival about 1S2.1 was one Florence acccmijianied by his wife. Other Augusta, fanulies followed in 1826 from Charles-
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The first congre.iration, Bne was firganized in 1846, Atlanta, Columbtis, and Macon have considerable communities; and a number of congregations are scjittered throughout the state; but the community in Savannah is still the most important. At Atlanta there is a Home for Orjiluuis, foimded and managed
Macon,
etc. ton.
Israel,
by the
Indejielideiit
Order
15'rie
Brith.
early as 1742 Jews left congregaand settled in Charleston.
South Carolina: As Savannah tion was formed
A
for seven years in street,
and its members worshiped a small wooden liouse in I'nion
in ll'tO,
near Queen street.
They purchased
a burial-
groimd in 17.')7. and in 1781 a large building in Union street which was altered and prepare<l for a synagogue. In 1791. when the congregation was incorporated, it consisted of .)! families, numbering in Two years later these had all about 400 persons. increased so
much
that a
new syna-
Charleston. gogue was erected at a cost of 820.000, which was completed in 1704. The community was augmented after the Rfvolution by a large number of Jews from Xew York, who settled in Charleston, and remained there War. Jews till the commencement of the Civil are now settled in small numbers throughout the The first Reform movwnent in any congrestate. gation in -Vmerica was instituted in Charleston in 1825.
In 1808 an attempt was made of the General Assembly of Xorth Carolina becauseof his Jewish faith. In 1820 the number of Jewish settlers in the state was estimated at 400. which was considerably augmented The larirest commuafter the emigration of 1848. nitvat th(t present time 1901 is that of Wilmington, Virginia and West Virginia: Stray Jewi.sh settlers came to Vir.srinia about 16)8, .some of whose names and transactions have been handed down. At least one Jewish soldier possibly two served
North Carolina expel a member
to
(
)
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