Beth Israel Congregation (1896)

Beth Israel Congregation was founded in 1896 by Jewish immigrants who came largely from parts of the Russian Empire.^[1]The Beth Israel Congregation chartered in 1896 was one of at least four distinct and unrelated congregations in Allegheny County sharing that name. The other three were the short-lived Beth Israel … Continue reading The congregation obtained a charter in 1896 with the following members listed: Samuel Frankel, Harry Frischman, Jacob Fishoff, Max Fushauske, Solomon Landman, Pinkus Leiblich (president), Morris Schneider, Elias Turner, and David Wurhaft. Solomon Landman had been previously associated with Agudas Achim Congregation and was later associated with the Beth Abraham Cemetery Association. David Wurhaft was also later associated with the short-lived Congregation Ezras Tzadickim and with the Beth Abraham Cemetery Association. Pinkus Leiblich appears to have later joined Congregation Poale Zedeck.

As early as 1898, Beth Israel Congregation appears to have acquired the Crawford Street synagogue constructed four years earlier by Agudas Achim Congregation. Beth Israel employed Rev. Julius Bloom as its spiritual leader for several months during 1898, but by the end of that year was unable to pay his salary.^[2]Beth Israel-Rev. Bloom legal notice, Pittsburgh Post, Oct. 19, 1898 (online—Newspapers.com). In March 1900, the Crawford Street synagogue building was sold the Poale Zedeck Congregation at a public auction.^[3]“Beth Israel Synagogue Sold,” Pittsburgh Commercial Gazette, March 10, 1900 (online—Newspapers.com). Beth Israel and Poale Zedeck went to court in late 1901 over details of the sale agreement.^[4]“Two Churches as Litigants,” Pittsburgh Post, Nov. 16, 1901 (online—Newspapers.com).

Bibliography

• Beth Israel Congregation charter, Allegheny County Charter Books, Vol 23, p. 244 (online).

Exhibit history

• Author: Eric Lidji
• Original: October 25, 2023
• Current: October 25, 2023