Beth Israel Congregation (1852)

The Occident and American Jewish Advocate
National Library of Israel

Beth Israel Congregation was the second Jewish congregation in Western Pennsylvania. It was established in early 1852, as a breakaway of Shaare Shamayim Congregation. The “Polander” or “Posener” members of Shaare Shamayim left in a dispute over ownership of the Bes Almon Cemetery, which was held independently, rather than by the congregation.

Beth Israel Congregation hired Rev. Emanuel Marcusson as its spiritual leader. By the High Holidays in 1852, Beth Israel had 12 members, a place for worship, and a Torah scroll. Known members include N. Eisendrath, Leopold Jaroslawsky, and L. Tuteur.

Sometime in early 1853, the members of Beth Israel rejoined Shaare Shamayim, bringing along Rev. Marcusson as spiritual leader and appointing Jaroslawsky as president. The newly reunited congregation soon established the Hebrew Burial Association.

Bibliography

Books and Articles

  • Feldman, Jacob. “The Jewish Experience in Western Pennsylvania,” Pittsburgh: Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania, 1986 (catalog record).
  • Feldman, Jacob. “The Pioneers of a Community,” American Jewish Archives Journal, Nov. 1980. (online—American Jewish Archives).
  • Feldman, Jacob. “The early migration and settlement of the Jews in Pittsburgh, 1754-1894,” undated (online).

Documents

National Library of Israel
  • “News Items: Pittsburg,” The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, May 1852, p108 (online—National Library of Israel).
  • “News Items: Pittsburg,” The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, September 1852, p317 (online—National Library of Israel).
  • “News Items: Pittsburg,” The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, November 1852, p414 (online—National Library of Israel).
  • “News Items: Pittsburg,” The Occident and American Jewish Advocate, April 1853, p77 (online—National Library of Israel).
Newspapers.com
The American Israelite
  • “Congregation Sharai Shemaim of Pittsburg,” American Israelite, Aug. 25, 1854, p54 (online—Newspapers.com).
Leeser Digital Library
  • Nathan Gallinger to Isaac Leeser, letter, Aug. 9, 1852 (online—Leeser Digital repository).
  • Leopold Jaroslawski to Isaac Leeser, letter, Sept. 27, 1852 (online—Leeser Digital repository).
  • Nathan Gallinger to Isaac Leeser, letter, Dec. 14, 1852 (online—Leeser Digital repository).
  • Menachem Elya Marcussohn to Isaac Leeser, letter, January 1, 1853 (online—Leeser Digital repository).

Exhibit History

  • Author: Eric Lidji
  • Created: June 19, 2023
  • Current: June 19, 2023

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