"The Story of the Jews of Pittsburgh" (1918)
The Jewish Encyclopedia
of Western Pennsylvania
A project of the Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
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.
