Guide to the Records of Congregation Beth Israel (Hartford, Connecticut), 1920-1999
*I-464
Reprocessed by Stephanie Call
Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS
99-101 Newbury St.
Boston, MA 02116
Email: jhcreference@nehgs.org
URL: jewishheritagecenter.org
© 2019 Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS, Boston, MA. All Rights Reserved.
Machine-readable finding aid created by Stephanie Call as MS Word document, March 2010. Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on September 2, 2010. Description is in English.
Descriptive Summary | |
Creator: | Congregation Beth Israel (Hartford, Connecticut) |
---|---|
Title: | Congregation Beth Israel (Hartford, Connecticut), records |
Dates: | 1920-1999 |
Abstract: | Congregation Beth Israel was founded in 1843 and is Connecticut's oldest synagogue. Originally established as an Orthodox congregation, the synagogue eventually converted to Reform and was one of the founding members of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Union for Reform Judaism) in 1877. This collection includes event flyers, programs for services, sermons, anniversary books with historical information, and bulletins. |
Languages: | The collection is in English. |
Quantity: | 2 linear feet (4 manuscript boxes) |
Identification: | I-464 |
Repository: | American Jewish Historical Society |
Location: | Located in AJHS, Boston, MA. |
Historical Note1
Congregation Beth Israel, Hartford, Connecticut
Congregation Beth Israel was founded in 1843 and is Connecticut's oldest synagogue. Originally established as an Orthodox congregation, the synagogue eventually converted to Reform and was one of the founding members of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Union for Reform Judaism) in 1877. In 1854, the Ladies' Deborah Society was established, which operated as a charitable group within the synagogue. Until 1856, the congregation met in congregants' homes and buildings throughout the city. The first building to house the synagogue, "Touro Hall," was also the first synagogue in Hartford, but was partially destroyed by fire in 1875. The synagogue then moved to Charter Oak Avenue, where it remained until 1935. In 1868, the synagogue purchased land on Zion Hill for their cemetery, which was dedicated in 1874. The current synagogue building is on Farmington Avenue in West Hartford.
Chronology | |
1843 | Congregation established in Hartford. |
1847 | Rev. Moses L. Strauss is contracted as ritual slaughterer and cantor. |
1847 | Congregation meets at the home of A. Rothenberg on Mill Street. |
1848-1850 | Congregation meets in a hall on Main Street. |
1848-1850 | David Engel is the first sexton. |
1849 | Mr. L. Mossbacher is hired as the first teacher for the religious school. |
1850-1857 | Meets in "Potter's Building" at 15 Market Street. |
1853 | Constitution and by-laws drafted. |
1854 | Ladies' Deborah Society established. |
1854 | Lot on Pearl Street purchased for synagogue building. The congregation later exchanges this land for the North Baptist Church on Main Street. |
1856 | "Touro Hall" becomes the first synagogue in Hartford. |
1856 | Rev. Isaac Meyer becomes the first Rabbi of the Congregation. |
1856 | The first choir is introduced, and family pews are established. |
1865 | Touro Hall is remodeled and enlarged. |
1867 | Rev. M.S. Weiner becomes Rabbi. |
1868 | Lots on Zion Hill are purchased for cemetery. |
Footnote
1 Information for this administrative sketch is from the following resources:
"History." Congregation Beth Israel. August 17, 2010 (http://www.cbict.org/whoWeAre/index.html)
Materials from the collection.
Scope and Content Note
This collection consists of flyers, invitations and programs concerning the Congregation's 100th and 125th Anniversaries, general miscellaneous materials and printed pamphlets about services (Bulletins.)
Return to the Top of PageArrangement
The collection is arranged into three series as follows:
- Series I: Anniversaries, 1943, 1968
- Series II: General, 1927-1970
- Series III: Publications, 1920-1969, 1980-1999
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Collections and Engagement of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.
Use Restrictions
Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email:
reference@ajhs.org
Related Material
Marjorie L. Rafal Archives at Congregation Beth Israel, Hartford, CT.
AJHS Subject Files, "Ladies' Deborah Society," Box 3, Folder 34
Preferred Citation
Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known);
Congregation Beth Israel (Hartford, Connecticut), records;
I-464; box number; folder number; Jewish Heritage Center at NEHGS.
Acquisition Information
Acquisition information unknown.
Return to the Top of PageAccess Points
Click on a subject to search that term in the Center's catalog.Subject Organizations:
Subject Topics:
Subject Places:
Document Types:
Container List
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.
Series I: Anniversaries, 1943, 1968 | ||||
English. | ||||
Box 1, Folders 1-2. | ||||
Scope and Content:Contains the anniversary book, Remember the Days of Old by Rabbi Abraham J. Feldman (written in commemoration of the synagogue's 100th anniversary) and Binding the Generations Each to Each, edited by Theodore Lenn, in honor of the 125th anniversary. An invitation to the 100th anniversary is also included. The books provide a thorough history of the synagogue and its congregants. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 1 | 100th/Programs and Invitations | 1943 | ![]() |
1 | 2 | 125th/Programs | 1968 | ![]() |
Series II: General, 1927-1970 | ||||
English. | ||||
Box 1, Folder 3. | ||||
Scope and Content:Contains the program to the dedication service for the building opening in 1936, the meeting house in 1955, and the Abraham J. Feldman Hall and Dorothy Silberman Lounge in 1956, meeting notices and call for social action, a sermon by Rabbi Feldman, and an annual meeting program. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 3 | Miscellaneous Material | 1927-1970 | ![]() |
Series III: Publications, 1920-1969, 1980-1999 | ||||
English. | ||||
Box 1, Folder 4 - Box 4, Folder 5. | ||||
Scope and Content:Contains several bulletins with information about services, as well as newsletters. | ||||
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
1 | 4-7 | “Bulletins” | 1920-1959 | ![]() |
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
2 | 1-5 | “Bulletins” | 1950-1969 | ![]() |
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
3 | 1-5 | “Bulletins” | 1960-1989 | ![]() |
Box | Folder | Title | Date | Request |
4 | 1-5 | “Bulletins” | 1980-1999 | ![]() |