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Descriptive Summary
Creator:	Temple Beth-El (Providence, Rhode Island)
Title:	Temple Beth-El (Providence, Rhode Island), records
Dates:	1940-1969
Abstract:	In 1916, the Jewish community of Boston established Beth Israel Temple Beth-El, located on the East Side of Providence, dates back to 1849, with the creation of the group "Sons of Israel." On September 10, 1849, Solomon Pareira, Leonard Gavitts and Morris Steinberg were granted an acre of land along the New London Turnpike (now Reservoir Avenue) to establish a cemetery. In 1854, the Congregation of the Sons of Israel and David was established, leading to president Solomon Pareira's deeding of the cemetery land in 1857 for the sole utilization of the congregation. This collection contains programs, sermons and newsletters. Although the congregation was originally Orthodox, it affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Union for Reform Judaism) in 1877.
Languages:	The collection is in English.
Quantity:	.5 linear feet (1 manuscript box)
Identification:	I-460
Repository:	American Jewish Historical Society
Location:	Located in AJHS, Boston, MA.

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Historical Note¹

Temple Beth-El, Providence, Rhode Island

Temple Beth-El, located on the East Side of Providence, dates back to 1849, with the creation of the group "Sons of Israel.". On September 10, 1849, Solomon Pareira, Leonard Gavitts and Morris Steinberg were granted an acre of land along the New London Turnpike (now Reservoir Avenue) to establish a cemetery. In 1854, the Congregation of the Sons of Israel and David was established, leading to president Solomon Pareira's deeding of the cemetery land in 1857 for the sole utilization of the congregation. Although the congregation was originally Orthodox, it affiliated with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations (Union for Reform Judaism) in 1877.

Chronology
1849	Sons of Israel begins meeting, establishes Temple Beth-El.
1849	An acre of land is granted to the Solomon Pareira, Leonard Gavitts and Morris Steinberg.
1854	Congregations Sons of Israel and David is established.
1857	Sons of Israel deed the land for cemetery use.
1877	Affiliates with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

Footnote

¹ Information for this administrative sketch is from the following resources:

"History." Temple Beth-El. August 10, 2010 (http://www.temple-beth-el.org/about/history.php)

Materials from the collection.

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Scope and Content Note

This collection contains programs and sermons for Temple activities, but primarily consists of copies of the Temple's Bulletin, which span the years 1945 to 1969.

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Arrangement

The collection is arranged into two series as follows:

• Series I: General, 1947-1956
• Series II: Publications, 1940-1969

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives 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

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Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Temple Beth-El (Providence, Rhode Island), records; I-460; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

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Acquisition Information

Accession information is unknown.

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Access Points

• Subject Topics:

  • Synagogues.

• Subject Places:

  • Providence (R.I.)

• Document Types:

  • Brochures
  • Jewish sermons
  • Newsletters.

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Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Series I: General, 1947-1956.
English.
Box 1, Folder 1.
Scope and Content: This series contains programs and sermons from the Temple. Some information pertaining to the history of the Temple can be found within this folder.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	1	Miscellaneous Materials	1947-1956

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Series II: Publications, 1940-1969.
English.
Box 1, Folders 2-8.
Scope and Content: This series contains several issues of the Temple's Bulletin, which served as the synagogue's newsletter.
Box	Folder	Title	Date
1	2-8	Bulletins	1940-1969

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