Guide to the Records of the Union of Sephardic Congregations
undated, 1929-1988; (bulk 1936-1981)

Subgroup I: Presidency of Dr. David de Sola Pool,  1926-1969.

Series 1: Accounting Books, 1937-1969.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

Series 1 holds accounting books and a few folders of loose accounting records were removed from the accounting books. Books are in the form of a debits ledger, a sales journal, and several cash books. Most entries concern the sale of prayer books, although a few list contributions to collection funds organized by the Union.

Accounting information for prayer books may be found in the debits ledger, cash books, and the sales journal, as well as in the accounting papers. These items state who bought prayer books or had orders to buy them; which type of prayer book was bought; when the books were bought; and the total sum paid by the congregation or individual. Accounting papers in the “Accounting Papers: Disbursements” folder contain material on payments made to printers and contributions to collection funds.

Series 2: Sephardi Communities, 1943-1957.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

Series 2 consists of records focusing on Sephardi communities throughout the world. Most records are correspondence, but other types found in this series include newspaper clippings and reports discussing the specific Sephardic community.

Some correspondence focuses on the purchase, payment, or shipping of the Union’s prayer books to the local community. Another popular topic is the efforts made by the communities or the Union in searching for or finding a rabbi, hazan, or Jewish teacher for the community. There are also requests made to the Union for financial support for young men training to become rabbis. Other subjects discussed in the correspondence of this series concern post-World War II relief efforts, invitations to events, and general community correspondence covering numerous topics.

Series 3: Subject Files, 1926-1967.

Arrangement:

Chronological into five subseries, then alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

Series 3 is comprised of five subseries, and consists mainly of correspondence as well as a few prayer book manuscripts. The most prominent topic in this series is the prayer books published by the Union, especially in the last three subseries. Other subjects found here include relief work and the placement of rabbis, hazanim, and teachers.

Subseries A:, 1926-1946.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

Files in Subseries A contain records from the founding of the Union in 1929 until 1946.

Prominent in this subseries are the files on hazanim, regarding the Union’s efforts to assist them in finding positions in congregations affiliated with the Union, and also contain requests by individuals abroad hoping to come to the United States to work as rabbis, hazanim, or teachers. Another topic focused on in this subseries is the support given by the Union to the Marrano Jewish community in Oporto, Portugal for the purpose of establishing a yeshiva and a synagogue.

“General” folders, arranged chronologically, hold records of a general nature. These folders are comprised mainly of correspondence, but also contain drafts of speeches and articles, invitations to meetings, and notes. Topics discussed include the translation of prayer books into Portuguese; inquiries on information on Sephardim; lists of Sephardic congregations; and copies of a “Warning to Jewish Women and Girls,” concerning marriage regulations. This subseries also holds copies of official papers of the Union, such as the constitution, by-laws, and articles of incorporation, as well as a resolution made by the Union concerning their support and promotion of the adoption of the Sephardic pronunciation of Hebrew as a standard for use by Jewish organizations in the United States and Canada.

Material on the development of the Union’s prayer books are contained in folders labeled “ Haggadah” and " Prayer Books.”

Subseries B:, 1944-1949.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

Records in Subseries B document the functioning of the Union of Sephardic Congregations during the late 1940s.

This subseries contains records dealing with the publication and distribution of various prayer books. This material may be found in the “ Prayer Books” folders as well as by type of book, such as “ Festival Prayer Book” or “Spanish Haggadah.”

Additionally, this subseries has a large amount of material that deals with the Union’s relief efforts. Documents pertaining to Ozar Hatorah and the Committee for the Forgotten Million focus on the relief of Jews in North Africa and the Middle East, while folders concerning Falashas mention the discovery of and assistance to Jews located in a remote area of Ethiopia. The folder “ Oswego” documents the Union’s efforts to aid the Sephardic Guest-Refugees brought to Fort Ontario in Oswego, New York.

Subseries C:, 1950-1951.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

This subseries mainly contains records which deal with the prayer books published by the Union. In addition to the folder “ Prayer Books,” records dealing with the books will also be found by type of book, such as All Hebrew, Daily and Sabbath, Festival, and Yom Kippur. Much of this documentation concerns the publication and distribution of the books. Material on the Jewish Publication Society is comprised of papers dealing with publication issues such as pricing, choice of cover and typeface, and related topics.

There is also a small amount of information on the relief efforts undertaken by the Union during the years 1950-1951, such as assistance to the Marranos and Ozar Hatorah.

Subseries D:, 1952-1953.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

This small subseries contains mainly correspondence. Much of the material in Subseries D is arranged alphabetically in folders by the last name of the individual the correspondence was sent to, or by the first letter of the name of the organization.

The majority of the correspondence focuses on the sale, publication, and distribution of Union prayer books and publications. In addition to this material, there is also general correspondence, including some requests from individuals or organizations. Requests are for information on Sephardim and for funding for relief efforts by various organizations.

Subseries E:, 1954-1967.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

Subseries E is the largest subseries in Series III: Subject Files.

Prominent in this subseries are the many folders of correspondence arranged by location. Most of the correspondence focuses on requests for prayer books, as well as letters concerning payment and shipping of the books. Correspondence also featues such topics as relief efforts for several communities, including the Sephardi community in Amsterdam; general correspondence including questions on Sephardi traditions; and the search of several communities for rabbis or hazanim.

Information on specific prayer books will be found by type of prayer book. There are several folders concerning the Daily and Sabbath Prayer Book. Of interest to researchers may be the manuscript of this prayer book translated into Spanish, located in boxes 6 and 10. Other types of prayer books with material represented here are the Fast Day and Festival, as well as the Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur books. Material may also be found on related Union publications, such as Gems from the Bible, Grace After Meals, Haggadahs, Is There an Answer?, the Kaddish reprint by Dr. Pool, and the Spanish Bible.

Material is also available on the USC Conference in 1967, which includes an introduction of the new President of the USC, Dr. Solomon Gaon, and a letter to the Union with his acceptance of the position. In addition, the folders on the Conference include invitation cards, a list of affiliated congregations, a news release concerning the Conference, and handwritten and typed notes of the Conference, including notes on discussions held and the text of some discussions.

In addition, this subseries also contains information on Yeshiva University’s Sephardic Studies and Sephardic Community Activities Programs. This information includes an outline of the Sephardic Studies program; material on a summer camp run by Yeshiva University’s Sephardic Community Activities department; records concerning fellowships and lectures supported by the Sephardic Studies program; and minutes of the Steering Committee of Yeshiva University’s Sephardic Studies program.

Subgroup II: Presidency of Dr. Solomon Gaon, 1967-1981, 1988.

Series 1: Subject Files, Chronological , 1967-1981, 1988.

Arrangement:

Alphabetical.

Scope and Content:

The majority of records in this series contain material on prayer books and publications of the Union. Most of the records are requests by congregations or individuals desiring to purchase books from the USC. There is also correspondence concerning payments and shipping. Additionally, there is correspondence between secretaries of the Union and the printers and distibutors of the prayer books dealing with printing, publication, distribution, and the inventory of the prayer books. Folders of information on prayer books and publications are arranged by type of book, such as Gems from the Bible, Haggadah, Pocket Size Daily and Sabbath Prayer Book, or Pool’s Book of Sermons.

A small amount of material concerning the Union’s activities outside of the publication of religious material is also available here, most notably in folders titled “Gaon, Dr. Solomon.” These folders contain detailed correspondence between Dr. Gaon in London and Victory Tarry in New York, who dealt with the daily activities and functioning of the Union. This correspondence also contains some requests from individuals seeking positions as rabbis. Additionally, there are several drafts of Gaon’s reflections on his first encounter with Dr. de Sola Pool as a student, and the effect it had upon him. These folders also contain reports from various conferences and meeting concerning Sephardic Jews, including reports from the Conference of Associated Sephardic Congregations in 1969; the World Conference of Sephardic and Ashkenazic Congregations in Jerusalem; and the Conference of European Rabbis.