TABLE OF CONTENTS
Box and Folder Listing
Series B: Biographical/ Family Records. 1922-1944
Series C: Microfilmed Records. 1847-1901
An Inventory to the
Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania - Congregation Keneseth Israel Records
Manuscript Collection No. 551
Introduction |
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| Name: | Philadelphia, Pennsyvlania- Congregation Keneseth Israel Records | |
| Dates: | 1847-1941 | |
| Abstract: | Congregation Keneseth Israel, formed in 1847, has served as a prominent Reform Congregation from its inception. The records of this collection focus on the early years, and consist of board minutes and biographical information about early members of the congregation. | |
| Quantity: | 2.4 linear feet | |
Institutional Sketch
Keneseth Israel was organized in March 1847, as the fourth Orthodox synagogue of Philadelphia. They rented a hall, purchased a cemetery and hired the services of Rev. B.H. Gotthelf who acted as rabbi, cantor and congregational secretary.
Keneseth Israel moved towards the Reform movement early in its existence. They introduced the Hamburg Reform Prayer Book in the early 1850s and disbanded the custom of having members read the Torah. An early rabbi, David Einhorn, grew impatient with Isaac Mayer Wise for the slow pace of reform. The next rabbi, Dr. Samuel Hirsch, abolished the wearing of hats. Keneseth Israel continued as a progressive congregation and a significant member of the Reform movement. They also have a strong commitment to religious education, going back to the founding of their religious school in 1849.
Senior rabbis at the congregation have included: Solomon Deutsch (1857-1860), David Einhorn (1861-1866), Samuel Hirsch (1866-1886), Joseph Krauskopf (1887-1823), William Fineschriber (1923-1949), Bertram Korn (1949-1979), Simeon J. Maslin (1979-1997) and Bradley Bleefeld (1997- ).
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Scope and Content Note
Congregation Keneseth Israel, formed in 1847, has served as a prominent Reform Congregation from its inception. The records of this collection focus on the early years, and consist of board minutes and biographical information about early members of the congregation between 1847-1941.
These records are organized into three (3) series as follows:
A. MINUTES.
B. BIOGRAPHICAL/ FAMILY RECORDS
C. MICROFILM RECORDS
SERIES A. MINUTES (1847-1901) consists of 5 hollinger boxes. The series contains the photostat of the original book, followed by a typed English translation.
SERIES B. BIOGRAPHICAL/FAMILY RECORDS (1851-1944) consists of 1 hollinger box. These are short biographical sketches and copies of documents compiled by a 1951 confirmation class working on the history of the congregation. The series is arranged alphabetically by name.
SERIES C. MICROFILM RECORDS (1847-1944) consists of 2 reels of microfilm. It is a microfilm copy of the photostats of the minute book, and the biographical sketches of early family members..
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Restrictions
Restrictions on Access
The records are open to all users and are available in the reading room of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives.
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Related Material
Bleifield, Martin. "The Early Years of Joseph Krauskopf at Reform Congregation Keneseth Israel." Small Collections.
Einhorn, David. MSS Collection. No. 155.
Fineschriber, William. MSS Collection. No. 144.
Gotthelf, Bernhard. MSS. Collection No. 248.
Korn, Bertram. MSS. Collection. No. 99.
Krauskopf, Joseph. MSS Collection. No. 183.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Congregation Keneseth Israel. Inventory to the Archives. Small Collections.
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Congregation Keneseth Israel. Geography Nearprint File.
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Administrative Information
Citations
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania- Congregation Keneseth Israel and the American Jewish Archives.
Provenance
The records were were partially donated by the Archives Committee, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in May 1995. All papers donated prior to June 2001 have been arranged and described in this inventory.
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Box and Folder Listing
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Series C: Microfilmed Records. 1847-1901 |
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| MF-90 | |||||||||||||
| Minutes. 1847-1901. | |||||||||||||
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