Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston, S.C.) Records
Item
Country
US
Name of institution (official language of the state)
Language of name of institution
eng
Contact information: postal address
3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45220
Contact information: phone number
001 513 487 3000
Contact information: web address
Contact information: email
Reference number
MS-525
Type of reference number
Archival reference number
Title (official language of the state)
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston, S.C.) Records
Language of title
eng
Creator / accumulator
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston, S.C.)
Date(s)
1764/1977
Language(s)
eng
Extent
3 boxes, 2 oversize boxes, and 2 microfilm reels
Type of material
Textual Material
Physical condition
Good
Scope and content
This collection comprises assorted original documents and copies from Beth Elohim Congregation of Charleston, South Carolina. Most papers are from the 19th century and early 20th century, but it also includes a few records from the 18th century.
It is the case of a photostat of a fragment of minutes dating from January 27, 1775, reporting a congregational dispute on the purchase of land for the synagogue's construction (box 1, folder 5). Isaac da Costa, Isaac da Costa Junior, Abraham da Costa, Isaac de Leon and Jacob Tobias contributed financially to the purchase of this land. The original document is part of the Lyons Collection of the American Jewish Historical Society.
Another example of an 18th-century record is a charter petition and report of the state senate committee approving a petition for the incorporation of the Beth-Elohim Congregation in January 1791 (box 1, folder 6, typescript copy). Isaac da Costa and Philip Hart were the wardens of the Congregation who signed this petition.
Other materials that compose this collection are the following:
- Constitutions and bylaws, 1820-1947 (box 1, folder 1).
- Minute books, 1866-1884 (box 1, folders 2-4).
- Lawsuits and court cases, 1843-1846 (box 1, folders 7-8).
- Resolution and circular requesting aid to rebuild the synagogue, May 1838 (box 1, folder 9).
- Resolution declining to join the proposed "general union" of congregations, 1841 (box 1, folder 10).
- History of the Kahal Kados Beth Elohim, 1950 (box 1, folder 11).
- Congregational records, including membership lists, financial statements, and correspondence, 1855-1872 (box 2, folder 1).
- Documentation regarding celebrations of the Congregation and other 20th-century records (box 2, folders 2-5).
- Hymnals. Congregational hymnal of Edgar M. Lazarus and Sabbath School hymnal, 1842, 1932 (box 2, folder 6).
- Cash ledgers, 1799-1865 (box 2, folders 7 and 8).
- Receipt book, 1866-1870 (box 2, folder 9).
- Offering books, 1799-1823 (box 2, folder 10; box 3, folders 1-7).
- Various records (boxes X-351 and X-352).
It is the case of a photostat of a fragment of minutes dating from January 27, 1775, reporting a congregational dispute on the purchase of land for the synagogue's construction (box 1, folder 5). Isaac da Costa, Isaac da Costa Junior, Abraham da Costa, Isaac de Leon and Jacob Tobias contributed financially to the purchase of this land. The original document is part of the Lyons Collection of the American Jewish Historical Society.
Another example of an 18th-century record is a charter petition and report of the state senate committee approving a petition for the incorporation of the Beth-Elohim Congregation in January 1791 (box 1, folder 6, typescript copy). Isaac da Costa and Philip Hart were the wardens of the Congregation who signed this petition.
Other materials that compose this collection are the following:
- Constitutions and bylaws, 1820-1947 (box 1, folder 1).
- Minute books, 1866-1884 (box 1, folders 2-4).
- Lawsuits and court cases, 1843-1846 (box 1, folders 7-8).
- Resolution and circular requesting aid to rebuild the synagogue, May 1838 (box 1, folder 9).
- Resolution declining to join the proposed "general union" of congregations, 1841 (box 1, folder 10).
- History of the Kahal Kados Beth Elohim, 1950 (box 1, folder 11).
- Congregational records, including membership lists, financial statements, and correspondence, 1855-1872 (box 2, folder 1).
- Documentation regarding celebrations of the Congregation and other 20th-century records (box 2, folders 2-5).
- Hymnals. Congregational hymnal of Edgar M. Lazarus and Sabbath School hymnal, 1842, 1932 (box 2, folder 6).
- Cash ledgers, 1799-1865 (box 2, folders 7 and 8).
- Receipt book, 1866-1870 (box 2, folder 9).
- Offering books, 1799-1823 (box 2, folder 10; box 3, folders 1-7).
- Various records (boxes X-351 and X-352).
Archival history
The American Jewish Archives received this collection from the Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim and various donors.
Administrative / Biographical history
The Jewish presence in Charleston, South Carolina, dates back to the late 17th century, but only in 1749 the community was numerous enough to organise a congregation, the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim. Its first hazzan was Isaac da Costa, and most of its early leading members were Sephardim. Fifteen years after the congregation's establishment, the Coming Street Cemetery was established, the oldest surviving Jewish burial ground in the American South.
At first, prayers were recited in private quarters and, from 1775, in an improvised synagogue. The construction of the Charleston synagogue began in 1792 and was dedicated two years later. However, the great Charleston fire of 1838 destroyed the building. In 1841, it was replaced by the synagogue in use today. The Kahal Kados Beth Elohim is the second oldest synagogue building in the United States and the oldest in continuous use. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1980.
Charleston is also acknowledged as the birthplace of Reform Judaism in the United States. Forty-seven congregants petitioned the synagogue's Adjunta (the trustees) to change the Sephardic Orthodox liturgy in 1824. The petition was denied and led to the said members' resignation, who formed The Reformed Society of Israelites, led by Isaac Harby, Abraham Moise II, and David Nunes Carvalho. Nine years later, The Reformed Society rejoined the old congregation. The first service in the new synagogue built after the great fire introduced a liberalised ritual. The Beth Elohim became one of the earliest synagogues of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1873 (now Union for Reform Judaism, URJ), and it remains committed to Reform Judaism.
At first, prayers were recited in private quarters and, from 1775, in an improvised synagogue. The construction of the Charleston synagogue began in 1792 and was dedicated two years later. However, the great Charleston fire of 1838 destroyed the building. In 1841, it was replaced by the synagogue in use today. The Kahal Kados Beth Elohim is the second oldest synagogue building in the United States and the oldest in continuous use. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1980.
Charleston is also acknowledged as the birthplace of Reform Judaism in the United States. Forty-seven congregants petitioned the synagogue's Adjunta (the trustees) to change the Sephardic Orthodox liturgy in 1824. The petition was denied and led to the said members' resignation, who formed The Reformed Society of Israelites, led by Isaac Harby, Abraham Moise II, and David Nunes Carvalho. Nine years later, The Reformed Society rejoined the old congregation. The first service in the new synagogue built after the great fire introduced a liberalised ritual. The Beth Elohim became one of the earliest synagogues of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations in 1873 (now Union for Reform Judaism, URJ), and it remains committed to Reform Judaism.
Access points: locations
Access points: persons, families
Access points: corporate bodies
Access points: subject terms
Access points: document types
Access, restrictions
The collection includes two microfilms, which may be a duplicate of the collection or include different materials. Microfilm is available through interlibrary loan.
Links to finding aids
Existence and location of originals
Author of the description
Carla Vieira, 2022
Linked resources
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| Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim congregation records | Existence and location of copies |