Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-02
JEWS OF RICHMOND.
"reminiscences from the Pen Of q For
msr GolI-KnOWn Citizen.
Formed over "A Century ARo-Samex
Copiea from Its Minutc-iiook-Tbe
old Burying-Ground and How the
New Was Acquired.

Jews OF Richmond" was written for the
American Jewish Historical Society by
Mr. Jacob Ezekiel of Cincinnati, former
" a well-known citizen Of Richmond;
il Is my purpose 20 submit such dsta
rs l am cognizant OF concerning the
Jews OF Richmond. together with such
other details as may be relevant thereto.
it affords me much pleasure 70 be able
20 furash this information, as perhaps
am the only person living who has
kept track OF this interesting sub
Sect There have doubtless happened
many incidents In the course Of years,
which. at my advanced age 1 may have
forgotten; these gaps wall. trust, be
supplied by some other persons. came
20 tho city OF Richmond, Va. in the year
1854. Very few Israelites were residing
there at that time one synagogue. the
f'Kaal lSadosh Beth shalome." on Mayo
greet. the old battle-ground on Frank
iyn near Twenty-hrst street, and the new
burying-ground on Shockoe HILL near
the poorhouse. comprised the Jewish In
stitutions. After being In Richmond
short time I found In the synagogue an
old minute-book, which was destroyed at
tba oonhagration OF Richmond in April
1856; and other papers which dated back
70 the year 1871, A. NJ. $751; which was
doubtless the date OF organization of the
congregation Beth Shalome" worship
ring according 10 tho custom of the Span
"a ana Portuguese Jews From the min
Textbook ] extIacted the following
rlsnes, OF blessed memory: Jacob Nor
1ec'a. Joseph Darmstadt. Isaac II.
ldah. Samuel Alexander. Joseph Marx
Isaac Mordecai, Gershom judah, Lyon
Hort. Mysr NJ. Cohen. Aaron Henry.
Baruch Judah. BENJAMIN Wolfe John To-
bias. Jacob l. Cohen, isaiah Isaac, Manuel
troah. Aaron N. Cardoza Israel Cohen.
David Isaac. BENJAMIN Solomon, Zalna
Refine, Moriecai NJ. Mordecai. Asher
Marx, BENJAMIN Myers, Abraham
Myers Marcus Olcan. M0rdecai Myers
Samuel &ordecai. Jacob ]. Cohen, Jr
There were no doubt many other Is
raelites residing in Richmond at that
time whose names did not appear on the
records, such as tho Seixases, Kursheedts.
etc.
PLACES OF WORSHIP.
The first place OF worship was in
room OF three-story brick building on
the west side OF Nineteenth between
Franklin and Grace streets, In which one
OF the members resided; this building
WAS purchased about fifty years since by
Mr.. Abraham Levy "a a residence The
building is yet IN a good state of preser-
walton. being the same building which
was owned by Nat. Bush Iil, an auc-
tIoneer ana occupied by him
The next place Of worship OF the con-
Eregation was q email brick building
erected on the west side OF Nineteenth
street in the rear Of what was known
az the Union Hotel on the southwest
corner OF Main and Nineteenth streets.
After come years lot OF ground was
purchased from Or. Adams. on the east
side OF Mayo above Franklin street, on
which commodious synagogue was erect
ed In which the congregation worshipped
for upwards OF three-qrorters of CEN
tury. On account OF the decrease OF niern-
bership by death and removal from the
city, this synagogue was recently sold
20 another congregation, tho X. X. Sir
M0seD M1ntelore, and the remnant OF
TIE c>ag-s 5ption Of Beth slalome now
worship in Lee Camp Hall, on Broad
neGr Seventh.
The reading-desk CTebah) OF this once
four,shlng congregation has been filed
from time TO time by many prominent
Hazanifn (readers). who afterwards Oc-
c1pisd honorable positions In the most
prominent congregations In the United
States, among whom were the Rev. Isaac
ii. Judah Abraham II. Cohen, Isaac
Leeser, Solomon Jacobs. Jacques J.
Lyons Ellis Lyons, Isaac Mendes De
sola. Julius Ecxman. Henry S. Jacobs.
George Jacobs. and others who ofIiciated
when the congregation was without a
regular Hesan (Reade).
MANY FAMILIAR NAMES.
In the year 1884 A. NJ 55oi the follow
ing Israelites. with their respective fami-
lies. composed the congregation: Samuel
Myers, Jacob Morlecai. Gustavus A.
Myers. Samuel II. Myers, Henry Myers,
Joseph Marx, Samuel Frederick. and
Charles Marx. Jacob Lyon and his son
fsaac, Abraham Levy and HE sons, Jacob
A and Isasc A. Levy, Henry Solomons
Myer Angel. Joseph Myers. Jacob Block
and his son Eioazar Solomon Pallen.
Manuel judah. Rev Abraham Fl. Cohen,
Israel Ssudok. Levy J. and Emanuel j.
Myers, Henry J. Calsher. Emanuel Sc
mon, Dr. James Beale Aaron Myers
flzskiei Solonions and his son Isaac Mos
es NJ Myers Wolf B. Pyle, Lewis b.
yylc. Misses TInma and wllhemina Marx
efrf. Baruch Judah. Mrs Caroline Philip
Misses Sallie and Rebecca Myers, Mrs
Boiomon Jacobs. Misses Catherine and
Elowey Hays, Misses Ella, Rebecca, and
Rachel Myers Misses Catherine, Julia,
and Harriet Myers, and probably few
others.
Mr. Jacob Mordecai often read the ser
A Levy acted as parnass. and Jacob
fzeiIiei was secretary and treasurer.
The congregation was increased by Mr.
1eaac Hyneman. Michael Wolfe. William
ThaIheimer, Jacob Gotthold, Moses and
Joseph Millhiser. Abraham and Morz
Ifirsr Abraham Hutzler. NJ. L. Strause,
Emanuel Strause. Lewis Pepper, Jonas
heller Moses Mlttledorfer Moses A.
Waterman, Henry LYMAN. William
flelshman. Naphtali Ezekiel. Lewis Hy-
man, and many others Immigrants con-
slnued to come very rapidly from Ger
INDEPENDENTLY from Bavaria) and as
they we're accustomed 20 the German
hfinhag, in the year 1910 many members
seceded from the Beth shaiOme and form
Cd the congregation the Beth Ahaba their
nrst place Of worship beinC on the south
nde OF Marshall west Of Sixth street. the
fsadlng-desk being occupied by Mr.. Jacob
Gotthold, and afterwards by the Rev.
Hsx J. Michelbacher. The first permanent
rynaxogne built is the one now occupied
BIZ the congregation. which has been en-
lnrged, on Eleventh street above Mar
fhail. -
FIRST BURIAL GROUND.
The first battle-ground was decided TO
trustees by Mr. Isaiah Isaac then re-
siding On and owning lot OF ground
bounded by Main. Twonty-trst and
Franklin streets. The deed. bearing date
the rs, day OF October. l7ai. a. NJ. 5552
said Isaiah Isaac hath for some time
past promised the 1sreaiites then re-
Siding IN Richmond that he would set
apart q portion Of his lot. being num-
berod (sS). 70 be used solely for tho
purpose Of q burying- ground. as well