The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-22
REV. LEVY WRITES
HISTORY OF JEWS
IN THIS COUNTRY
Remarkable Work Attracts
Wide Attention Because
of Style and Scope.

Rev. David Levy, pastor of the
Park Avenue Temple, has written a
history of the Jewish people in
Bridgeport The work which, has
been viewed by few persons and will
not become public until it is. dedi-
Gated at the fiftieth anniversary of
Abraham lodge, B'nai Birth, to be
celebrated impressively in this city on
Feb. IL, IL and ID, is said to be re-
markable.
The history goes deeply into the
traditions of the early Jewish visitors
from the time of Roger Williams ia
nous Liberty and Peace proclama-
ton, touches upon the itinerant eff
forts Of the race to establish COM
mercial relations at New Haven,
Bridgeport and Danbury, and then
proceeds to the time when the first
known! settlers arrived.
The work, written with that re-
markable brilliancy for which Rev.
David Levy is known as scholar
thinker and preacher reflects beauty
of thought and style while showing
with clarity the work accomplished
and the infldence in professional, So
cial and charitable which the Jewish
city.
The Colonial and early historical
records Of the county fail to disclose
the name of any prominent Jewish
resident in Bridgeport until the early
SOS, when Bernard and Jacob Klein,
respectively uncle and father of the
noted Bridgeport lawyer. Jacob B.
Klein, are known to have established
themselves in business here. Yet it
is found that the influence of the
Jewish race became known in Bridge
port and New Haven in the seventeen
hundreds, mention having been made
of their itinerant trips through the
country.
Members of B'nai Birth, Abraham
lodge, are now said to be considering
the offer of a handsome reward to the
student and historian who will be
able to prove actual residence in this
city or Stratford of any Jewish per-
son before the early SOS.
Rev. David Levy's history which
includes full account of the estab-
lishment of Abraham lodge, B'nai
Birth with it's effect upon Bridge
port, covers fully the lives of present
day celebrities and even discloses in
terna tional controversies which arose
between the United States and Russia,
resulting in broader construction of
the existing treaty.
The celebration of Abraham
lodges fiftieth birthday will be staged
here at an estimated cost of more
than $1,000, during which the new
history will be given it's baptism by
such noted Jewish scholars and phil
anthropists as DR.. Edward N. Calish,
Ph.D., of Richmond, Va; Simon Wolf
of Washington, heads of the interna-
tional body, B'naf Birth, and past Of
ficers Of the national body which will
include Sol Sulzberger, formerly of
Bridgeport but now Of New York city
Jacob B. Klein, Sig. Hirschberg.
Adolph Krauss and others. !
Rev. Levys work will have national
and significance because Of
the writer's high standing in Rabbin-
lcal circles. Formerly graduated
from a 6 thern college, he attained
high sta1 ing as a preacher in the
South, later holding the pulpit Of the
most prominent New Haven Jewish
church for many years. He has now
preached il this city for three years
and has been appointed by Gov. Hol-
comb to important charity conven
tons of national scope.