Inventory of the The Congregation "Beth Elohim" of Charleston, S.C. Pamphlet, 1883

Descriptive Summary

Abstract:	A typescript and photocopy of Nathaniel Levin's history of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina, from 1750 to 1883. The pamphlet was published in the 1883 Year Book of the City of Charleston.
Title:	The Congregation "Beth Elohim" of Charleston, S.C. pamphlet
Creator:	Levin, Nathaniel
Date(s):	1883
Extent:	1 folder (2 items)
Repository:	Jewish Heritage Collection, Special Collections, College of Charleston Libraries 66 George Street Charleston, SC 29424 Phone: (843) 953-8016 Fax: (843) 953-6319 URL: http://archives.library.cofc.edu
Call Number:	Mss 1034-075
Language of Material:	Materials in English

Historical Note

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) was organized in 1749 in Charleston, South Carolina, following the Sephardic ritual. Friction with the growing number of Ashkenazic members led the Sephardic group to withdraw in 1775; however, by 1790, the two factions had reunited. A year later, Beth Elohim was incorporated and, in 1794, dedicated a synagogue on Hasell Street. In 1824, forty-seven dissenters petitioned the governing body to introduce reforms. Rebuffed, the petitioners proceeded to create a separate organization, the Reformed Society of Israelites, which functioned on its own until 1835 or 1836, by which date, most members had rejoined the congregation. Beth Elohim's building was lost in the 1838 fire; a temporary tabernacle was constructed on the site and a new building was completed in 1841. The installation of an organ in the sanctuary prompted a schism; many congregants withdrew to form the orthodox Shearit Israel. After the Civil War, the two congregations negotiated a merger and made compromises in ritual. In 1872, another organ was introduced, and the next year KKBE became a charter member of the Reform Union of American Hebrew Congregations.

Collection Overview

A typescript and photocopy of Nathaniel Levin's history of Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in Charleston, South Carolina, from 1750 to 1883. The pamphlet was published in the 1883 Year Book of the City of Charleston, pages 301-316, and is based on his 1843 history published in The Occident.

Collection Arrangement

Materials described at the item level.

Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index this collection in the Library's online catalog. They are grouped by name of person, family, or organization, by topical subject, by place, and by types of material.

Names

• Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston, S.C.)--History

Subjects

• Reform Judaism--South Carolina--Charleston--History

Types of Material

• Pamphlets
• Typescripts

Inventory

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

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Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], The Congregation "Beth Elohim" of Charleston, S.C. pamphlet, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Materials were donated by Mordenai Raisin Hirsch and Rachel M. Raisin.

Processing Information

Processed by Sarah Dorpinghaus, December 2011.

Encoded by Sarah Dorpinghaus, January 2012.

Reviewed, edited, and uploaded by Martha McTear, January 2012.

Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the processing of this collection and encoding of the finding aid.