Inventory of the Temple Sinai (Sumter, S.C.) Records, 1789-2012 (bulk 1920-1996)

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Inventory of the Temple Sinai (Sumter, S.C.) Records, 1789-2012 (bulk 1920-1996)

Descriptive Summary

Abstract:	Records of Temple Sinai, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Sumter, South Carolina. Materials document the administrative, financial, social, educational, charitable, and spiritual activities of the congregation and its members. Also included are materials documenting prominent Jewish individuals and families of Sumter, including Penina Moïse and the Moses family.
Title:	Temple Sinai (Sumter, S.C.) records
Creator:	Congregation Sinai (Sumter, S.C.)
Date(s):	1789-2012 (bulk 1920-1996)
Extent:	23 linear feet (42 document boxes, 3 cartons, 3 flat boxes, 1 rolled item, 3 audiocassette tapes)
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 1083
Language of Material:	Materials in English and Hebrew

Historical Note

Temple Sinai, a Reform Jewish congregation located in Sumter, South Carolina, was established in 1895; however, the history of Sumter's Jewish population dates from the early 19th century. The first sign of a Jewish organization in Sumter appeared in 1874 with the purchase of land for a cemetery by the Sumter Hebrew Cemetery Society. Some time later, another group founded the Sumter Hebrew Benevolent Society, which merged with the Hebrew Cemetery Society in 1881 under the Benevolent Society name. In 1895, the Benevolent Society merged once again, this time with the recently formed Sumter Society of Israelites, the official name of Temple Sinai.

The congregation, consisting largely of members of the Phelps, Moïse, Moses, Ryttenberg, and Barnett families, met at the local Masonic hall on the northwest corner of Main and Liberty Streets until the first temple was constructed on the southeast corner of Hampton Avenue and Church Street. The original wooden synagogue was replaced in 1912 by a brick building with ten stained glass windows depicting scenes from the Old Testament. Several major additions to the synagogue were built over the 20th century, including an auditorium, banquet hall, classrooms, and offices in 1932 funded by the Barnett Memorial; the Hyman Brody building consisting of a kitchen and additional classrooms and offices in 1957; and a substantial remodeling of the sanctuary in 1969. In 1999, the synagogue was added to the National Register of Historic Places and, in 2009, a South Carolina State Historical Marker was placed outside the temple.

Temple Sinai was served by visiting rabbis from Charleston and Augusta, Georgia, until 1904, when Rabbi Jacob Klein settled in Sumter. Tenures were also held by Rabbi Ferdinand Hirsch (1920s), Rabbi Hirsch Freund (late 1920s-early 1930s), Rabbi Samuel Shillman (1930s-1940s), Rabbi Jacob Aaron Levy (1950s-1970s), Rabbi Edward Miskin (early 1970s), Rabbi Avshalom Magidovitch (1970s), Rabbi Milton Schlager (1980s), and Rabbi Richard Leviton (1990s).

Besides providing regular services, Temple Sinai offered religious education courses for all ages, maintained a cemetery, and supported an active sisterhood, men's club, and youth group. Members were involved in numerous charitable organizations, including the Jewish Welfare Fund of Sumter, the United Jewish Appeal for Refugees and Overseas Needs, and Sumter's Covenant Place senior living community. Synagogue attendance peaked in the 1970s. With its membership aging and declining in numbers, the congregation partnered with Charleston's Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in 2011 to prepare for its eventual closing.

Collection Overview

The collection consists of the records of Temple Sinai, a Reform Jewish synagogue in Sumter, South Carolina. The administrative, financial, religious, and charitable activities of the congregation are well documented by the correspondence, meeting minutes, ledgers, and annual reports of the congregation's various committees and officers. In addition, a substantial portion of material relates to the activities of the temple's sisterhood, men's club, youth group, and religious school. The collection also includes papers and artifacts that document prominent Jewish families of Sumter in the 19th and early 20th centuries, such as the Moïse and Moses families. Of particular note are the scrapbooks, correspondence, and published poems of Penina Moïse, one of America's earliest Jewish woman poets and hymnists.

Collection Arrangement

Materials are arranged in ten series:

1.	Administrative Records, 1881-2022
2.	History, 1821-2011
3.	Publications, 1929-2012
4.	Financial Records, 1881-1999
5.	Facilities, circa 1865-2008
6.	Events and Worship Services, 1918-2000
7.	Projects and Charitable Donations, 1926-2001
8.	Organizations, 1901-2001
9.	Resources and Topical Files, 1891-2001
10.	Artifacts, 1789-circa 1985

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

Moïse, Penina
Moses family
Congregation Sinai (Sumter, S.C.)

Subjects

Jews--South Carolina--Sumter
Synagogues--South Carolina--Sumter
Reform Judaism--South Carolina--Sumter

Places

Sumter (S.C.)

Types of Material

Administrative records
Annual reports
Artifacts
Audiocassette tapes
Books
Correspondence
Financial records
Ledgers (account books)
Minutes
Photographs
Poetry
Scrapbooks
Textiles

Related Resources

Related Material

Related materials housed in Special Collections include a copy of Can Do Too Cookery, a Temple Sinai Sisterhood cookbook; several publications and manuscript collections relating to the Moïse family; and over a dozen oral history interviews with members of Temple Sinai.

Detailed Description of the Collection

Close All | Open All The series and sub-series sections in this finding aid are collapsible. Each red title in the Description will, when clicked, expand or collapse its respective section. To expand or collapse all sections at once, click 'Open All' or 'Close All' respectively.

The series and sub-series sections in this finding aid are collapsible. Each red title in the Description will, when clicked, expand or collapse its respective section. To expand or collapse all sections at once, click 'Open All' or 'Close All' respectively.

1. Administrative records, 1881-2011

Constitution and by-laws, 1907-1991 box 1 | folder 1-2

Officer and committee lists, 1922-1996 box 1 | folder 3

Board of Directors, Executive Board, and Board of Trustees

Board member lists, 1955-2000 box 1 | folder 4

Nominating Committee, 1947-1997 box 1 | folder 5

Includes reports, minutes, and correspondence regarding those elected to the board of directors.

Correspondence, 1927-2000 box 1 | folder 6

Meeting minutes, 1917-1943, 1953-1984 box 1 | folder 7-10

Meeting minutes, 1985-2000 box 2 | folder 1-5

Congregational meetings

Includes materials relating to annual and semi-annual meetings. At each meeting, congregation and committee leaders would report on their activities. The reports of the following committees, groups, and individuals are located in their respective series and sub-series: Membership, Rabbis, Sisterhood, Men's Club, Temple Youth, Building Cemetery, Library, Choir, Religious School, Charity, Budget and Finance, Trust funds, and Secretary-Treasurer.

"Minutes of the Sumter Hebrew Benevolent Society" microfilm printouts, 1881-1917 box 2 | folder 6-8

Also includes correspondence and other administrative papers.

Meeting minutes, 1918-1999 box 3 | folder 1-3

Includes meeting notices.

President reports, 1926-1997 box 3 | folder 4

Miscellaneous committee reports, 1924-1989 box 3 | folder 5

Includes reports from the Visiting Committee, Transit Committee, and the Worship Committee.

Correspondence, 1940-2000 box 3 | folder 6

Includes correspondence regarding the identification of respondents' religion in the 1960 census.

Membership

Membership committee reports, 1954-1995 box 3 | folder 7

Member and dues lists, 1916-1995 box 3 | folder 8-10

Ledgers, 1915-1918, 1932-1939, 1952-1980 box 4 | folder 1-6

Ledgers list member names and dues paid. Some include information regarding cemetery plots and other miscellaneous expenses.

Correspondence, 1918-2000 box 4 | folder 7-9

Applications, 1999, undated box 4 | folder 10

Marriage contracts, 1806, 1943, 1973, undated box 5 | folder 1

Conversion certificates, 1957-1977, 1991 box 5 | folder 2

Rabbis

Rabbi reports, 1928-1998 box 5 | folder 3

Rabbi Replacement Committee and Pulpit Committee reports, 1971-1982 box 5 | folder 4

Correspondence, 1919-1997 box 5 | folder 5

Regarding rabbinical pensions, salaries, and potential hires.

Ferdinand K. Hirsch, 1919-1927 box 5 | folder 6

Includes correspondence and a photograph of Hirsch.

Jacob Aaron Levy, 1949-1971 box 5 | folder 7

Includes correspondence, pension information, and an obituary.

Jacob Aaron Levy certificates, 1946-1968 box 46

Regarding his service as chaplain for the United States Armed Forces.

Avshalom Magidovitch, 1972-1978 box 5 | folder 8

Includes correspondence, contracts, pension plan information, and a newspaper clipping with biographical information.

Milton I. Schlager, 1985-1990 box 5 | folder 9

Includes contracts and correspondence regarding retirement and pensions.

Richard M. Leviton, 1990-1996 box 5 | folder 10

Includes correspondence, pension information, contracts, parsonage allowance, housing information, and Leviton's resume.

Other rabbis, 1918-1990 (scattered) box 5 | folder 11

Includes correspondence relating to Samuel R. Shillman and Edward Miskin. Also includes a legal summons from David Klein regarding a financial issue and photographs of Shillman and Hirsch Freund.

Miscellaneous, 1957-1998 (scattered) box 5 | folder 12

Includes budget, pension, and placement information.

Union of American Hebrew Congregations (UAHC)

Administrative, 1925-1997 box 5 | folder 13

Includes booklets, constitution and bylaws, newsletters, reports, officer lists, and resolutions.

Dues and financial records, 1922-1989 box 5 | folder 14

Southeast Council, 1989-1992 box 6 | folder 1

Includes newsletters, directories, correspondence, and reports.

Correspondence, 1923-1997 box 6 | folder 2-3

Programs and events, 1933-1995 box 6 | folder 4

Commission on Synagogue Activities sample materials and order forms, 1947-1948 box 6 | folder 5

Miscellaneous, 1926-2011 (scattered) box 6 | folder 6

Includes letterhead, registration paperwork, brochures, certificates, newspaper clippings, and a document explaining the temple's partnership with Charleston's Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in 2011 in response to Temple Sinai's declining membership.

2. History, 1827-2011

Consists of materials relating to the history of Temple Sinai as well as the history of its members and Sumter's prominent Jewish families.

General histories, circa 1921-2011 box 6 | folder 7

Synagogue photographs, 1900s-1930s box 6 | folder 8

Includes images of original synagogue.

Tributes and memorials

Memorials, 1936-1985 box 6 | folder 9

Correspondence, 1932-1992, undated box 6 | folder 10

Temple Sinai Endowment Fund book, a.k.a. the Book of Remembrance, 1960-1991 box 46

Remembrance Fund reports, 1951-1997 box 6 | folder 11

Remembrance Fund ledger, 1946-1979 box 6 | folder 12-13

Lists memorials, contributors, and monetary donations.

"Sons of Sumter" banner, 1945

(Folio shelving in rare book vault | 1 rolled item)

A banner created as a memorial to the Jewish WWII veterans of Sumter.

"Sons of Sumter" banner support material, 1943-1945 box 7 | folder 1

Includes a list of veterans with biographical information compiled by Herbert A. Moses, a color printout of a photograph of the Sons of Sumter banner, and correspondence regarding the creation of the banner.

Yahrzeit and yizkor lists, 1997, 2001-2003 box 7 | folder 2

Families and individuals

Genealogical information, undated box 7 | folder 3

Mostly comprised of surveys asking members to list ancestors and birth and death information.

Goldstein, Joe, 1986, 1989 box 7 | folder 4

Levi, Wendell Mitchell, 1932-1991 box 7 | folder 5

Moïse family

Additional Moïse family material can be found in the Artifacts series.

Penina Moïse

Biographies, 1885, 1940, 1950, 1981, undated box 7 | folder 6

Poems, undated box 7 | folder 7-9

Clipped from newspapers. Some include marginalia and corrections possibly made by Moïse.

World Portraits Authors series of poems, undated box 7 | folder 10

"Original writings of Miss Penina Moïse belonging to Mrs. S.A. Dinkins: Miscellaneous Scribblings by Penina Moïse (reversed initials M.P.)," 1894 box 7 | folder 11-12

Other writings, 1875-1892 box 7 | folder 13

Scrapbook created by Penina Moïse for her niece, Nina Moïse Solomon Phelps, 1890s box 8 | folder 1-2

Includes children's stories, love stories, colored pictures, and magazine illustrations.

Penina "Nina" Moïse Solomons Phelps, 1876-1973 box 8 | folder 3

Niece of Penina Moïse. Includes correspondence from Penina Moïse, biographies, and a photograph.

Abraham Moïse scrapbook, circa 1827-1879 box 8 | folder 4-5

Attached note states: "Original volume by Abraham Moïse, born Charleston, S.C. 1777, died Sumter, S.C. 1869. The book contains his handwritten comments and a collection of newspaper clippings on such subjects as Woman, lives and obituaries of prominent South Carolinians, and a handwritten essay on the Hebrew word Elohim. Most of the book is composed of clippings on the current political controversy concerning the doctrine of Nullification, which Mr. Moïse opposed."

Miscellaneous, 1998-2002, undated box 8 | folder 6

Includes a family history and materials relating to Davis, Emily, and Anita Moïse.

Moses family

General family histories and miscellaneous articles, 1935-1999 box 9 | folder 1

Herbert A. Moses, 1947-1975 box 9 | folder 2

Includes biographical material, certificates, and Moses' publications. Additional Herbert Moses material can be found in the Artifacts series.

Poem presented to Herbert A. Moses by the United Jewish Campaign, 1929 box 46

Scrapbook of newspaper clippings, 1881-1905 box 9 | folder 3

Photographs, 1890s box 9 | folder 4

Phillips family, 1880s-1913 box 9 | folder 5

Includes paintings of Ellen and Emily Phillips and a photograph of the Phillips family home in Philadelphia.

Rosefield, Virginia and Herbert, 1973-1999 box 9 | folder 6

Ryttenberg family, circa 1910, 1984, 1996 box 9 | folder 7

Solomons family, 1880s-1910s box 9 | folder 8

Includes photographs and a marriage certificate.

Miscellaneous families and individuals, 1963, 1995, 1998, undated box 9 | folder 9

Miscellaneous photographs, 1890s-1972 box 9 | folder 10

Miscellaneous, 1998-2011 box 9 | folder 11

Includes the program from the 2009 unveiling of the South Carolina State Historical Marker at Temple Sinai.

3. Publications, 1929-2012

Bulletins

1929-1978 box 9 | folder 12-14

1979-2000 box 10 | folder 1-9

2001-2010 box 11 | folder 1-4

Correspondence regarding bulletins, 1991-1992 box 11 | folder 5

Sinai News, circa 1951 box 11 | folder 6

Written as part of the 75th anniversary celebration.

Yearbooks

1984-2004 box 11 | folder 7-8

2005-2012 box 12 | folder 1

4. Financial records, 1881-1999

Administrative and board of trustees, 1924-1992 box 12 | folder 2

Includes procedures and resolutions.

Budget and Finance Committee, 1925-1996 box 12 | folder 3

Includes correspondence (1920s) and annual reports (1955-1996).

Secretary-Treasurer reports, 1919-1977, 1984, 1993 box 12 | folder 4-6

Balance sheets, budgets, and statements

Materials document receipts and disbursements, trust funds, cemetery accounts, assets, collections, and operational costs.

1937-1948, 1979-1994 box 12 | folder 7-10

1994-1999 box 13 | folder 1-2

Ledgers

Ledgers document membership and dues, cemetery accounts, cash accounts, and receipts and disbursements.

1881-1892 box 46

1904-1915 box 13 | folder 3

1916-1917 box 13 | folder 4

1918-1928 box 13 | folder 5

1924-1932 box 13 | folder 6

1928-1930 box 13 | folder 7

1930-1932 box 14 | folder 1

1932-1936 box 14 | folder 2

1932-1937 box 14 | folder 3

1937-1946 box 14 | folder 4

1938 box 14 | folder 5

1948-1951 box 14 | folder 6

1948-1955 box 15 | folder 1

1951-1959 box 15 | folder 2

1955-1960 box 15 | folder 3

1958 box 15 | folder 4

1958-1959 box 15 | folder 5

1960-1961 box 15 | folder 6

1962-1965 box 15 | folder 7

1963 box 15 | folder 8

1964 box 15 | folder 9

1965 box 15 | folder 10

1966 box 15 | folder 11

1968-1969 box 16 | folder 1

1970 box 16 | folder 2

1970-1971 box 16 | folder 3

1971-1973 box 16 | folder 4

1973-1975 box 17 | folder 1

1973-1976 box 17 | folder 2

1974-1976 box 17 | folder 3

1976-1977 box 17 | folder 4

1977-1979 box 17 | folder 5

1980-1981 box 17 | folder 6

1989-1993 box 17 | folder 7

Savings account books, 1915-1952 box 17 | folder 8

Bills and receipts

Regarding temple repairs, organ cleanings, insurance payments, utilities, office supplies, rents, and more. Companies are mostly local businesses, such as J.M. Harby General Contractors, B.J. Barnett General Merchandise, Palmetto Pigeon Plant, and Henry P. Moses insurance and real estate company. Also included is a 1926 receipt from Empire Glass and Decoration Company in Atlanta, Georgia, which supplied the dedication panels for Temple Sinai's stained glass windows.

1909-1927 box 17 | folder 9-15

1928-1952 box 18 | folder 1-9

Insurance policies, 1920-1992 box 18 | folder 10

Includes certificates and correspondence regarding coverage.

Wills, 1926-1971 box 18 | folder 11

Trust funds

Trust Fund Committee annual reports, 1935-1999 box 18 | folder 12

Administrative, 1945, 1990-1995 box 18 | folder 13

Includes trust fund committee meeting minutes and notes.

Legal documents, 1916-1991 box 18 | folder 14

General statements, 1936, 1988-1992 box 18 | folder 15

Includes overviews of all trust funds, including the Barnett cemetery and Congregation Sinai cemetery funds, which have related materials in the Facilities series.

Congregation Sinai Trust Fund statements, 1967-1996 box 18 | folder 16

Brody Trust Fund statements, 1980-1996 box 18 | folder 17

Levi Trust Fund statements, 1988-1996 box 18 | folder 18

Strauss-Rubin Endowment Fund, 1990-1996 box 18 | folder 19

Correspondence, 1963, 1980, 1990-1995 box 18 | folder 20

Barnett Memorial Fund

Reports, 1937-1997 box 19 | folder 1

Correspondence, 1926-1970 box 19 | folder 2

Statements, 1934, 1968-1969, 1991-1992 box 19 | folder 3

Ledgers, 1947-1970 box 19 | folder 4

Notes and legal documents, 1931, undated box 19 | folder 5

Financial correspondence, 1917-1999 box 20 | folder 1-26

Correspondence to and from the secretary-treasurer mostly relating to financial transactions regarding membership dues, payments on loans and mortgages, cemetery plots, and contributions. Most of the correspondence dates from the 1920s to the 1940s. Materials are arranged chronologically.

Miscellaneous notes, 1920s-1930s box 20 | folder 27

5. Facilities, 1860s-2008

Administrative, 1937-2005 box 21 | folder 1

Includes newspaper clippings, correspondence, and real estate titles.

Building Committee reports, 1924-1999 box 21 | folder 2

Correspondence regarding building improvements and repairs, 1927-1992 box 21 | folder 3-5

Building repairs and improvements bills and receipts, 1940, 1963 box 21 | folder 6

Building fund contributions and balances, 1963 box 21 | folder 7

Building fund information is also documented in the ledgers and balance sheets found in the Financial series.

Blueprints, 1956-1967, undated box 21 | folder 8

Interior and exterior photographs, 1960s, undated box 21 | folder 9

Architect's drawing of synagogue interior, undated box 46

Stained glass windows descriptions, photographs, and slides, 1960s, 1985, undated box 21 | folder 10

Correspondence regarding stained glass windows repair, 1965-1968, 1981-1982 box 21 | folder 11

9 Church Street property, 1961-1969 box 21 | folder 12

Cemetery

Administrative, 1918-2003 box 21 | folder 13

Includes cemetery rules and regulations, histories of the cemetery, legal documents and correspondence.

Cemetery Warden reports, 1923-1999 box 21 | folder 14

Cemetery Committee reports, 1926, 1955-1998 box 22 | folder 1

Account ledger, 1926-1928 box 22 | folder 2

Barnett Cemetery Foundation correspondence, 1983-1985, undated box 22 | folder 3

Barnett Cemetery Fund statements and balance sheets, 1945-1993 box 22 | folder 4

General overviews of all trust funds, including information regarding the Barnett Cemetery Fund can be found in the Financial series. Materials from the early 1980s were photocopied and the originals were discarded due to mold.

Congregation Sinai cemetery trust fund balance sheets, 1986-1996 box 22 | folder 5

General overviews of all trust funds, including information regarding the Congregation Sinai cemetery fund can be found in the Financial series.

Correspondence regarding finances and plot purchases, 1918-1975 box 22 | folder 6-7

Plot lists and maps, 1920s-1940s box 22 | folder 8

Burial permits and internment notes, 1921-1991 box 22 | folder 9

Correspondence regarding grounds and landscaping, 1926-1983 box 22 | folder 10

Henry and Virginia Moses Memorial Library

Committee reports, 1984-1994 box 22 | folder 11

Order correspondence and book lists, 1923-1954 box 22 | folder 12

Receipts, 1927-1953 box 22 | folder 13

Correspondence regarding memorials, 1922-1969 box 22 | folder 14

Memorial Library Fund donors ledger, 1920s-1960s box 22 | folder 15

6. Events and worship services, 1918-2000

Materials include programs and prayer sheets.

General Sabbath services, 1937, 1954, 1992, undated box 27 | folder 4

High holy days, 1921-1993 box 27 | folder 5

Hanukkah, 1918, 1973-1976, undated box 27 | folder 6

Hanukkah photographs, 1950s box 27 | folder 7

Passover and Sukkot, 1940-1984 box 28 | folder 1

Sukkot photographs, 1949 box 28 | folder 2

Purim photographs, 1910s-1967 box 28 | folder 3

Miscellaneous holiday services, 1972-1976, undated box 28 | folder 4

Dedications, 1932-1981 box 28 | folder 5

Bar and Bat Mitzvah services, undated box 28 | folder 6

Confirmation services, 1932-1975, undated box 28 | folder 7-8

Confirmation photographs, 1950s, 1990s box 28 | folder 9

1940s [?] confirmation photograph, undated box 46

Installation services, 1949-1973 box 28 | folder 10

Milestone service, 1973 box 28 | folder 11

Yom Ha'atzmaut services, 1970-1974 box 28 | folder 12

1937 South Carolina Jewish Conference, 1936-1937 box 28 | folder 13-14

Held at Temple Sinai. Includes planning correspondence, programs, attendee lists, and speaker remarks.

102nd anniversary celebration and service, 1976 box 28 | folder 15

Includes program, correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

Spirituality conferences, 1991-1992 box 29 | folder 1

Readings, 1959-1976, undated box 29 | folder 2

Includes poetry and newspaper clippings.

Miscellaneous services, 1938-1980, undated box 29 | folder 3

Includes services for college homecoming, conversions, Havdalah, families, and memorials.

Miscellaneous events, 1933-2000 box 29 | folder 4

7. Projects and charitable donations, 1926-2001

United Jewish Campaign, 1926-1930 box 29 | folder 5

Jewish Welfare Fund of Sumter

Later renamed Jewish Charities of Sumter.

Administrative records, 1934-1960, 1990-1996 box 29 | folder 6

Includes donation lists, correspondence, financial records, and resolutions.

Reports, 1938-1999 box 29 | folder 7

Ledgers, 1935-1938, 1971, 1991 box 29 | folder 8

Congregant donation correspondence, 1935-1944, 1992 box 29 | folder 9

Medical facility donations, 1928, 1939-1940 box 29 | folder 10

Other donations, 1927-1940 box 29 | folder 11

United Jewish Appeal for Refugees and Overseas Needs

Reports, 1949, 1957, 1991-1999 box 29 | folder 12

Correspondence, 1939-1941, 1975 box 29 | folder 13

Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, 1927-1939, 1985 box 29 | folder 14

Jewish Joint Distribution Committee certificate of merit, 1948 box 46

Refugee Aid Fund, 1939-1940 box 29 | folder 15

National Refugee Service, 1939-1942 box 29 | folder 16

Coordinating Refugee Committee of South Carolina, 1938-1940 box 30 | folder 1

Includes information relating to the National Coordinating Committee.

Sumter Holocaust memorial, 1981-1984 box 30 | folder 2

Russian refugee resettlement, 1989-1991 box 30 | folder 3

U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, 1992 box 30 | folder 4

Covenant Place senior living community, 1992 box 30 | folder 5

Special Project Committee, 1992 box 30 | folder 6

Coupon books, 1992 box 30 | folder 7

8. Organizations, 1901-2001

Sisterhood

Formerly the Temple Sinai Ladies Aid Society.

Administrative

Constitutions, circa 1930-1995 box 30 | folder 8

History, 1997-1998, undated box 30 | folder 9

Includes Nina Moïse Phelps' history as well as Corinne Phillips's recollections of attending temple and religious school. Also includes a miniature painting of Jessie Moïse Merrimon, the first treasurer of the Ladies Aid Society.

Audiocassette recording of Harriet Moses and other unidentified women discussing history of Temple Sinai's Sisterhood, 1998-02-10 (3 copies) audiocassette 1083-a01, 1083-a02, 1083-a03

(JHC Audiocassettes Box 2 | 3 audiocasette tapes)

Officer, board, and committee rosters, 1939-1997 box 30 | folder 10

Annual reports, 1930-1999 box 30 | folder 11-12

Mostly reports made at the annual congregation meeting.

Committee reports, 1954-1980 box 30 | folder 13

Includes reports from the Department of Advancement of Judaism, Telephone Committee, Commission on Projections for the Future, Housekeeping Committee, Department of Membership and Administration, Hospitality Committee, Beautification Committee, Department of Human Relations, Ways and Means Committee, and the Committee on Peace and World Relations.

Minutes

Includes the minutes of the Temple Sinai Ladies Aid Society (1901-1917). Materials are arranged chronologically. Does not include minutes from 1944-1948 or 1998-1999.

1901-1974 box 31 | folder 1-11

1975-2000, undated box 32 | folder 1-5

Membership lists, 1930s, 1960s, 1991 box 32 | folder 6-7

Yearbooks, 1952-2001 box 32 | folder 8-9

Correspondence, 1931-2000 box 32 | folder 10

Includes correspondence with state representatives regarding the Sisterhood's support of abortion rights.

Miscellaneous, 1930-1998 box 33 | folder 1

Includes policies, memorials, and photographs.

Financial records

Budgets, 1958-2000 box 33 | folder 2

Reports, 1955-1986 box 33 | folder 3

Account ledgers

Includes information regarding membership dues.

1926-1971 box 33 | folder 4-6

1971-1976 box 34 | folder 1

Correspondence, receipts, and notes, 1907-1987 box 34 | folder 2

Projects and events

Includes reports and fundraising efforts.

Program Committee reports, 1955-1966 box 34 | folder 3

Tried Recipes of Practical People Ladies Aid Society cookbooks, circa 1910 box 34 | folder 4

Judaica store, 1954-1965, 1993 box 34 | folder 5

Uniongrams, 1955-1993 box 34 | folder 6

Suppers and dinners, 1956-1972 box 34 | folder 7

Rummage sales, 1957-1995 box 34 | folder 8

Service to the Blind Committee

Reports, 1960-1977 box 34 | folder 9

Correspondence, 1961-1983 box 34 | folder 10

Events, 1970, 1972, undated box 34 | folder 11

Jewish Braille Institute, 1976-1983 box 34 | folder 12

Rocky Bottom Camp of the Blind (operated by the National Federation of the Blind of South Carolina), 1980-1984 box 34 | folder 13

Weekly newspaper reading, 1983, undated box 34 | folder 14

Miscellaneous, 1960-1978 box 34 | folder 15

Includes newspaper clippings and brochures.

Presentation of Jewish Holidays and Holy Days interfaith program, 1956, 1973 box 34 | folder 16

Includes photographs.

Drawings used in the Jewish Holidays and Holy Days interfaith program, undated box 43

Bulb sales, 1957-1999 box 35 | folder 1

Sisterhood Sabbath worship services programs, 1972-1977 box 35 | folder 2

Kibbutz Yahel, 1977-1979 box 35 | folder 3

Musicals, circa 1979 box 35 | folder 4

Family Health Center book project, 1994-1995 box 35 | folder 5

Transcriptions of presentations made at various events, 1965, undated box 35 | folder 6

Unidentified fundraising ledger, 1965-1966 box 35 | folder 7

Miscellaneous events, 1950s-1994, undated box 35 | folder 8

Include materials relating to carnivals, holiday festivals, and Trees for Israel.

Affiliations

National Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (NFTS), 1930-1990 box 35 | folder 9

Southeast Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (SEFTS), 1956-1989 box 35 | folder 10-11

South Carolina Federation of Temple Sisterhoods (SCFTS)

Constitutions, 1948-1956 box 36 | folder 1

Officer lists, 1944-1955, undated box 36 | folder 2

Executive board meeting minutes, 1943-1957, undated box 36 | folder 3

Reports, 1944-1972 box 36 | folder 4

Financial records, 1952-1988 box 36 | folder 5

Correspondence, 1949-1974 box 36 | folder 6

Bulletins and newsletters, 1949-1956, undated box 36 | folder 7

Conventions, 1937-1956 box 36 | folder 8

Meetings, 1935-1976 box 36 | folder 9

Workshops, 1960-1989 box 36 | folder 10

Miscellaneous, 1937-1972 box 36 | folder 11

Women of Reform Judaism, 1990-2000 box 36 | folder 12

Includes material relating to the 1995 Women's Spirituality Weekend held in Charleston.

Men's Club

Administrative, 1950-1965, undated box 36 | folder 13

Includes constitution, resolutions, officer and committee lists, and notes.

Annual and financial reports, 1937-1999, undated box 36 | folder 14

Meeting minutes

1946-1967 box 36 | folder 15-16

1971-1980 box 37 | folder 1

Correspondence, 1927-1991 box 37 | folder 2

Membership, 1955-1977, 1991 box 37 | folder 3

Worship services and events, 1952-1977 box 37 | folder 4

Includes transcripts of talks given by Herbert A. Moses and Robert A. Moses.

B'nai B'rith, 1939-1945, 1985 box 37 | folder 5

B'nai B'rith District Grand Lodge No. 5 (Charleston, S.C.) charter certificate, 1938 box 46

National Federation of Temple Brotherhoods (NFTB), 1933-1980 box 37 | folder 6-8

Includes correspondence, certificates, publications, publicity kits, and officer lists.

Temple Youth Group (TYG)

Administrative, 1965-1981 box 37 | folder 9

Includes rosters, constitution, financial information, and notes.

Meeting minutes, 1951-1977, undated box 37 | folder 10

Reports, 1955-1986 box 37 | folder 11

Worship services, 1970-1977, undated box 38 | folder 1

Song sheets, 1970s box 38 | folder 2

General Judaism resources, 1984, undated box 38 | folder 3

Israel resources and study/travel programs, 1970s box 38 | folder 4

Camp Coleman, 1977-1980 box 38 | folder 5

Includes brochures, applications, and the 1980 educational program guide.

Southeast Federation of Temple Youth (SEFTY)

Administrative, 1973-1979 box 38 | folder 6

Includes correspondence, rosters, meeting minutes, and a 1978-1979 event calendar. Also included is the 1976-1977 East SEFTY yearbook, which contains meeting and event information, correspondence, reports, poetry, and illustrations.

Handbooks and guides, 1970s box 38 | folder 7

Newsletters, 1976-1979 box 38 | folder 8

Includes Israel News, Judaica Arts Press and Israeli News (JAP IN), and East SEFTY.

Events, 1971-1979 box 38 | folder 9

Includes registration forms and programs for regional workshops, convocations, and institutes.

Worship services programs, 1971-1978 box 39 | folder 1

Project and social action ideas, 1970s box 39 | folder 2

Soviet Jewry social action resources, 1973-1979 box 39 | folder 3

Includes information on the Holocaust, issues of the SEFTY Committee of Soviet Jewry newsletter, brochures, and informational handouts.

National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY), 1967-1979 box 39 | folder 4

Includes correspondence, newsletters, and information regarding awards, programs, and events.

National Federation of Temple Youth (NFTY) How About This? publications, Vol. II, No. 1, October 1972- Vol. VI, No. 4, 1976 (scattered) box 39 | folder 5

Sinai Culture Society ledger, 1910-1911 box 40 | folder 1

Includes meeting minutes, bylaws, and officer lists.

9. Resources and topical files, 1891-2001

Includes newsletters, brochures, articles, and other publications.

Aerial photograph of the Ten Commandments, undated box 46

American Judaism, 1940-1965 box 40 | folder 2

Anti-Semitism, 1960s, undated box 40 | folder 3

Includes advertisements for the K.K.K.

Barnett A. Elzas pamphlets, 1902-1908 box 40 | folder 4

Includes The Jews of South Carolina, 1695-1750, The Organ in the Synagogue, The Jews of South Carolina: The Jews in the Revolution, Leaves From My Historical Scrap Book, A History of Congregation Beth Elohim, and The Jews of Charleston.

Christianity and Judaism, 1970s and undated box 40 | folder 5

Individuals, 1894-1980 box 40 | folder 6

Includes materials on David Mendez Machado and Uriah P. Levy.

Judaism, 1901-1979 box 40 | folder 7-8

Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (Charleston, S.C.), 1891-2001 box 40 | folder 9

Middle Eastern Jews, 1966-1992 box 40 | folder 10

Includes materials relating to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee.

Public relations, 1972, undated box 41 | folder 1

South Carolina Jews, 1898-1972 (scattered) box 41 | folder 2

Other congregations, 1907, 1913, 1989-1991 box 41 | folder 3

Include materials relating to Beth Israel (Florence, S.C.) and the Tree of Life Congregation (Columbia, S.C.).

Miscellaneous, 1968, 1991, undated box 41 | folder 4

Includes newspaper clippings and a booklet titled "A Jewish Response to Watergate."

10. Artifacts, 1789-circa 1985

Textiles

Child ceremonial dress, mid- to late 19th century box 42

Infant ceremonial dress, mid- to late 19th century box 42

Lucian Ira Strauss's infant dress and petticoat, circa 1885 box 42

Red Cross armband, bag, and headgear, circa 1917 box 42

Worn by Nina M. Phelps during her World War I volunteer service.

Esther Lyon Moïse's parasol, mid-19th century box 43

Beaded cape from Nina Moïse Phelps's family, mid-19th century box 43

Herbert A. Moses

KKBE confirmation award, 1891 box 43

Spanish-American War medal, 1898 box 43

City councilman silver plate, 1946 box 43

Kiwanis past president pin, undated box 43

Scroll inscribed with the Un'taneh Tokef prayer in silver case, undated box 43

Mezuzah, undated box 43

Men's Club sportsmanship award, 1961 box 43

Gavel presented by Mrs. I.A. Ryttenberg to the South Carolina State Federation of Temple Sisterhoods, 1928 box 44

Gavel presented by Mr. and Mrs. C.F. Lyon to the Temple Sinai Youth Group, 1958 box 44

K.K.B.E. bicentennial plate, 1950 box 44

Ornament box, undated box 44

Five newspaper printing blocks, undated box 44

Depicting images of Temple Sinai's facilities.

Six Purim groggers, undated box 44

Scrolls, undated box 44

Silver

Spice box from Israel box 44

Bowl, undated box 44

Ryttenberg family silver, circa 1837 box 45

Includes bowls, cups, serving ware, and candlesticks.

Dora Witcover silver cup, undated box 45

Books

The First Book of Moses, Called Genesis, 1789 box 48

Formerly belonged to Mordecai Cohen.

The Second Book of Moses, Called Exodus, 1789 box 48

Formerly belonged to Mordecai Cohen.

Discourses, Argumentative and Devotional, on the Subject of the Jewish Religion by Isaac Leeser, 1837 box 48

Formerly belonged to the Moses family.

A Complete Concordance of the Holy Scriptures by Alexander Cruden, 1849 box 48

Formerly belonged to members of the Phillips and Moses families.

Hudibras by Samuel Butler, 1853 box 47

Formerly belonged to the Moses family.

The Service-Ritual, by Rabbi Joseph Krauskopf, 1890 box 47

Formerly belonged to the Moses family.

Union prayer books, 1894, 1918, 1930 box 47

Formerly belonged to C. A. Levy, Katherine Moses, Herbert A. Moses.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Temple Sinai (Sumter, S.C.) records, College of Charleston Libraries, Charleston, SC, USA.

Acquisitions Information

Materials were donated in 2007 and 2008 by Robert Moses, Irving Schulman, and Josephine Kramer on behalf of Temple Sinai.

Processing Information

Processed by Sarah Dorpinghaus, February 2012.

Encoded by Sarah Dorpinghaus and Martha McTear, February 2012.

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