Pennsylvania has one of the largest and oldest organized Jewish Communities in the United States. Jews of Sephardic origin settled in what was to become the “Keystone State” in the early eighteenth century, though there were some Jewish traders in the area during the latter part of the seventeenth century. Jews began trading and residing in the areas of Central and Western Pennsylvania in the early years of the nineteenth century, and as their numbers increased, they began establishing burial societies and synagogues. The early Jewish settlers were mostly of German origin and were joined later by Jews of Central and Eastern European background. Chambersburg, Danville, Hanover, Harisburg, Pittsburgh and Uniontown were among the early areas of Jewish settlement. In 1840, a Jewish burial society was established in Chambersburg in Central Pennsylvania, making it the first official Jewish organization established outside of Philadelphia. Congregation Rodef Shalom in Pittsburgh traces its initial beginnings to a Jewish burial society established there in 1847.There is a wealth of history and an extensive physical record of Jewish settlement throughout Central and Western Pennsylvania. Growing Jewish Communities established congregations, cemeteries, and social organizations, building their synagogues as a testament to their faith and community. Take a visual journey and discover a unique portion of Pennsylvania’s ethnic and religious history.
| BOOK ISBN |
9781625450593 |
| FORMAT |
235 x 165 mm |
| BINDING |
Paperback |
| PAGES |
144 pages |
| PUBLICATION DATE |
15 July 2014 |
| TERRITORY |
World |
| ILLUSTRATIONS |
200 black-and-white and 32 colour photographs |
Julian H. Priesler is a Jewish researcher, author, genealogist and documentarian. His interests include: synagogue & church architecture, local American Jewish history, genealogy, historic preservation and documentation. He has been interested in Jewish history and architecture most of his life, being dedicated to recording the built environment, preserving family history and, hopefully, helping to make people more aware of the importance of our history.
