xt7r7s7htd41 https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7r7s7htd41/data/mets.xml Mississippi Mississippi Historical Records Survey 1940 Prepared by The Mississippi Historical Records Survey Project, Division of Professional and Service Projects, Work Projects Administration; Sponsored by Mississippi Department of Archives and History; Other contributors include: United States Works Progress Administration, Division of Professional and Service Projects; v, 41 leaves includes map, 28 cm; Reproduced from type-written copy; Includes bibliography; UK holds archival copy for ASERL Collaborative Federal Depository Program libraries; Call number FW 4.14:M 69ic/2 books English Jackson, Mississippi: Mississippi State Conference, B'nai B'rith This digital resource may be freely searched and displayed in accordance with U. S. copyright laws. Mississippi Works Progress Administration Publications Inventory of the Church and Synagogue Archives of Mississippi, Jewish Congregations and Organizations text Inventory of the Church and Synagogue Archives of Mississippi, Jewish Congregations and Organizations 1940 1940 2015 true xt7r7s7htd41 section xt7r7s7htd41     ummm¤ Hi»HmiMHaiMmwww  
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 INVENTORY OF THE CHURCH AND SYNAGOGUE ARCHIVES
OF MISSISSIPPI
JEWISH CONGREGATIONS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Prepared by
The Mississippi Historical Records Survey Project
Division of Professional and Service Projects
Work Projects Administration
Sponsored
by
Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Jackson, Mississippi
Mississippi State Conference
B'nai B'rith
November 1940

 I   
H é
ig The Historical Records Survey Program
ol Sargent B. Child, National Director l
R John C. L. Andreassen, Regional Supervisor
Q Robert E. Strong, State Supervisor
  3
Y l
 
 
S
%
{ Research and Records Section
Q Harvey E. Becknell, Director
j Willis B. Hazelton, Regional Supervisor
{ I Felix J. Underwood, Jr., State Supervisor
Q Division of Professional and Service Projects
'-d” Florence Kerr, Assistant Commissioner
‘ Leo G. Spofford, Chief Regional Supervisor
Y Ethel Payne, State Director
V WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION
. I Howard O. Hunter, Acting Commissioner
r Lawrence Mestbrook, Regional Director
Roland B. Mall, State Administrator

 ‘ FOREWORD
Any organization or individual having -— however limited - a hand in
the preparation of this volume, or in its publication, may feel a just
pride in being associated with so valuable a project.
As a c0·sponsor, The Mississippi State Conference of B'nai B'rith
considers itself privileged in the opportunity of such association.
Nothing short of prodigious labor was involved in the research that
made this volume possible. Workers throughout the state who have taken
considerable pains with their contributions are to be warmly congratula-
ted.
Ncver before has so comprehensive and so accurate a survey been
made of the collective endeavors of Jews in this state. Only one other
state -— Michigan - has such a Jewish Inventory prepared by a State His-
torical Records Survey Project, according to our information.
If any of the details presented should be discovered to be incom-
plete, this is no more than testimony to the vast scope of the endeavor.
The scientific procedures employed measure up to high standards of his-
toriography.
Herr are the objective data that besptak the moral and spiritual
contributions of the descendants of an ancient people, the adherents of
a significant historical religion, to the wzlfare of a great common-
wealth.
This presentation is a symbol of the iinest spirit of Democracy,
promulgated of old by the Founding Fathers of America and infused, in-
eradicably, in the very bone and marrow of this blessed country's daily
life.
STANLEY R. BRAV
Rabbi
Chairman, Mississippi
STATE COTFERENCE OF B'NAI B'RITH
/

 * Passion
The Historical Records Survey Projects of the Work Projects Administration
are engaged, as one phase of their extensive program, in preparing and publish-
I ing inventories of the church archives of all denominations. The Inventory of
Jewish Congregations and Organizations is the second of this nature published
in Mississippi by the Mississippi Historical Records Survey Project. It is
hoped that it will be of service to the clergy, members of religious organiza-
tions, students of the social sciences, and those engaged in geneological re-
search. Information contained in this inventory has been acquired by personal
interview and by research in printed sources, and in church, county, and State
archives. In view of the nature of this undertaking, there will likely be cer-
tain emissions and deficiencies, but the Survey has made every effort to at-
tain the highest degree of accuracy.
The careful and meticulous initial research and the field work in the
counties, and the organizing of the data contained in this volume were done
under the supervision of Nash K. Burger, Project Technician. Other members of
the Mississippi staff who made excellent contribution to the inventory wore:
Connie Z. Pearson, unit foreman; Virginia Plylor; Fred Beacham; Elmise Fant;
William M. Price; and Catherine Shiclds.‘ Much of the original research in the
counties was prosecuted by field workers, working in their own communities.
The Mississippi Historical Records Survey Project wishes to express its
deep appreciation of the interest manifested in this inventory by individuals
throughout the State, and for the contributions they made toward its publica-
tion. For the assistance given by Dr. D. H. Orkin, former secretary of the
Mississippi State Conference of H'nai B'rith, and Meyer A. Lewis, Jr., present
secretary; and by the many Rabbis who edited and reviewed the entries for each
Congregation and Organization, we are profoundly grateful.
We wish also to thank the officials of the`Nork Projects Administration,
and Dr. William D. McCain, Director of the Mississippi Department of Archives
_ and History and official sponsor of the project, who have given the Survey
their cordial cooperation; and the co-sponsor, The Mississippi State Conference
of B'nai B'rith, whose support made the publication of this inventory possible.
The Mississippi Historical Records Survey Project has followed general
regulations and procedures applicable to all WPA project units. The inventory _
was prepared in accordance with technical instructions received from the Wash-
ington office of the Historical Records Survey Projects. Donald A. Thompson,
assistant archivist in charge of church archives, reviewed the volume before
publication. In addition, the Kississippi Survey has profitod in all phases
of its work by the constructive advice and criticism of John C. L. Andreasscn,
regional supervisor of the Survey.
A list of publications issued by the Mississippi Historical Records Survey
Project appears after the index of the volume.
Robert E. Strong,
State Supervisor
The Mississippi lhstorical Records
Survey Project
219 East Capitol St.
Jackson, Mississippi
November 1940
/

 ‘ .. j_·gr..
EDITORIAL NOTES
Orgonizotion Datas
The general plnn of entry plnces tho congrcgutions in chronological order
of crginisntion. Foriol congregational orgunizaticn fos regular religious
services frequently cimc sono time oftcr organizdtion of o cemetery or of d
benevolent society. nowover, the date given is, so far as it is possible to
nscortoin it, the date after which religious services wzrc more or loss regular.
Form of Entry
The entry for ouch congregation or organization adheres to c uniform
style. Following the entry nwnbcr appear the name of the congregation or organ-
ization, the organization date ond dote of demise (if inactive), thc street ed-
drcss, and city or town, and county inwhich the organization is located. Each
entry is divided into two or three porcgraphs. The first paragraph gives, wher-
ever possible, the organization history, thc building history, the first settled
rabbi, and the present r bbi. The second paragraph gives bibliography pertain-
ing exclusively to the particular congregation. The third paragraph is devoted
to the records of the congregation.
_ Mississippi Lew Pertuining to Religious Organizations
Religious bodies in Mississippi muy bo incorporoted.
In.Mississippi all corporations are formed only under the general laws
(Const., 1890, sec. 178). Ch¤TtGTS of iHGOTp0T&tlOH &T0 approved by the
Attorney-General, signed by tho Governor, ond recorded by the Secretary of State,
as well es in the office of the clerk of the chnncory court as recorder in the
county of the domicile of the corporation (Code 19LO, soc. dl$1)• Prior to the
adoption of the Constitution of 1890, charters for corporations were in many
ccsos grunted by specific acts of the Legislature.
Religious bodies nay, under certain conditions, acquire property by dcviscs
und bequests, olthough, prior to 1940, such bequests hud been gcncrully prohib-
ited. (For a more detailed study of the mortmein law end other statutes relat-
ing to religious organizations in Mississippi, seo Mississippi Historical Rc-
cords Survey Project, Inventory of the Church Archives of Mississippi, Protes-
tant Episcopal Church, Jcckson, 1940, pp. iv·v)—
Extinct Congregations
Congregations no longer cctive are denoted by on asterisk and completed
dates.
Abbroviotions
CI tillO6lililllt¤¤IOIIOllllOOO!OlllllillllillllllllllliIlullllllcsbgut
C·:ll'lSt• •o:t•»:4·¤.·••••¤vc•¤•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••¤••••C("1-lSti.butl"`n
Od! f¤»J·¤•·"Iol!'*¤|¤lDIOIIIOOIOIOOOIIIOQQIIIOIUIIOIOIIII!Ii|¤l*II(2ditL}r
Ibid. ..-.-,... ..... » ........................ ... ....... in the same ploee
LI   l8*00lBlulllltnlllllllllllOlllllllliIIIIOIIOIIUULIPITS  
  IIIIIIIIOOIOUIQOIIOOOIIOQIIIIOIIIIQOOUIIIIOIIIOIIOOOIOU1\`1isSiJSippj.
no da •••••••a¤¤¤•¤••••••••••••••••••••¤••••••••••••••••¤¤¤•••¤•••llJ dizte
I

 Editorial Notes
n. p, _M ________ H _________ M_ ___________ _"_ V_____»____, A ____ no place of publication
n• PI`•· . ..... . ...~. . ..... . ......,..,,.,_.,.,___,________`____ ____ _,__,_ _ __,____ ____ I]-O printer
u _£p. cit. __ Uh ____________ _ ________________________________ _W_ ____ w_H__ in the work cited
P- PP•'. .... i.. ...»... . ,.............. . .......,...`..,_.,,,___ _ .._,_..__,. _ ..___ PaE€, PaE€S
sec. .._._,,,.A.__________,_ , ____,_________,__________________ __ ____o _ ______ __ ______c _ section
Sic.,. ..,.............c.._,_..,,__,,...._,._,, _ _______,_____,____, thus, according to copy
vol{,vols. , `___.____, _ _______ s __,,,___ _ ____________________,________,___ volume, volumes
Ssmrls
—— ..---l--· ·e -... M .........» . ....·...... . ...........· . ............... to date or current
* .»... ............i........ i .A,.. . .............cc... , ..,........._ inactive congregation
WPA - -»-.V....·4..............·.... W. ....... .w e....... Work Projects Administration
I

 it TABLE OF CONTENTS
` i F<>¤"€v¢¤rd ...__.., . .._. .. _.._..__ _ _,_,___.___,_____.. . .._.._..__......,......,...... ii
Preface _ ________ _ ___________________ _n_ ______________________,_____________ __ iii
Editorial Notes_ ____________ ,M____" ________________ __, V____O _wA ___________4 iv
U Historical Sketch of Jews in Mississippi A_____ _H _ ___________ _ ___4 _H_,2
Map Showing Jewish Religious Activity
in Mississippi VU __,_ _ ___________ __ _____ _ _>_________ _ ____W ___ _______________ 8
Inventory of Jewish Organizations and
Congregations in Mississippi ________________»_________ 7 __,_______,_,____ 9
Tabulation Regarding Settlement of Individual Jews in Thirty-
Six Typical Mississippi Counties Not Containing Synagogues ,,_, 27
Bibliography _ _______,_V__________v______________________ _ _________,_..___._,__ 34
Index to Congregations, Institutions _
and Organizations, Chronological M_____, _______ _H_ _______ _ ______ 37
Index to Congregations, Institutions
and Organizations, by Name _______________ __ _________ _ _______ I ________ I 58
Index to Congregations, Institutions
and Organizations, by Location ___ ______________ , _______________ _ _____ 39
Index by Counties ____r n___ ________ . .____._c.c_..,__._.... I ,..i.. . ...... n..4O
Publications of the Mississippi Historical
Records Survey Project ___, M__,, _H ___z___,___,___ _ __,_____,,Y _ __,A 41
/

 § — 2 -
{ HISTORICAL SKETCH OF JEWS IN MISSISSIPPI
j That there were individual Jews among the early settlers in the French,
; .Spanish, and English colonies in the lower Mississippi valley is evident.
P` In 1724, Governor Bienville promulgated, in the name of Louis XV, a set of
laws known as the "Black Code," the first provision of which declared that
" all Jews were to be expelled from the colony of Louisiana. This included the
present state of Mississippi.l After 1765, the southern half of the present
state was a part of British`West Florida and the presence of Jews in the col-
ony is indicated by the issuance of an order forbidding them to vote.? A Jew,
Palachio, is mentioned as in New Orleans in 1766,3 and Jews by the name of
Israel, Solomon, and Depalachio were in Mobile —.» in 1765.4
In 1789, Major Samuel S. Forman of New Jersey wrote that, "in the village
of Natchez resided Monsier [sie] and Madam Masanteo5--Spanish Jews, I think--
who were the most kind and hospitable of people."6
Mississippi did not become an American territory, in fact, until 1798
and a state in 1817. In the l820's, the number of Jews in the entire United
States was estimated at 6,000.7 Probably not over 100 of these were living
in Mississippi. As to when Jewish services were first held within the bound-
aries of Mississippi no record has been preserved. It was likely in the early
years of the nineteenth century and certainly in the Natchez section.8 These A
first services were undoubtedly Orthodox (see Entry 5).
Points of early Jewish settlement connected by river or land travel with
Mississippi were: New Orleans, where the well-known Judah Touro settled in
1802; Montgomery, Alabama, on the site of which, Abraham Mordecai settled in
1789; and Cincinnati and Louisville, points of embarkation for many settlers
coming down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to the lower south.9
It was as peddlers and small merchants that most of the early Jews of
Mississippi supported themselves. The greater part were from Germany, al-
though a few of the very earliest were from England. Those German Jewish
immigrants were hard-working, enterprising men, who, as often as not, start-
ed out with no more stock than could be carried on their backs.lO
` l:_IiEGdeE_Oayarreznhuiistgryfof 7. Simon Wolf, The_American Jew_as
Louisiana, New o1~IsET¤`é§"1"ab'?Z` Patriot, _S_o_l_d_iLer_ gig cr;_r€s_.;,
T4th"Edition), 4 vols., I, 562. Philadelphia, 1895, 67. Here-
E 2. Peter J. Hamilton, Colonial Mobile, after cited as, Wolf.
Boston and New York?_l9lO,—545Z 8. Joseph Dunbar Shields, Natchez,
5. Ibid., 256. EEE Early History, Louisville,
4. Ibid., 295. 1950, 40-41.
· 5. ThE—name is given as Monsantpj in 9. Lec J. Levingor, A_History pf the
the Spanish records at”Natchcz. Jews in_thens," ond that the Jews,
F "bargsin with the negroes and the negroes like this. . . Southern whites tend
Q to be brusque and 'teke-it-or-leave-it' with the negro, while Jews are more
Q considerate, putting business before caste prineiples."l
ri
§ In recent years, in every phase of Hississippi's business or social life
§ Jews have been active and influential. The place tnken in business und com-
-§ munity life in the cities of the State, for example, is u notable one. Active
é in many fields in the State's three largest cities have been members of the
Q Dreyfus, Lehnsn, Hart, nscher, Engel, Kshn,Orkin,and Lewis families of Jnckson;
i the Rothenberg, Threefeot, hnrks, Rosenbaum. Klein, Nyer, and Winter families
é of Meridien; and the Rice, Switzer, Weil, Fried, Kline, and Teller fmiilies
{ of Vicksburg. nt least two Mississippi Jews of today nre nationally known:
3Q David Cohn, of the Delta, for his writing, and Lehman Engel, of Jackson, for .
f musical composition and direction. Earlier, in the letter years of the nine-
W teenth century, Rabbi Herman V. Bien of Vicksburg, had achieved s reputation
i, ss a poet and novelist, his Ben-Deer, A Story of the Anti4iessinh,2 published
lg 1891, being especially popu1€rT·_-`~ _-—-—--_-—___—__——--*“-———
il
V? While participating actively in the general life of the State, Mississippi
g Jews have retained an attachment to their family and religious customs. A
l recent study of Jewish family solidarity in u fississippi city mode by Rabbi
§ Stanley R. Brav, of Vicksburg, gave "dcfinite credence to the popular assumption
§ of strength in Jewish family solidarity." Dr. Brev's study discovered else,
i however, that that family solidarity "is more rel tive then it is real. . .
2 one is not impressed. . . with an amazing amount of, what might be celled,
i 'absolute* family solidarity. . . Certainly the strength of Jewish family life
,· in Vicksburg on the Yississippi today, is nvt the strength of the Jewish fmuily
Q in the ghetto of Presburg on the Danube in the 16th end 17th century."3
 L   "sen-Hu;-." ri. E   prim-
»§ Southern Town,_YijZYDhivErsity_—`· taE{dgTni&. The wgpderiné gentile,
j T¥EEs,_l&5?TtEvon, 1937, 129-150. &_c»npsnion to Sue's““h»nderinE
d 2. Ben-Beer; A Story of the Anti- JEEP. Baltimore, I. Fredcnwnld
{ Vessinh inutwo divisibns[“—?t._1 Comptny, 1891, ix, 528·pp·
{   in_the 5. Stanley R. Frev, Jewish Fmnily
3  Elif   spiirmity, vicksburg, is-mo, ss-cs.
J 
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