Traces of local Jewish history found by native of Lancaster – Lancaster Eagle Gazette
Posted By admin on September 25, 2022
LANCASTER A history of Jewish tradition in Lancaster has been discovered by Lancaster-native Austin Reid. Through his research, Reid is attempting to inform the public of a once-forgotten part of the city's past.
Reid has been doing this research in a volunteer capacity as a hobby, working in collaboration with multiple historical societies. Instead of making his discoveries as part of a job, he does it out of a passion for the work.
"I think there are really two goals I have in my mind," said Reid. "The first was I hope these pieces are engaging for a broad audience including non-Jewish readers. I think many people don't know much about Judaism and I think sometimes there's this impression that Judaism is a religion that is only found in big cities but there's a really long history of Jewish life in small towns as well and I hope these histories are an accessible way for individuals to learn a bit about a community that has a long presence in many parts of Ohio. It is an important piece of local history."
"The second goal is for the descendants of these families who are now living in various areas," said Reid. "I'm hoping this can be a valuable genealogical resource for them to learn about their forebears and how they made contributions to small towns."
While much of this history is not well recorded, Reid has found his ways of digging up information.
"The primary resource I'm using is newspaper archives," said Reid. "A lot of these are digitized on a website called Ohio Memory that is run by the state library of Ohio and Ohio History Connection. You can also find the Eagle-Gazette archives on a website called newspapers.com. In addition to the newspaper archives I'm also looking at Jewish newspapers from across Ohio, particularly in Columbus and Cincinnati. Even though these newspapers aren't based in Lancaster, they often carry reports from smaller communities."
Reid originally decided to follow Lancaster's history with Judaism because of traces he noticed while living in the area. Although he does not live in the area anymore, those signs stuck with him and pointed him towards his research. One of those traces was the site of the former B'Nai Israel synagogue, which stopped serving as a place of worship in 1993.
"On 131 East Chestnut Street you can still see the former B'Nai Israel synagogue," said Reid. "Now it's a private home and it's been a private home since 1994, but it was originally built by a Lutheran congregation and was converted into a synagogue in 1927. So I think, look I'm in a historical Facebook and every few months it seems like there's someone who asks about this building. You can tell it used to be a place of worship, but there's not a congregation meeting there now and I think it gets people curious about what the building was used for."
Among the most interesting stories of Jewish history that Reid found in Lancaster included a fire at B'nai synagogue in 1961, in which two members of the congregation, Clearance Epstein and Jacob Molar, ran in to save Torah scrolls.
Another story of interest that stood out to Reid was the Jewish Welfare Society, which earned itself a shoutout in the book 'Fairfield County in the World War' by Van Snider. He said this was significant because despite the Jewish community never totaling more than 100 people, they made enough of an impact to be put in Snider's book.
"(Snider) mentions in this book that this Jewish Welfare Society was very active with volunteering with the Red Cross and helped to raise funds for literary loans, so despite being a really small community, it still made a big enough impact that this author noted it in his book about Fairfield County in World War One," said Reid.
With Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, on Sept. 25, Reid believes that this is a perfect time for readers to be exposed to Lancaster's rich history of Judaism.
For readers interested in learning more about Lancaster's forgotten Jewish past, Reid's full article is available online through the Columbus Jewish Historical Society: https://columbusjewishhistory.org/histories/history-jewish-community-lancaster-surrounding/
Continued here:
Traces of local Jewish history found by native of Lancaster - Lancaster Eagle Gazette
- Armenia opens probe into arson attack on synagogue - The Times of Israel - November 18th, 2023
- Back from Israel, female executive director of Greensboro synagogue shares her experiences of the terrors of antisemitism - WXII12 Winston-Salem - November 18th, 2023
- Melbourne synagogue evacuated on Shabbat as pro-Palestinian rally held nearby - The Times of Israel - November 18th, 2023
- Long Island synagogue sets up massive Shabbat dinner table with places for all 240 hostages taken by Hamas - New York Post - November 18th, 2023
- Molotov cocktails thrown at Montreal-area synagogue and Jewish center - The Times of Israel - November 8th, 2023
- Beth El-The Heights Synagogue to host Israeli dancing Nov. 11 - Cleveland Jewish News - November 8th, 2023
- 'I've been disheartened' | Grand Rapids synagogue notices uptick in ... - WZZM13.com - November 8th, 2023
- Graffiti, arson attempt at property linked to Auckland synagogue - 1News - November 8th, 2023
- Healing, heroism and heartbreak: One-on-one with officer injured in synagogue shooting - WTAE Pittsburgh - November 8th, 2023
- Nether Providence police report threat against synagogue - The Delaware County Daily Times - November 8th, 2023
- Austin synagogue reflects on 2021 fire on 2-year anniversary - FOX 7 Austin - November 8th, 2023
- Pittsburgh honors Tree of Life Synagogue shooting victims five years later - NBC News - October 29th, 2023
- Woodmere synagogue sets Shabbat table in honor of 229 Israeli hostages of Hamas - Newsday - October 29th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue picks artifacts to memorialize Tree of Life ... - The Washington Post - October 29th, 2023
- Future plans for the Tree of Life synagogue - WTAE Pittsburgh - October 29th, 2023
- Detroit police say theyve identified several people of interest in synagogue presidents killing - KBTX - October 29th, 2023
- Several people of interest identified in killing of Detroit synagogue president - The Hill - October 25th, 2023
- FBI monitoring potential hate crimes as five-year commemoration of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting approaches - CBS News - October 25th, 2023
- Rabbi speaks about bomb threat that happened at synagogue - KOAT New Mexico - October 25th, 2023
- Events this week mark five years since Pittsburgh synagogue shooting - 90.5 WESA - October 25th, 2023
- Binyamin Rachamim, 52: Father of 9 murdered on his way to synagogue - The Times of Israel - October 25th, 2023
- Richmond Virginias Jewish Community - Kehillah - October 12th, 2023
- Synagogue security in Europe raised as Jews brace for antisemitism after Hamas assault - The Times of Israel - October 12th, 2023
- Thousands gather at Baltimore synagogue to pray for peace - KTVZ - October 12th, 2023
- Hundreds gather at Ridgefield synagogue to pray for hope in Israel - The Ridgefield Press - October 12th, 2023
- Vigil to be held at local synagogue Thursday in support of Israel as ... - ABC17News.com - October 12th, 2023
- San Jose synagogue, community stands with Israel through evening of unity and prayer - KGO-TV - October 12th, 2023
- Bomb Scare Near Synagogue In Hamptons Closes Streets For Investigation - Patch - October 12th, 2023
- Police officers recognized with award for response to Pittsburgh synagogue shooting - WPXI Pittsburgh - October 12th, 2023
- Ashland synagogue increasing security after attacks on Israel - KDRV - October 12th, 2023
- Son of Star Trek actor coming to Albany synagogue - NEWS10 ABC - October 12th, 2023
- Wilmette Synagogue For Sale with Redevelopment Draw - The Real Deal - October 12th, 2023
- Pittsburgh synagogue shooting families talk about how their lives have changed since the 2018 massacre - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - September 28th, 2023
- Im not religious, but my 10-year-old wants to go to synagogue what should I do? - Forward - September 28th, 2023
- Vandalised Kent synagogue raises over 8000 to boost security - The Jewish Chronicle - September 28th, 2023
- Rabbi in Odessa: 'The city shook from the shelling, the synagogue was full to capacity' - Ynetnews - September 28th, 2023
- OPINION: My synagogue is building affordable housing and ... - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 28th, 2023
- Yuma synagogue received bogus bomb threat over holiday weekend - Jewish News of Greater Phoenix - September 28th, 2023
- Rabbi in Odessa: 'The city shook from the shelling, the synagogue ... - The Federation of Jewish ... - September 28th, 2023
- New findings in the Late Roman synagogue of Huqoq - Aleteia - September 28th, 2023
- Beth El-The Heights Synagogue hosts Dinner in the Sukkah - Cleveland Jewish News - September 28th, 2023
- Likud minister: This year, I will attend synagogue on Yom Kippur - Arutz Sheva - September 28th, 2023
- Old police barracks and city synagogue among projects to get ... - Belfast Telegraph - September 28th, 2023
- Police urge gun owners to carry at synagogue as terror alerts spike at High Holidays - The Times of Israel - September 22nd, 2023
- After 20 years, a Westport synagogue project is coming to a close with playground approval - CT Insider - September 22nd, 2023
- I Fast On Yom Kippur But Dont Go To Synagogue And There Are Plenty Of Jews Like Me - Religion Unplugged - September 22nd, 2023
- Reports of the Death of the Synagogue Have Been Highly ... - Mosaic - September 22nd, 2023
- Aurora synagogue begins new year celebration with special event - Daily Herald - September 22nd, 2023
- Jewish man charged in plot to attack synagogue. His parents say theres more to the story. - Forward - September 22nd, 2023
- PHOTOS: At SF synagogue, personalizing prayer by making tallits - The Jewish News of Northern California - September 22nd, 2023
- Police Respond to Possible Bomb Threat at NYC Synagogue in Midst of Jewish New Year - The Messenger - September 18th, 2023
- May their memory never buffer: Synagogue yahrzeit memorials are ... - The Canadian Jewish News - September 18th, 2023
- A gun in every synagogue: Jerusalem cops gear up for holiday tensions - The Times of Israel - September 18th, 2023
- On Rosh Hashana, I skipped synagogue to find the holiday's ... - The Boston Globe - September 18th, 2023
- This Is Not the End of the Synagogue - Jewish Journal - September 18th, 2023
- I fast on Yom Kippur but dont go to synagogue. And there are plenty of Jews like me - Forward - September 18th, 2023
- Religions - Judaism: The Synagogue - BBC - September 7th, 2023
- Stained glass from Texas synagogue targeted by arson rebuilt into 3D eternal flame - The Times of Israel - September 7th, 2023
- Five Years of Reporting on the Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting - The Times of Israel - September 7th, 2023
- Judge Rules to Evict CJI from Touro Synagogue - Newport This Week - September 7th, 2023
- Schwartzben aims for Green Road Synagogue to be center of community - Cleveland Jewish News - September 7th, 2023
- Letter to the editor: Center, synagogue contain so much of Sumter's ... - The Sumter Item - September 7th, 2023
- About Us - Congregation Beth Israel - September 3rd, 2023
- Touro Synagogue in Newport will have new leadership after eviction ruling - The Providence Journal - September 3rd, 2023
- Egyptian synagogue once home to famed Cairo Geniza completes extensive renovation - The Times of Israel - September 1st, 2023
- Man accused of threatening witnesses, jurors during Pittsburgh synagogue shooting trial to remain in custody - TribLIVE - September 1st, 2023
- 20-year effort for synagogue on Ludlow Road hits another snag - Westport Journal - September 1st, 2023
- 'We are back as a family' | Austin synagogue hosts first service in new 'transitional worship space' years after arson attack - KVUE.com - September 1st, 2023
- The theater in Moldova that was once a synagogue - Ynetnews - September 1st, 2023
- Kyiv Celebrates 125th Anniversary Of The Brodsky Synagogue Amid ... - i24NEWS - September 1st, 2023
- The synagogue - Practices in Judaism - GCSE Religious Studies ... - BBC - August 26th, 2023
- Synagogue unearthed in Russia may be one of the oldest outside Israel. But not everyone is convinced. - Livescience.com - August 26th, 2023
- Judge rules in Touro Synagogue eviction. Here's what will happen to Newport congregation - The Providence Journal - August 26th, 2023
- On the Cover | Grand Re-Opening of Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue - The Jewish News - August 26th, 2023
- The race to save Mosul's last synagogue - Jewish Insider - August 26th, 2023
- How this Romaniote synagogue keeps a Jewish minority within a minority alive - Forward - August 26th, 2023
- Second Temple era synagogue discovered in Russia - The Jerusalem Post - August 16th, 2023
- Vacant synagogue in West Hartford could become housing units - CT Insider - August 16th, 2023
- WV man accused of threatening jury and witnesses in trial of Pittsburgh synagogue gunman - Charleston Gazette-Mail - August 16th, 2023
- 76th reading of Washingtons letter at Touro Synagogue to honor ... - What'sUpNewp - August 16th, 2023
Comments