Latrobe, Pennsylvania Religious

~ Religious Life ~

Latrobe Religious

If you have information concerning the religious community of Latrobe, click HERE to e-mail me.

In 1898, the Orthodox element of Judaism predominated the 15 families living in Latrobe. But there is something we admire about these 15 families, that they wanted to worship, not as individual units, but as an organized body.

So in 1898, these few people formed the Beth Israel congregation. In 1919, the congregation still numbered only 15 families totaling 87 Jews, however by 1927, the Jewish population rose to 100 inhabitants in Latrobe.

Remarkable is the fact that these few Jews had the courage and initiative to build a small synagogue in 1907. The president of the building committee was Harry TAPOLSKY (pictured, The Jewish Criterion - Vol. 51 No. 22 - 25 July 1919), one of the leaders of the communities Jewish affairs. Mr. Sam REGEN was the first president of the Beth Israel congregation. In 1907, on land donated by Harry Tapolsky, the first Beth Israel synagogue was built on Miller Street. This synagogue remained active until a new building for the Beth Israel congregation was erected in 1954, on Weldon Street.

In 1919, the officers were Mr. TROTSKY (President) are Ruben TUCKER (Vice-president) and A. KANTER (Secretary).

[ click image to enlarge it. ]

First Beth Israel Synagogue
Photo: Copyright ©2015 Marshall J. KATZ, USA
Dedicated 1907 - a residence today

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Second Beth Israel Synagogue I
Photo: Copyright ©2015 Marshall J. KATZ, USA
Dedicated 1954

Second Beth Israel Synagogue II
Photo: Copyright ©2015 Marshall J. KATZ, USA
Dedicated 1954

~ Beth Israel Bulletin ~ Source: Beth Israel History at jewishfamilieshistory.org

The first synagogue bulletin was issued in Feburary 1954.
In 1962, the Congregation Officers were William DUNHOFF (President), Hyman WEISS (Vice President), Arthur GOLDMAN (Secretary) and Jerome LOWENSTEIN (Treasurer). The Trustees were David BALK, Edward FRIEDMAN, Samuel BERKOSKY, Herman BIGG, Harold PAULL, Abe WITKIN, Mrs. William KAHANOWITZ. The Sisterhood Board Representative was Mrs. Jerome LOWENSTEIN, the Men's Club Representative was Morton SEVEL. The Men's Club Officers were Harold PAULL (President), Robert WALLIS (Vice President), William DUNHOFF (Secretary) and Morton SEVEL (Treasurer). In 1962, the Beth Israel Congregation was comprised of thirty-six families and a total Jewish population of 113.

~ Jewish Organizations ~
Ahavath Zion Club Organized 1917
Ahavath Zion Club was organized in 1917 and in 1919, it had 42 members. The officers were Mr. MILLER (President), Michael FAIRMOUNT (Vice-president) and Sara SELEKMAN (Secretary). No further information is available about this club.

Sources (portions):
American Jewish Yearbook 1919-20
Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Jewish Criterion - Vol. 51 No. 22 - 25 July 1919
Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries

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Created and Compiled by:
Marshall J. KATZ, USA
with assistance from:

American Jewish Yearbook 1919-20
Beth Israel History https://www.jewishfamilieshistory.org
Rauh Jewish Archives at the Heinz History Center
The Jewish Criterion - Vol. 51 No. 22 - 25 July 1919
Pittsburgh Jewish Newspaper Project, Carnegie Mellon University Libraries
and the following:

JewishGen members/descendants and
contributors of Latrobe Jewish families:

Nancy (née GRAYSON) ADELSON, USA
Milton "Mickey" RADMAN, USA

Updated: 15 October 2020

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