History of the Jews in Charleston, South Carolina facts for kids

The history of Jews in Charleston, South Carolina, is a story of freedom and growth. It began with the 1669 charter for the Carolina Colony. This important document, created by the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury and John Locke, promised religious freedom to all settlers. It specifically mentioned "Jews, heathens, and dissenters." Many Sephardi Jews from London were among the first people to settle in Charleston. They formed most of the Jewish community until the early 1800s.

Early History of Jews in Charleston

The first record of a Jewish person in Charleston is from 1695. This person worked as an interpreter for Governor John Archdale. They helped translate between English and Spanish for a group of Yamasee people.

By 1702, more Jewish people had arrived and were even voting in elections. The first Jewish communities in the South were mostly made up of Sephardic Jews. These families had moved from London and the Netherlands. They had settled there after being forced to leave Spain and Portugal in the late 1400s.

The Jewish community in Charleston grew a lot between 1740 and 1741. After a Spanish attack on Georgia in 1733, many Jews moved to Charleston. They were worried about another Inquisition. Also, the strict rules in Georgia made both Jews and Christians leave that colony. They preferred the freedom offered in South Carolina. During the mid-1700s, Charleston was a popular place for Jewish people from London. Many of these were wealthy merchant families. They became involved in business, trade, finance, and farming in Charleston. Some even owned large farms called plantations.

By 1800, about 2,000 Jews lived in South Carolina. Most of them were Sephardic Jews and lived in Charleston. This was more than in any other U.S. state or city at that time. The Jewish community shared the social views of their neighbors. For example, Congregation Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim in 1820 did not accept certain converts. Charleston was seen as the main center for Jewish life in North America until about 1830. After this, more Ashkenazi Jews from Germany came to America. They settled in other cities like New Orleans, Richmond, and New York City. Later, even more Ashkenazi Jews from Eastern Europe arrived. Their numbers soon became much larger than the mostly Sephardic community in Charleston.

South Carolina was the first place in America to elect a Jewish person to public office. This was Francis Salvador, who was elected in 1774 and 1775. He died fighting in 1776, becoming the first Jewish American killed in the Revolution. The state also claims to be where Reform Judaism began in the Americas.

First Synagogue in Charleston

The first synagogue in Charleston was Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim. It was founded in 1749. Some of its founders had moved from Georgia. They left after Spanish forces attacked Georgia, fearing another Inquisition. The first leader, or hazan, was Isaac da Costa. The DaCosta family was important in London and helped other Jews move to South Carolina.

The Beth Elohim congregation is still active today. It has the second oldest synagogue building in the U.S. It is also the oldest one that has been used continuously. Their first synagogue was a small building. The current building is at 90 Hasell St. The Jewish people of Charleston also started a Hebrew Benevolent Society early on, which still helps people today.

At first, the congregation was mostly Portuguese Jews. But soon, German Jews became important too. Even before 1786, Charleston had both a Portuguese (Sephardic) and a German-Jewish (Ashkenazi) congregation. The Jewish community became very successful. Before the American Revolution, several Jewish people had become wealthy and well-known.

Rabbi Burton Padoll was the synagogue's rabbi in the 1960s. He strongly supported the rights of African-Americans. Rabbi Padoll had to leave his job because some members of the congregation did not agree with his support for civil rights.

Jews and the American Revolution

During the American Revolutionary War, the Jewish people of Charleston supported the fight for independence. Many served bravely, some as officers. The most famous Jewish person at the start of the war was Francis Salvador. He owned a large plantation. He worked with the leaders of the Revolution in Charleston. He was elected to the first and second Provincial Congresses. He was one of the most important patriots in the American South.

In 1779, a special group of volunteer soldiers was formed. Many of its members were Jewish people living on King St in Charleston. These soldiers later fought under General William Moultrie at the Battle of Sullivan's Island, South Carolina. This was one of the most important early battles of the revolution. It is remembered every year on June 28. A monument in White Point Garden honors those who fought there. Other Jewish people who served included Jacob de la Motta, Jacob de Leon, and Mordecai Sheftall. Major Benjamin Nones also showed great bravery during the siege of Charleston.

In 1790, the Jews of Charleston sent a message to George Washington. They congratulated him on becoming president. In 1791, the Beth Elohim congregation, with 53 families, was officially recognized by the state. In 1794, their new synagogue was opened. General William Moultrie and other important state leaders attended the ceremony.

After this time, Charleston attracted more Jewish people from other states. They came because of the good business chances and the welcome from the large Jewish community already there. Until about 1830, Charleston had the largest Jewish population of any city in the United States.

Jewish Leaders in South Carolina

In the early 1800s, several Jewish people from Charleston held important jobs in the state government. Myer Moses was elected to the state legislature in 1810. He later became one of the first education commissioners. Abraham M. Seixas was a magistrate, a type of judge. Lyon Levy was the state treasurer.

Other well-known Jewish people from Charleston during this time included Penina Moise. Born in 1797, she became a famous poet. Mordecai Cohen was also important. The city of Charleston put up a plaque in his memory at the Orphan House because of his kindness. Jewish people from Charleston also served in the War of 1812 and the Mexican–American War.

When the American Civil War began, the Jewish community in Charleston joined their neighbors in supporting the Confederate side. Important soldiers for the Confederacy included General Edwin Warren Moïse and Dr. Marx E. Cohen.

After the war, leaders included Gen. Edwin Warren Moïse, who was a top military officer for South Carolina from 1876 to 1880. Franklin J. Moses, Sr. became the chief justice of the South Carolina supreme court in 1868. His son, Franklin J. Moses, Jr., was the governor of South Carolina from 1872 to 1874.

By 1902, Charleston had fewer than 2,000 Jews. This was a smaller population than it had in 1816.

Reform Judaism in Charleston

The first Jewish Reform movement in the United States started in Charleston. In 1824, many members of Congregation Beth Elohim asked its leaders to make the service shorter and to use the English language. Their request was turned down. So, these members left and started the Reform Society of Israelites. David Nuñez Carvalho was their first reader. But the most important person in this movement was Isaac Harby. He was a well-known journalist and writer.

In the 1840s, there was a big disagreement in Congregation Beth Elohim. Many historians see this as the start of the American Reform movement. The conflict began after an organ was added to the synagogue. This happened when the building was rebuilt after a fire in 1840. The arguments between those who wanted reform and those who wanted to keep traditions led to a complex dispute. The president of the synagogue, who supported reform, refused to call a meeting of the Board of Trustees. He knew they would add new traditionalist members and take control. The Board met anyway, and the reformers challenged this in court.

The court case, State v. Ancke, became famous. It showed that U.S. courts often do not want to get involved in complicated religious disagreements. The judge ruled that the Board had broken the synagogue's rules by meeting without the president's approval. He said the new members were not properly admitted. This decision led the more traditional members to form a new congregation called "Shearith Israel." However, in 1866, it rejoined the old congregation.

Notable Jews from Charleston

• Robert F. Furchgott: A scientist born in Charleston in 1915. He won the 1998 Nobel Prize in Medicine.
• Elias Marks: A doctor and educator.
• Penina Moïse: A famous poet and writer.
• Moses Cohen Mordecai: A businessman, politician, and synagogue leader.
• Billy Simmons: An African-American Jew who attended Kahal Kadosh. He was very knowledgeable in Hebrew and Arabic.
• Sarah Visanska: A clubwoman who led the South Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs from 1910 to 1912.