TABLE OF CONTENTS


Introduction

Biographical Sketch

Scope and Content Note

Restrictions

Administrative Information

Search Terms

A Finding Aid to the Bernhard Felsenthal Papers. 1847-1964.

Manuscript Collection No. 153



Introduction

Repository: The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives
Creator: Felsenthal, Bernhard, 1822-1908.
Title: Bernhard Felsenthal Papers.
Dates: 1847-1964.
Quantity: 1.2 linear ft.
Abstract: Collection containing correspondence, writings, sermons, lectures, family history, memorials, and travel notes.
Collection Number: MS-153
Language: Collection material in English and German.

Biographical Sketch

Rabbi and author, Bernhard Felsenthal was born in Muenchweiler, near Kaiserslautern, Germany on January 2, 1822. He was educated in Kaiserslautern and Munich, then taught for a decade in a small Jewish congregational school. In 1854 he emigrated to the United States. He was rabbi and teacher in Madison, Indiana for three years. In 1858 he moved to Chicago, Illinois and was employed by a bank. He participated in the founding and early development of Chicago's Sinai Congregation and became its first rabbi in 1861. In 1864 Felsenthal declined reelection and became rabbi of newly founded Zion Congregation in West Chicago, where he remained for 23 years. In 1887 he was elected rabbi emeritus and retired to the life of a scholar. Felsenthal was an early champion of reform Judaism and also an early advocate of Zionism. He advocated the foundation of the American Jewish Historical Society; and as a corresponding member of the Chicago Historical Society he read a paper concerning the Israelites of Chicago in 1863. Felsenthal died in Chicago on January 12, 1908.


Scope and Content Note

Collection containing correspondence, writings, sermons, lectures, family history, memorials, and travel notes.


Restrictions

Terms of Access and Use

The Bernhard Felsenthal Papers are open to all users. The original manuscript collection is available in the Barrows-Loebelson Reading Room of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives.

Property and Literary Rights

Various donors, by the act of donating the Bernhard Felsenthal Papers to the American Jewish Archives, assigned all property rights to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights are retained by Bernhard Felsenthal and his heirs. Literary rights may also be retained by specific creators of materials.

Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information see the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.


Originals and photocopies.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Bernhard Felsenthal Papers and the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as follows:

[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-153. Bernhard Felsenthal Papers. American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.

Provenance

The Bernhard Felsenthal Papers were received from various donors.

Accruals and Additions

No further accruals are expected to this collection.



Search Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the AJA's online catalog.

Einhorn, David -- 1808-1879
Felsenthal, Bernhard -- 1822-1908
Jewish sermons, American
Jews -- Illinois -- Chicago
Rabbis
Reform Judaism -- 19th century
Zion Congregation (Chicago, Ill.)