Bible Encyclopedias
Charleston, S.C.

First Synagogue.
The first synagogue established at Charleston was that of the congregation Beth Elohim, founded in 1750. Several of its founders had come from Georgia. Its first minister was Isaac da Costa and among its earliest members were the following: Joseph and Meshod Tobias, Moses Cohen, Abraham da Costa, Moses Pimenta, David de Olivera, Michael Lazarus, and Abraham Nuñez Cardozo. The Beth Elohim congregation is still in existence. Its first synagogue was a small building on Union street its present edifice is situated on Hasell street. The Jews of Charleston at an early date also established a Hebrew Benevolent Society, which still survives.

While the earliest congregation was composed mainly of Portuguese Jews, the German element soon became prominent. Even before 1786 the city possessed not only a Portuguese congregation, but a distinct German-Jewish one as well. The Jewish community soon became very prosperous and before the Revolution several Jews had acquired wealth and gained distinction. Among these was Moses Lindo, inspector-general and surveyor of indico (indigo), drugs, and dyes for South Carolina.

During the struggle for independence the Jews of Charleston distinguished themselves by their patriotism, and many instances of devotion to the cause of independence are recorded. The majority did good service in the field, several as officers. The most prominent Jew at the outbreak of the war was Francis Salvador , who resided in Ninety-Six District, but was in constant communication with the leaders of the Revolutionary movement at Charleston. Salvador was a member of the General Assembly and of the first and second Provincial Congresses, which met in that city. He was one of the leading patriots of the South.

State Officials.
During the early portion of the nineteenth century several Charleston Jews held high offices in the state. Among these may be mentioned: Myer Moses, member of the legislature in 1810, and one of the first commissioners of education Abraham M. Seixas, a magistrate and Lyon Levy, state treasurer.

Charleston Jews also rendered valuable service during the War of 1812 and in the Mexican war.

The first Jewish Reform movement in the United States originated in Charleston. In 1824 a large number of the members of Congregation Beth Elo him petitioned its trustees to shorten the service and to introduce the English language. The petition was rejected and, as a result, the petitioners resigned, and organized the Reform Society of Israelites. David Nuñez Carvalho was the first reader of the society but the most influential man in the movement was Isaac Harby , a distinguished journalist and playwright, editor of the "Quiver," "The Charleston Mercury," and several other publications. About 1843 there was another split in Congregation Beth Elohim, owing to the introduction of an organ into the synagogue. This resulted in the formation of a new congregation known as "Shearith Israel," which, however, reunited with the old congregation in 1866.

Other prominent Charleston Jews during the early part of the nineteenth century were: Penina Moise, born in 1797, who became widely known as a writer of verse and Mordecai Cohen, to whose memory the city of Charleston erected a tablet in the Orphan House in recognition of his benevolence.

Recent History.
At the outbreak of the Civil war the Jews of Charleston joined their Gentile brethren in the Confederate cause. Among the prominent soldiers of the Confederacy may be mentioned Gen. E. W. Moise and Dr. Marx E. Cohen. Since the war the Jews of Charleston have been less prominent, owing partly to losses resulting from the struggle, and partly to the fact that the city is no longer the commercial center it formerly was. Among those who have held high office, however, have been Gen. E. W. Moise, adjutant-general of the state of South Carolina from 1876 to 1880, and Franklin J. Moses, chief justice of South Carolina. Charleston to-day (1902) contains fewer than 2,000 Jews, a proportion smaller than in 1816.

Besides the Beth Elohim congregation the only other is that of Berith Shalom, with its synagogue at St. Philip street, south of Calhoun street.V03p678a01.jpgV03p678b01.jpgBibliography : Nathaniel Levin, The Jewish Congregation in Charleston , in Occident , i., ii. J. Oldmixon. History of Carolina , 1708, pp. 106,429 John Drayton, Memoirs of the American Revolution , Charleston, 1821 Robert W. Gibbes, Documentary History of the American Revolution , 3 vols. 1857 J. L. E. W. Shecut, Typographical, Historical, and Other Sketches of Charleston , Charleston, 1819 Charleston Year Book , 1883,1885 Isaac Harby, in North American Review , xxiii. idem, Selections from Miscellaneous Writings , Charleston, 1829 Isaac Markens, The Hebrews in America , New York, 1888 Charles P. Daly, The Settlement of the Jews in North America , New York, 1893 Leon Hühner, The Jews of South Carolina Prior to 1800 idem, in American Hebrew , Jan., 1900 D. Philipson, The Progress of the Jewish Reform Movement in the United States , in Jew. Quart. Rev. Oct., 1897 Simon Wolf, The American Jew as Patriot, Soldier, and Citizen , 1895 American Jewish Year Book , 1901-02.A. L. Hü.