The Columbus Jewish Historical Society

Situated at the corner of Second and Union Street in Portsmouth, Ohio is the Rose L. & Augusta Jacobs Center for International Programs at Shawnee State University. This center provides the approximately 3,135 students at Shawnee State with opportunities to engage and learn from various cultures. International students studying at Shawnee State can also access services that support their academic and social lives on campus through the center. In addition to serving as a resource for students, the Jacobs Center hosts services for Beneh Abraham, an active Jewish congregation that has existed continuously in Portsmouth since 1858. In 1974, the members of Beneh Abraham constructed the building at the corner of Second and Union to serve as a synagogue.^[1] The structure was later turned over to Shawnee State with the agreement that it could be utilized by Beneh Abraham when necessary.

Beneh Abraham has the distinction of being the third-oldest continuously organized Jewish community in Ohio. Additionally, the congregation is the oldest incorporated Jewish community in Ohio outside of Cleveland and Cincinnati. This status places Portsmouth in a prominent place within Ohio’s Jewish history despite the local Jewish community never numbering more than 200 people or about 0.60 percent of the overall city population.^[2]  While modest in size, the Jewish community of Portsmouth, alongside a few families in surrounding towns, has made notable contributions to the civic, cultural, and economic history of Scioto County. These contributions merit preservation and form an important part of Portsmouth’s history. Despite the prominence of Portsmouth’s Jewish community, no comprehensive history of the group is known to exist. Providing this history is the objective of this paper. While this work will not highlight every Jewish family that has lived in the Portsmouth area, it is hoped that this monograph will provide a substantial historical account of the local Jewish community’s development and the contributions its members made.

As of 2022, Beneh Abraham has been organized for 163 years. A Jewish presence in Portsmouth, however, can be traced to an even earlier time. The obituary of Henry Seeberger, published in 1891, lists the Elsas, Seeberger, and Seidenbach households as the first Jewish families in Portsmouth.^[3] Jacob Elsas, a native of Baden-Württemberg, resided in Portsmouth by 1842.^[4] He is believed to be the earliest Jewish resident of Portsmouth, though it is likely that Jews passed through the town earlier. Like many Jewish immigrants to the United States at the time, Jacob made a living operating a clothing and tailoring business in Portsmouth. Prior to this, he worked as a peddler across four states.^[5] In 1845, Jacob married Jeannette Fechheimer of Cincinnati and three years later in 1848 the couple relocated to Cincinnati from Portsmouth.^[6] Jacob, however, maintained a partnership in a tailoring business located at the corner of Front and Jefferson streets until at least 1851. Mayer, or Michael, Seeberger lived in Portsmouth by the late 1840s. At various times Mayer made a living as a clothier or grocery store proprietor. The Seeberger grocery store was located on Chillicothe Street near Fifth.^[7] By 1863, Mayer was married, though the name of his wife could not be identified.

In 1851, Mayer’s brother, Henry arrived in Portsmouth from Cincinnati along with his newly wedded wife, Sarah.^[8] Henry initially made a living selling eyeglasses and the 1870 federal census records his occupation as an optician. Henry and Sarah had seven children. Their names were Abraham, Belle, Bettie, George, Julius, Lafayette, and Meyer. Abraham and Lafayette, the oldest sons, began to sell newspapers around 1870. They would be joined by their other brothers as they grew up. By 1873, Abraham, who previously graduated from high school at the age of twelve, was operating a newsstand at the corner of Market and Second that sold newspapers, fruit, cigars, and tobacco.^[9] Henry joined his sons in their business by opening a store on Second street near Court that sold books and newspapers.^[10] Later, however, Henry, along with his sons Abraham, George, and Julius, abandoned the periodical business to open a clothing store on Second Street near Market.^[11] By the mid-1880s the Seeberger children began to move away from Portsmouth and by the mid-1890s the family was entirely removed from town.

L. and Yedith Seidenbach, along with Meyer and Sarah Seidenbach, were likely located in Portsmouth by the mid-1850s. L. Seidenbach, who died in 1862, worked as a clothier according to the 1860 federal census. Meyer Seidenbach worked as a jeweler during that same year. By the late-1850s, eleven more Jewish families had settled in Portsmouth. Included among these individuals were Bernard Dreyfoos, Mayer and Susan Eichelstein, Isaac Freiberg, Joseph and Hanna Lehman, Nany and Simon Lehman, Hannah and Louis Levi, Henry and Sarah Richman, and Esther and Jacob Stern. Due to the growth in the local population, it is likely that Jewish religious services were organized in Portsmouth by the early-1850s. A 1925 article published by the Portsmouth Daily Times stated that an organized Jewish community existed in Portsmouth as early as 1848.^[12] No other reference found, however, claims that a Jewish community was established by this time. The earliest contemporary reference to a Jewish community in Portsmouth is from October 1, 1855. On this date, it was reported in The Occident, a monthly Jewish newspaper printed in Philadelphia, that a Jewish congregation had been formed in Portsmouth. Emanuel Marcuson of Pittsburgh was hired by the nascent community as a religious leader and shochet.^[13] Shochet, the Hebrew word for slaughterer, is a kosher butcher. Emanuel, while never ordained as a rabbi, was a noted scholar of Jewish religious law. He was married to Frances and their first child, Moses was born in Portsmouth. By 1857, however, Emanuel and Frances left Portsmouth with their children after Emanuel accepted a position with Congregation Ohabai Sholom in Nashville. For a time Portsmouth’s Jewish community was without a formal religious leader. This changed, however, with the arrival of Raphael Lasker and the incorporation of Beneh Abraham in 1858.^[14]

A Congregation is Born: The Incorporation of Beneh Abraham

After several years as an informal community, on November 1, 1858, Beneh Abraham was incorporated as an Orthodox Jewish congregation. The full name of the community was given as Kahlo Kodosh Bene Avehom, which translates to The Holy Congregation of the Sons of Abraham. Those who signed the articles of incorporation were Bernard Dreyfoos, Mayer Eichelstein, Isaac Freiberg, Louis Levi, Mayer Seeberger, Jacob Stern, and Ludwig Stern.^[15] All seven of these individuals were immigrants from German-speaking regions of Europe. After a short time, the members of Beneh Abraham began to adopt Reform Judaism. This branch of Judaism originated in Central Europe during the early-1800s and it was rapidly growing in the United States by the mid-1800s. Reform Judaism was characterized at the time by its emphasis on Judaism’s ethical precepts over religious laws. Its leaders also sought to make Jewish practice more compatible with the realities of life in the United States. On December 17, 1858, the members of Beneh Abraham dedicated a formal space for worship gatherings. Rabbi Raphael Lasker was also hired as the religious leader of the congregation. The location of the new consecrated space was at the corner of Third and Washington Street on the north half of the first and second floors of a three-story building. The building was owned by Thomas Dugan.^[16] Portsmouth’s Masonic Lodge also rented space at the same location. The dedication of a formal worship space for the Jewish community was an event that drew significant attention in both Portsmouth and the regional Jewish community. Rabbi Isaac Mayer Wise, the foremost American rabbi of the time and a resident of Cincinnati, visited Portsmouth to speak at the dedication ceremony. Writing in The Israelite, a Cincinnati-based Jewish newspaper, he reflected:

The Christian citizens of Portsmouth liberally contributed toward this sacred enterprise [the establishment of Beneh Abraham], and manifested a lively interest in the religious progress of our co-religionists. Much credit is due to the Hazan [cantor] of the congregation, Rev. Mr. Lasker, formerly of Milwaukee, not only for his exertion in behalf of this congregation, but also for the neat and solemn manner which he introduced the reading of the prayers… The synagogue is elegantly furnished containing commodious seats for about one hundred persons. The ark is surrounded by an elevated platform on which is the reader’s desk, the pulpit, and the seats of the presiding officers, now occupied by Messrs. Levy [sic] and Eichelstein. The ladies sit on the same floor with the gentleman, separated from them by the aisle. The ladies were very active in fiting up this place of divine worship… In Portsmouth they provided the ark, scroll, desk, and pulpit with velvet covers embroidered handsomely with gold. Friday, long before the appointed hour, 3 P. M. the synagogue was filled with ladies and gentlemen of the different religious denominations, to witness the ceremonies… Many more had to stay away from the dedication of the synagogue than could witness it, on account of the want of room.^[17] 

In 1858, it was estimated that the Jewish population of Portsmouth numbered 60 people.^[18]

In addition to occupying a rented space at Third and Washington, the Jewish community also owned a portion of Greenlawn Cemetery. This space, which was set aside for Jewish religious burials, was created sometime in the early or mid-1850s by the members of the Portsmouth Hebrew Benevolent Society. In 1860, however, the Society’s members transferred ownership of the plots to Beneh Abraham.^[19] It is possible that the Society was composed of two distinct groups, one for men and one for women. An 1864 letter published by Judah Wechsler, who at the time was serving as rabbi of Beneh Abraham, in The Israelite mentions that Esther Stern was the founder and first president of the local Ladies Benevolent Society.^[20] Her husband, Jacob, had served Beneh Abraham as both a vice president and trustee before relocating to New York City with his family in 1864. It is also appropriate to highlight the other six individuals who signed the articles of incorporation for Beneh Abraham. While few contemporary records exist mentioning Bernard Dreyfoos, Amy Hill Shevitz in her 2007 work, Jewish Communities on the Ohio River: A History, does mention that a boarding house known as Dryfuss’ Commercial Exchange and Eating Saloon existed in Portsmouth.^[21] It is possible that Bernard was associated with this business. It is also of note that another Jewish-owned boarding house existed in Portsmouth around 1859. This business, owned by G. Mayer advertised itself as providing kosher food for travelers on Second Street between Jefferson and Market. Mayer Eichelstein, who is also known as Samuel Eichelstein in some sources, was a liquor dealer in Portsmouth.^[22] Additionally, Mayer served as the second president of Beneh Abraham and, from 1879 until his death in 1886 was the congregation’s religious leader.^[23] Isaac Freiberg operated two stores in Portsmouth during the late 1850s. One sold clothing and the other various kinds of alcohol. By 1860, however, Isaac moved back to Cincinnati.^[24] While Ludwig Stern’s occupation is not known, likely meaning that he lived in Portsmouth for only a short time, Louis Levi, like Mayer Seeberger, made his living in the clothing retail business. The Levi family would grow over time to become one of the largest Jewish families in Portsmouth.

Ad placed by G. Mayer in The Israelite, December 02, 1859

Hannah and  Louis Levi arrived in Portsmouth around 1856. It is possible that they were drawn to the city by Hannah’s family, which was involved in operating a local clothing retail business by 1852. Hannah’s maiden name was Starr.^[25] The prominent place of Jews in local clothing retail was part of a larger national pattern during the mid and late-nineteenth century. As recent immigrants to the United States, many Jews were unable to join various professions in their adopted country due to inexperience or anti-immigrant prejudice from established industry actors. Recent technological advances in sewing, however, led to an expansion of jobs within the textile industry that Jewish immigrants, and their children, were able to fill. Like most of Portsmouth’s Jewish residents at the time, Louis Levi was also involved in local fraternal organizations. As one of several contemporary Jewish Masons, Louis may have also helped to advance the close collaboration that existed between the local Jewish and Masonic communities. In later years Louis was also remembered as the first president of Beneh Abraham.^[26] 

By 1861, Beneh Abraham’s membership numbered around 27 members.^[27] At this time only men were typically counted as members of synagogues, so the total adult Jewish population of Portsmouth was likely a little over 54 people. Raphael Lasker left Portsmouth in 1859 and was succeeded by his brother, Abraham Lasker, who previously worked as a rabbi in Dayton.^[28] In 1860, Abraham too left Portsmouth and was succeeded by Rabbi Judah Wechsler, who was at Beneh Abraham by 1861. Rabbi Wechsler previously was the minister at the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation, which was formed in 1856. Judah was the first rabbi to serve at Beneh Abraham for several years, departing in 1864, and it is possible that for this reason he is sometimes referred to in later sources as the congregation’s first rabbi. It is also of note that from 1869 to 1872 Rabbi Wechsler served as a minister at Temple Israel in Columbus, Ohio. Rabbi Wechsler was an ardent proponent of Reform Judaism and he supported Beneh Abraham’s mixed choir, unheard of in Orthodox Jewish congregations, and offered sermons in English and German.^[29] Judah was also active in soliciting contributions for the expansion and renovation of Beneh Abraham’s worship space at the corner of Third and Washington Street. These efforts proved successful in 1864 after the members of Portsmouth’s Masonic lodge purchased their previously rented space from Thomas Dugan. Under the new ownership, Beneh Abraham extended and refurbished its rented space to occupy the entirety of the first and second floors while the Masons occupied the entire third floor. During the renovations, the home of Ephraim Ronsheim, a local dry goods merchant, served as the temporary site of religious services organized by Beneh Abraham.

As they did six years earlier, Christians were again reported to have contributed to Beneh Abraham’s fundraising efforts. This same sense of interfaith collaboration was also demonstrated when Jews contributed to the building funds for nearby churches.^[30] Not all, however, was harmonious in Portsmouth. In 1864, Rabbi Wechsler reported in a letter to The Israelite that a minister at one of Portsmouth’s Catholic churches was offended to be invited to the dedication of the new Beneh Abraham sanctuary. He also shared that few other Christian ministers elected to attend the ceremonies.^[31] Despite the absence of Christian clergy, an estimated 500 people were reported to have attended the day’s events.^[32] Members of the First Presbyterian Church choir also assisted in the dedication service.^[33] The number of attendees was far more than the estimated 200 people who could be seated in the new second-floor sanctuary, which measured 80 by 30 feet. Meanwhile, the first floor of the building was used as both a vestry and as classrooms for the religious school.^[34] Around 24 students were enrolled in the Beneh Abraham religious school in 1862.^[35] The school may have had a similar enrollment two years later. It is also possible that the school decreased in size since several of Portsmouth’s Jewish residents left in 1863. Students at the school learned religious teachings as well as Hebrew, English, and German.^[36]   

Jews living in areas outside Portsmouth also contributed to Beneh Abraham’s efforts to purchase and renovate its sanctuary. Coreligionists in Gallipolis, Ohio, were mentioned specifically by Rabbi Wechsler for their support of the congregation.^[37] In 1864 just five or six Jewish families lived in Gallipolis.^[38] Seven months later, however, a Jewish congregation named B’nai Israel, or Sons of Israel, was established in Gallipolis with the assistance of Rabbi Wechsler.^[39] Women also played a critical role in supporting Beneh Abraham. In 1863, around 17 women were organized to support Beneh Abraham and various charitable organizations, including a local widows and orphans home. This group was a forerunner of the later Beneh Abraham Sisterhood. Jews living in Portsmouth in the 1860s who have not yet been previously mentioned include Abraham Block, John and Fanny Eisman, Fannie and Leopold Eisman, F. Kilsheimer, Jacob and Rebecca Meyer, Amelia and Mathias Schloss, Isaac Weil, and Leopold and Mary Wise. Abraham Block may have been a relative of Hannah and Louis Levi since he is listed as living with the couple in the 1870 federal census. John and Leopold Eisman, who were brothers, arrived in Portsmouth by 1864 and opened a clothing store on Second Street between Court and Market known as L. Eisman & Bro. After Leopold died in 1886, the younger brother John continued the store under the name J. Eisman & Company.^[40] By this time the store was located on Front Street. John’s sons, Leon and Sidney, eventually joined their father in business and the store remained in the family until 1905.^[41] After the store was sold the Eismans relocated to Oklahoma City. While the Eisman family business endured for decades, it appears that F. Kilsheimer, who made his living selling boots and shoes, only had a store on Second Street for a short time before relocating.

Like Kilsheimer, Jacob Meyer appears to have lived in Portsmouth only a short time. By 1870, Jacob was operating a headwear store on West Fifth Street. Two years later, however, Jacob sold the store to John Rottinghaus and left Portsmouth.^[42] Mathias Schloss, who briefly resided in Portsmouth during the late 1840s, returned to the city in 1863. By 1880, he worked as a grocer.^[43] His children, who will be discussed later in the work, were prominent booksellers in Portsmouth for decades. While Isaac Weil’s profession is not known, after his death in 1863 he was among the first to be buried in the Jewish section of Greenlawn Cemetery. Leopold Wise, a native of Frankfurt am Main, arrived in New York City in 1847 at the age of 23. By 1850, he had wed Mary Tausing, who was a native of Bavaria. From 1859 to 1865 the family lived in Ironton, where Leopold found work as a clothing merchant and tailor.^[44] In 1865, the household relocated to Portsmouth where Leopold continued his work as a clothier and tailor on Front Street. In time Leopold’s sons, Henry, Max, Moses, and Samuel joined their father in business and the firm became known as L. Wise’s Sons. While Henry and Moses died young, and Max relocated to Louisville, Kentucky in 1902, Samuel, the youngest son, continued to work as a tailor in Portsmouth into at least the 1920s.

A Period of Contraction and Expansion: Jewish Life in Portsmouth During the 1870s and 1880s

As was true in the 1860s, during the 1870s and 1880s most of Portsmouth’s Jewish households were supported by entrepreneurs engaged in various businesses. Some business establishments, however, endured in Portsmouth longer than others. In addition to business closures, the Jewish community was also particularly susceptible to contractions caused by business relocations. Such a relocation occurred in 1879 when the owners of the firm Lehman, Richman, & Company elected to relocate their facilities to Cleveland. This business, which was founded by Joseph Lehman and Henry Richman in 1853, occupied a three-story building and employed over 100 people by 1874.^[45] Drawn to Cleveland’s greater industrial resources and larger customer base, Joseph and Henry selected a site on Cleveland’s Water Street for the company’s factory. The relocation of Lehman, Richman, & Company also meant the departure of at least five Jewish households from Portsmouth. These families were Joseph and Hanna Lehman, Henry and Sarah Richman, along with their four children, Herman Kohn, David Oppenheimer, and the family of M. Steinberg.^[46] Lehman, Richman, & Company, which was renamed Richman Brothers in 1904, thrived in Cleveland and grew to include 245 branch stores. One branch store was opened at 311 Chillicothe Street in 1926. While the departure of Lehman, Richman, & Company was acutely felt by the members of Portsmouth’s Jewish community, some of those who relocated to Cleveland did not forget their roots in Portsmouth. In 1934, Henry Richman Jr., the youngest son of Henry and Sarah died. In his will, he bequeathed $12,600 in Richman Brothers stock to each of the following three organizations, Mercy Hospital, the Portsmouth General Hospital, and Beneh Abraham.^[47] This sum is equal to approximately $274,800 in 2022. Additionally, The children’s Fresh Air Camp and the Home for Aged Women each received $2,520 worth of company stock. Two years later, Charles Richman, an older brother of Henry, left money in his will for the Portsmouth General Hospital, the Home for Aged Women, the Fresh Air Camp, and Beneh Abraham.^[48]

In addition to business departures, Portsmouth’s Jewish community also felt a negative effect when some members chose to abandon Jewish practices and distance themselves from the larger community. One way in which this distancing could occur was through interfaith marriages. During the mid to late 1800s marriages between Christians and Jews were not common and these unions were generally looked upon disfavorably by members of both faiths. When an interfaith marriage did occur it was common for one partner to formally adopt the faith of the other. In 1879, Celia Steinberg, the daughter of M. Steinberg married David Ball, who was not Jewish. While the marriage was accepted by both families, the editors of the Portsmouth Times did nevertheless remark on the occasion.^[49] About ten years later, a Jew named Edward Feiler, or Feyler, married Dessie Clayton at Bigelow United Methodist Church.^[50] Love or conviction also sometimes brought about conversions to Judaism. In 1864, Ada Walker, a resident of Brownstown, West Virginia converted to Judaism at Beneh Abraham. Shortly after, she married Doctor Daniel Mayer of Pomeroy, Ohio.^[51] In 1873, Louisa Billstein, a resident of Maysville, Kentucky converted to Judaism. The ceremony at Beneh Abraham was reported on extensively by the Portsmouth Times.^[52] Alexander Billstein, the husband of Louisa, was Jewish. By 1880, the Billstein family had relocated to Philadelphia.

The decline in the number of Jews in Portsmouth likely played a part in the decision by Beneh Abraham to not hire an ordained rabbi from 1879 to 1886. During this period, Mayer Eichstein filled the role. Mayer officiated at least one wedding during his time as Beneh Abraham’s religious leader. In 1884 Julia Labold, the daughter of Fannie and Henry Labold, married Nathan Meyer, the son of Jacob and Rebecca.^[53] Julia Labold was the sister of Simon Labold who recently settled in Portsmouth. Isaac Stemple was the last ordained rabbi at Beneh Abraham prior to Mayer taking up the role. In 1886, Mayer died and a man known only by the surname Pollok took over as Beneh Abraham’s religious leader. Pollok was likely once again an individual formally ordained as a rabbi. In 1888 or 1889, Abraham Schapiro, a native of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, stepped into the role. Rabbi Schapiro would hold the post full-time until 1901 or 1903 and remain engaged by Beneh Abraham as a part-time religious leader until his death in 1931.^[54]

By the late-1880s, the Jewish population of Portsmouth had begun to recover from the losses sustained in the earlier decade. New arrivals in town included Felix Haas, Augusta and Max Jacobs, Joseph and Pauline Kaufman, and Simon Labold, who was mentioned previously. Felix Haas arrived in Portsmouth in 1884 and at first found work with his uncle Leopold Eisman.^[55] In 1891, he married Clara Labold, the daughter of Fannie and Henry and sister of Julia and Simon. Two years later, Felix formed a business partnership with William Schwartz and Abraham Smith, creating a tailoring company known as Hass, Schwartz & Smith.^[56] From 1895 to 1899, Felix served on the City Board of Elections.^[57] In 1904, he was elected to the Board of Education. Later in his life, Felix established the firm Haas Clothing Company on the corner of Fifth and Chillicothe.^[58] Augusta and Max Jacobs were wed in 1886 shortly after Augusta arrived in Portsmouth.^[59] Max, who like Augusta was an immigrant from Poland, likely arrived in Portsmouth in the early 1880s and at first supported himself by selling dishes out of a store on Gallia Street.^[60] Later Max created a scrap metal business that he retired from and sold to Isaac Quasser in 1910.^[61] Max’s granddaughter, who was named after her grandmother, Augusta, along with her mother, Rose Jacobs are the namesakes of the previously mentioned Rose L. & Augusta Jacobs Center for International Programs at Shawnee State University. More will be shared about these individuals later in the work.

Joseph and Pauline Kaufman, who were wed in 1875, lived in Portsmouth by 1880. Joseph supported his family through his work in clothing retail. The couple had at least two children, Clara and Sidney. Clara would work as a local public school teacher before her marriage to Joseph Goldstein of New Lexington, Ohio in 1899.^[62] Sidney would also leave Portsmouth as an adult first living in Cincinnati and then West Virginia. Simon Labold, a native of Covington, Kentucky, arrived in Portsmouth around 1884.^[63] At the time he worked as a dealer of hides and wool under the name S. Labold & Company. Simon had started this business after leaving school at the age of 14 to assist his father, Henry, who was facing challenges in his business. Once in Portsmouth, Simon’s business interests soon expanded into finance and in 1894 he became a director of the First National Bank. He would eventually rise to become president of the bank and in this role, Simon played a significant part in building up Portsmouth’s business community. Local businesses that benefited from Simon’s investment included the Davis Drug Company, the Excelsior Shoe Company, the LaRoy Theater, and the Portsmouth Savings and Loan Association.^[64] Simon was also a member of the municipal Board of Trade, Commercial Club, and, from 1895 to 1897, he served on the City Council.^[65] At the time of his death in 1927, the editors of the Portsmouth Daily Times wrote

Portsmouth has lost an outstanding citizen in the death of Simon Labold and the entire community mourns, but even in the first shock of sadness comes a realization that here was a man who built himself so deeply into the structure of the city of his choosing that in it he will continue to live through all the years to come.^[66] 

In 2022, Simon Labold’s impact on Portsmouth can still be observed when one visits Labold Field, located along the Ohio River. Simon was not the only member of the Labold family to settle in Portsmouth. By 1900 Simon’s parents, Fannie and Henry, and brother Daniel had relocated to Portsmouth. Henry operated a women’s clothing store on Second Street out of the Eliza Trotter Building and Daniel, or Dan as he was more commonly known, began a scrap metal business known as the D. Labold Company.^[67] During the Twentieth century, Daniel would become active in Portsmouth’s civic life as a member of the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce, City Council, and the local Republican Party.^[68] In addition to benefiting from newcomers, the civic and economic life of Portsmouth was also augmented through the activities of various descendants and relatives of Portsmouth’s earlier Jewish residents. While the departure of Lehman, Richman, & Company resulted in some members of the Lehman family leaving Portsmouth, Max and Moses Lehman, the sons of Nancy and Simon, remained in town and opened up a department store on Chillicothe Street between Third and Fourth Streets under the name Lehman Brothers.^[69] In addition, Isaac Richman, the brother of Henry, remained in Portsmouth after the departure of  Lehman, Richman, & Company. He operated a clothing store on Front Street between Court and Market known as the Mammoth Clothing House. In the early 1880s, Isaac served on the City Council for Portsmouth’s Second Ward. He was also active as chairman of the city’s fire committee and in later years was credited with creating Portsmouth’s first paid fire department.^[70] Bertha Levi, the daughter of Hannah and Louis, married Abe Mayer of Columbus in 1887 and relocated to Franklin County.^[71] By 1897, however, the couple resided in Portsmouth, where Abe found work as a proprietor of a wine and liquor store on Gallia Street. Charles and Isaac Levi, two of Hannah and Louis’ sons, also worked in the local wholesale liquor trade. Another son, Samuel, would eventually go into the furniture business under the name Samuel Levi Furniture Company.

The Schloss family, as mentioned previously, were notable booksellers in Portsmouth during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. During the early 1900s, three out of the five bookstores in Portsmouth were managed by the family.^[72] In 1907, Louis Schloss opened the Brandau Book Store alongside his father-in-law Reverend George Brandau.^[73] Prior to opening up Brandau’s, Louis worked with his brothers, Moses and Samuel, at Schloss Brothers on Chillicothe Street. Reverend Brandau was an ordained minister in the United Brethren Church. Louis likely joined this denomination after his marriage to Bertha Brandau in 1902.^[74] The precursor to Schloss Brothers was Schloss & Company, a store which began in 1893 when Rabbi Abraham Schapiro and Samuel Schloss opened a bookstore together.^[75] Cecelia Schapiro, the wife of Abraham, was the sister of Samuel, Moses, and Louis. In 1899, Schloss & Company was dissolved and Abraham went into business for himself under the name Corner Bookstore.^[76] Brandau’s, the Corner Bookstore, and the Schloss Book and Stationary Store were all located on Chillicothe Street. Corner Bookstore closed in 1931 after the death of Abraham Schapiro, while Brandau’s was closed in 1947.^[77] The Schloss Book and Stationary Store likely closed in the late 1930s. Not all members of the Schloss family, however, were involved in local bookstores. William Schloss, a native of Germany who arrived in the United States in 1896, created the Square Deal Furniture store on Second Street by 1932.^[78]

 

A Changing Community: Jewish Life in Portsmouth at the Turn of Twentieth Century

In 1900, The American Jewish Yearbook reported that Beneh Abraham had 32 members and a Religious School enrollment of 22.^[79] Despite the modest size of the community, Jews living in the vicinity of Portsmouth during the 1890s and 1900s had several organizations through which to connect with coreligionists. One communal organization that existed was known as the Excelsior Club. This club was formed in 1888 from the union of two earlier organizations, The Standard Club and the Montefiore Club.^[80] The Standard Club, which was formed by 1879, served a social purpose, and its members comprised both men and women. By 1884, the organization was meeting inside the Odd Fellows Block.^[81] The Montefiore Club, which existed by 1887, served a philanthropic purpose.^[82] Once established, the Excelsior Club rented space in the Massie Block on Market Street. Club events included concerts, dances, dinners, and literary discussions. In 1895, an organization known as the Jewish Literary Society was formed in Portsmouth. In addition to hosting literary discussions, members of the group donated books to Portsmouth’s public library.^[83] Alongside these newer organizations, the Jewish Ladies’ Aid Society, also called the Ladies’ Benevolent Society in some sources, continued to be an active force in the support of both Beneh Abraham and philanthropic causes in the wider Portsmouth community. The Jewish Ladies’ Aid Society was a forerunner of the Beneh Abraham Sisterhood.^[84] Another women’s group, the Jewish Kaffee Klatch, was formed by 1897.^[85] This group served a social function and remained active until at least 1937.  

Congregational life at Beneh Abraham was also vibrant during the late 1890s and early 1900s. In 1896, repairs were made to the interior of Beneh Abraham, and in 1897 new carpets and pews were installed at the synagogue.^[86] In 1901, the Religious School at Beneh Abraham had two teachers.^[87] Weekly Shabbat services were held on Friday night and Saturday morning. On major Jewish holidays, such as Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, Jews from outside Portsmouth were drawn to Beneh Abraham for religious services.^[88] Ashland, Kentucky, which was home to Jewish residents by the 1870s, and Gallipolis are two areas from which Jews traveled. In 1902, efforts were made to secure a new site for a synagogue in Portsmouth. These efforts appear to have been abandoned, however, possibly due to the decision by the Masons to relocate from their former space on Third and Washington Street in 1906. After the departure of the Masons, Beneh Abraham took sole possession of the formerly shared building.    

Between the years 1880 and 1924, over two million Jews arrived in the United States from Eastern Europe. A major impetus behind this wave of immigration, the largest in American Jewish history, was increased violence against Jews living in the Russian Empire. The deadliest form of violence took shape in pogroms, or organized riots, that left thousands of Jewish families homeless and hundreds killed or injured. While most Jews living in the Portsmouth area before 1800 traced their roots to German-speaking areas of Central Europe, after 1800 a growing number would come from Eastern Europe. Among the newer Jewish families in Portsmouth by 1910 were Henry and Sallie Atlas, Alfred and Rachel Hammel, Laura and Samuel Horchow, Pauline and Simon Kotosky, and Isaac and Sarah Quasser. Henry and Sallie Atlas arrived in Portsmouth in 1895 after spending time in Nashville and Buchtel, Ohio.^[89] Henry was a native of Hungary while Sallie was born in Tennessee. Once in Portsmouth, Henry opened the Parisian Cloak Shop at Second and Court. The family soon relocated to Dayton but were back in Portsmouth by 1900. In this same year, Henry created the Atlas Company, which would grow to become a major department store in southern Ohio. Henry and Sallie’s oldest child, William, founded his own clothing store in Portsmouth in 1911. This store, which was known as The Fashion, was located on Gallia Street. In 1930, the Atlas Company and The Fashion merged to become Atlas Fashion^[90]

Like the Atlas family, the Hammels, Horchows and Kotoskys were also involved in Portsmouth’s retail trade. Alfred and Rachel Hammel arrived in Portsmouth in 1908. Al Hammel was the owner of the New Idea Clothing Company on Chillicothe Street and later worked at The Union Clothing Company at the corner of Gallia and Gay.^[91] In 1918, Al and Rachel relocated to Ironton, Ohio, where they continued to be involved in clothing retail. Both husband and wife are buried in the Jewish section of Ironton’s Woodland Cemetery. The Horchow family, who arrived in Portsmouth in 1893, were supported originally by Samuel’s work selling household goods door to door.^[92] Samuel later created a furniture business that was incorporated in 1906 as the Samuel Horchow Company. This firm was located on Gallia Street. Throughout their lives, both Laura and Samuel were active across the Portsmouth community. Laura was a member of the New Century Club and was involved with the General Federation of Women’s Clubs. Samuel was a member of B’nai B’rith, the Chamber of Commerce, Elks, Knights of Pythias, and Masons. He also served for a time as treasurer of Beneh Abraham and for many years was the president of Portsmouth’s Bureau of Community Service.^[93] At the time of Samuel’s death in 1924, the Portsmouth Daily Times expressed, “In the passing of Samuel Horochow Portsmouth loses a man of vision and of purpose. But Samuel Horochow in living has established service to his fellowmen which will endure an eternal monument to his ideals and his practice.”^[94] While the Hammels and Horchows lived in Portsmouth for a number of years, it seems Pauline and Simon Kotosky resided in the city for only a short time. Around 1900 Simon operated a pawn shop before departing for El Paso in 1903.^[95] A cousin, Joe Reisner also lived with the family.

Rather than working in retail, the Quasser family was initially supported by Isaac’s work as a recycler of scrap metals and other products. A native of Russia, Isaac likely arrived in Portsmouth after purchasing Max Jacobs’ scrap iron business in 1910. With a source of income secured, Isaac sent for his wife, Sarah, and their two children, Adolph and Judith, who had remained behind in Russia.^[96] Adolph Quasser, who played varsity football while at Portsmouth High School, went on to attend both The Ohio State University and Harvard Medical School.^[97] He conducted a medical practice in Portsmouth from 1924 until his relocation to Jacksonville, Florida in 1933.^[98] Judith, who was also a graduate of Ohio State, worked as a school teacher in Portsmouth before her marriage to Doctor Leonard Levin of Lorain, Ohio in 1933.^[99] After her wedding, Judith relocated to Lorain. It is also of note that Isaac’s brother, Louis Quasser lived in Portsmouth for a brief time. He helped to form Quasser-Craigmiles Furniture Company in 1921.

 

A New Home for Beneh Abraham, Events of The First World War, and the Roaring 20s

Between the years 1908 and 1917, at least nine Jewish families settled in Portsmouth. These families are the Azarchs, Beins, Gals, Goldsteins, Greenbergs, Klines, Levines, Mendels, and Warsaws. Louis and Sadie Azarch arrived in Portsmouth in 1915 after Louis found work as a scrap metal and fur dealer. The family remained in Portsmouth until 1922.^[100] Abraham and Rose Bein were in Portsmouth by 1916. Abraham, who was an immigrant from Poland, founded the Portsmouth Dry Goods Company on Chillicothe near Sixth Street.^[101] The couple’s children, Herbert, Norris, and Seymour also assisted their father in business and continued to manage some commercial properties in Portsmouth after the family relocated to Winston-Salem, North Carolina around 1928. Martin Gal lived in Portsmouth by 1914 and found work with the Salvage clothing store on Chillicothe Street. In 1917, he relocated to Flint, Michigan but was back in Portsmouth working with the Portsmouth Dry Goods Company by 1921. In 1922, he married Pearl but the union did not last more than two years.^[102] Alfred and Mae Goldstein lived in Portsmouth by 1916. Al worked at the Atlas Company until 1926, when he relocated to Springfield, Missouri with his family.^[103]

Rebecca and Samuel Greenberg supported their family by operating a men’s clothing store on Gallia Street. This store was opened by 1916. By 1920, it appears the couple’s oldest child, Herman, took over the Gallia Street store and Samuel opened a pawn shop on Chillicothe Street. By 1934, Samuel and Rebecca relocated to Hamilton, Ohio. Abraham and Sara Kline also supported their family through Abraham’s work in clothing retail. While at first Abraham operated his own shop, known as the Liberty Clothing Store, he later worked as manager of The Fashion.^[104] Julius and Lena Levine, who were natives of Lithuania, arrived in the village of New Boston near Portsmouth in 1908.^[105] The family was involved in operating small businesses, including a saloon around 1917 and later a scrap metal business at the corner of Gallia and Vine streets. The Mendels were also purveyors of alcohol and spirits. Max Mendel, who lived in Portsmouth by 1912, operated the Mendel Liquor Company. In 1916, however, he declared bankruptcy and went to work with his brother Joseph, a more recent arrival in town, at his store, known as the Home Liquor Company or Portsmouth Liquor Company. This business was eventually renamed Mendel Brothers.^[106] In 1919, Joseph left Portsmouth for Charleston, West Virginia. Max lived in Dayton by 1938. Peter and Rose Warsaw, who lived in Portsmouth by 1912, supported their family through Peter’s work as a furniture salesman. In 1931, Peter, Rose, and a more recent resident of Portsmouth named Al Warren formed a new furniture store, the Lewis Furniture Company.^[107] 

 On April 6, 1917, Congress voted to declare war on Germany, marking the entry of the United States into World War I. Alongside millions of Americans, Jews and non-Jews in Scioto County did their part to support the war effort. At the time, the county’s Jewish community numbered no more than 150 people, including children. At least five local Jews are known to have served during the war. Their names are Herman Greenberg, Joseph Horchow, Jacob Jacobs, Aronhold Schapiro, and Maurice Schapiro. While Herman Greenberg, the son of Rebecca and Samuel, has already been mentioned in this work, Joseph, Jacob, Aronhold, and Maurice are new names. Joseph Horchow, who was the son of Laura and Samuel, served as the lieutenant of the Ohio National Guard Company K during the war. Jacob Jacobs was the son of Augusta and Max and served with the United States Army. After the war, in 1929, he founded the Eagle Coal and Iron Company alongside his wife, Rose.^[108] Aronhold and Maurice Schapiro were the sons of Rabbi Abraham and Cecelia and both served in the Army. Aronhold conducted a legal practice in Portsmouth by 1916. After the war, Maurice worked as a reporter with the Portsmouth Times. He departed Portsmouth in 1924 to take a position with the Cincinnati Post and by 1948 he worked with the Troy Daily News in Troy, Ohio.^[109] On the home front, the Jewish community also made contributions to the war effort. For example, the Beneh Abraham Sisterhood volunteered with the Red Cross regularly.

During the seven years following World War I, at least 16 new Jewish households arrived in Scioto County. The arrival of these individuals, alongside the growth of more established families, contributed to the need for Beneh Abraham to expand its physical space. It also merits mention that for a brief time in 1917 an Orthodox Jewish community known as B’nai Yaakov was organized in Portsmouth.^[110] This group, which met in the Blade Building on Second Street, appears to have disbanded by 1919. Newer Jewish households in town included the Braffmans, Glick, Glickmans, Gordons, Grosses, Karp, Kauffmans, Kesslers, Kuhns, Meidenbergs, Morrises, Oury, Rosenthals, Silvers, Taussigs, and Winkels. Joseph and Rose Braffman arrived in Portsmouth by 1920 after Joseph purchased Southern Loan, a pawn shop on Chillicothe Street. This business was originally owned by Rose’s brother, Harry Gross, who had moved to Portsmouth with his wife, Evelyn by 1918. After Harry sold the store, it appears his family left Scioto County. Later, in 1931, Joseph opened a jewelry store known as Braffman’s at the corner of Gallia and Gay streets.^[111] Louis Glick, who lived in Portsmouth by 1922, worked as a salesman at the Lewis Furniture Company and later the Home Furniture Company on Second Street. Lou eventually went into business for himself under the name Glick’s Furniture Company. Jacob and Sophia Glickman operated a jewelry store in Portsmouth by 1920. By 1930, however, according to the federal census, Jacob was working as a local optometrist. An ad placed in 1937 mentions that Jacob’s practice was previously known as the Portsmouth Optical Company.^[112] Abe and Sarah Gordon were supported through Abe’s work with the D. Labold Company. From at least 1920 to 1946, Abe served as vice president of the scrap company. Harry Karp worked as sales manager of the Lewis Furniture Company by 1924.

Abraham and Fannie Kauffman lived in Portsmouth by 1920 and operated a clothing store. Martha and Nathan Kessler, meanwhile, were residents of New Boston. In 1926, they opened Kessler’s Army Store at 4106 Gallia Street. This business remained in operation until 1973.^[113] From 1961 to 1973, Martha was the sole operator of the store.^[114] Hannah and Sidney Kuhn, who were related to Samuel Levi, arrived in Portsmouth around 1921.^[115] Sidney made a living as a food broker. Kate and Morris Meidenberg operated a women’s clothing store on Gallia Street known as The Fair. In 1931, however, Morris declared bankruptcy.^[116] After this, Kate and Morris left Portsmouth for Philadelphia.^[117] Their son, Abe, who had also been working at the store, began to sell insurance and eventually relocated to Florida. Ida and Philip Morris lived in New Boston by 1920. In this same year, the federal census lists Philip as the operator of a department store. Samuel Oury, who had relatives in Wellston, Ohio about 45 miles northeast of Portsmouth, worked as a tire dealer on Gallia Street. His store, known as the Mutual Tire Shop, opened in 1924. In 1931, Samuel closed the Portsmouth shop to return to Wellston after the death of his father.^[118] In Wellston, Samuel was active in the local Chamber of Commerce and Red Cross chapter.

Samuel Rosenthal operated a store known as the Sample Shop at Chillicothe and Sixth by 1918. Max and Yetta Silver lived in New Boston by 1918 and operated a drycleaning business. Max may also have worked as a furniture salesman and restaurateur before declaring bankruptcy in 1932 and relocating to Richmond, Virginia. His wife, Yetta Silver, died in the same year.^[119] Helen and Max Taussig lived in Portsmouth by 1922 and relocated to Columbus by 1943. By 1952, however, the couple was back in Portsmouth and operating their own business, Macks Mens Store, on Chillicothe Street.^[120] Abraham and Lena Winkel operated a dry goods store in Portsmouth by 1923. By 1934, however, the store was declared bankrupt and it appears the family departed from Portsmouth.  

In 1919, an estimated 150 people attended Rosh Hashanah services at Beneh Abraham.^[121] This same year, a new Jewish organization, B’nai B’rith, was created in Portsmouth. Previously, anyone wishing to join B’nai B’rith sought out membership in lodges located in nearby cities. The new Portsmouth lodge, which was given the number 840 by the national B’nai B’rith governing body, soon helped to raise funds to support charitable causes both locally and internationally. One cause Portsmouth’s Jewish community supported in the aftermath of World War I was national relief efforts for famine victims and refugees living in Eastern Europe.^[122] In 1919, fundraising efforts were also underway to build a new, more spacious place of worship for the local Jewish community, which now numbered approximately 200 people.^[123] In 1921, Beneh Abraham sold its property at the corner of Third and Washington to Portsmouth’s Moose Lodge. The lodge occupied the building until it was sold to make space for a parking lot. The sale of the former building, combined with various fundraisers organized by members of Beneh Abraham and individual donations, allowed the congregation to purchase two properties near the corner of Eighth and Gay streets in 1923. One notable fundraiser was a lecture delivered at the Portsmouth High School Auditorium by Rabbi Stephen S. Wise of the Free Synagogue of New York City.^[124] At the time, Rabbi Stephen Wise was among the foremost Jewish religious leaders in the United States. Jews from outside Portsmouth once again donated to Beneh Abraham’s building fund. One especially large gift came from the Richman family in Cleveland who provided $10,000 towards the construction of the new synagogue.^[125] 

In 1923, funds were sufficient to begin building the new Beneh Abraham synagogue. Two homes, formerly owned by Louis Vallee Harold and Robert Howland were demolished so the synagogue could be built.^[126] The cost to create the new building was about $75,000 or approximately $1,280,000 in 2022 after adjusting for inflation.^[127] Early in 1925, the new edifice was complete and dedication exercises were held in January of the same year.^[128] Simon Labold served as the president of Beneh Abraham during this time. Philip Jacobs, Max Lehman, and Morris Meidenberg served on the building committee for the new synagogue. Approximately 300 people could be seated in the new sanctuary. It is also of note that both Catholic and Protestant clergy participated in Beneh Abraham’s dedication ceremonies. One guest, Father John McQuirk of St. Mary’s Catholic Church expressed

We Protestants, Catholics, and Jews are here this afternoon to dedicate this beautiful temple. In a higher sense to rededicate the temples of our souls to the cause of civic and religious patience or tolerance… Almighty God commissioned the Jewish people to preserve and to spread the knowledge, love and service of God and the observance of His law among their own people and the Gentile people… No people so much as the chosen people of God are this day doing the will of God by breaking down the walls of social, religious and class prejudice… Here today this temple is filled with the spirit of God’s love…^[129]

A prominent feature of the new synagogue was a large organ donated by the members of B’nai B’rith. Dorothy Knost, a noted musician in Scioto County for decades, was hired by Beneh Abraham to play this organ during religious services. She would hold the role of organist at the congregation for over fifty years. In March 1927, the Ohio Jewish Chronicle, a newspaper out of Columbus, reported that the members of Franklin County’s B’nai B’rith lodge, who visited Beneh Abraham to participate in initiation exercises for new B’nai B’rith members, were impressed by “the grandeur and beauty” of the new synagogue.^[130] The new site would serve Beneh Abraham until 1973, when the congregation relocated and sold the building to the First Evangel Assembly of God. This community, now known as the Evangel Temple Assembly of God, continues to occupy the space as of 2022.

 

A Period of Challenges: The Depression and World War II Years

        While the Great Depression brought challenges to many communities throughout the United States, Portsmouth was particularly impacted. The city’s economic challenges were compounded by a disastrous flood that struck the city in 1937. Around 35,000 residents were made homeless by the flood and 60 percent of all homes in Portsmouth were destroyed.^[131] Between 1930 and 1940, the overall population of Portsmouth fell by 2,094 people according to the decennial federal census. Between 1940 and 1950, an additional 3,668 people are estimated to have left Portsmouth. The city’s Jewish community reflected this demographic trend to an ever greater extent. In her 2007 work Jewish Communities on the Ohio River, Amy Hill Shevitz estimates that between 1927 and 1947 Portsmouth’s Jewish community decreased from approximately 200 people to 140.^[132] This decrease of 30 percent was much greater than the overall decrease of 14 percent measured in Portsmouth between 1930 and 1950. As has already been noted, several Jewish-owned businesses went bankrupt in the 1930s, likely a contributing factor to the community’s decreased size. Couples or individuals known to have departed from Portsmouth Between 1930 and 1940 include Joseph and Rose Braffman, Myer and Rae Goldstein, Joseph Horchow, Fannie Kauffman, Kate and Morris Meidenberg, Max and Yetta Silver, and Abraham and Lena Winkel.  

The population decrease within Portsmouth’s Jewish community was offset partially by a modest number of recent arrivals in Portsmouth during the 1930s. New households in town included Matilda and Sol Asch, Elsie and Marc Canter, Hyman Canter, Charles and Florence Cohen, Jeannette and Moe Fleece, Grace and Jerome Gabel, Jack and Ruth Goldstein, Carl Hess, Ruth and Samuel Meltzer, and Etta and Harry Ticatch. The professions represented within this group of new residents were more diverse than in previous years. This signified, in part, the growing opportunities available to many members of the American Jewish community. Matilda and Sol Asch moved to Portsmouth in 1938 when Sol opened a general medical practice.^[133] Sol, who is the namesake of a scholarship at Shawnee State University, later worked as a doctor at Mercy Hospital. He was also active in the Scioto County Tuberculosis and Respiratory Health Association. Elsie and Marc Canter arrived in Portsmouth around 1930. Originally, Marc worked at the Bon Ton clothing store before going into business for himself in 1935 under the name Kopy Kat.^[134] His twin brother, Hyman joined him in the business. Charles and Florence worked together as restaurateurs in Portsmouth. Their first establishment, Stone’s Grill at 845 Gallia, was opened by 1934. By 1936, the establishment was located at Second and Court. Later, Charles and Florence operated Henry’s Ale House on Market Street.^[135] Irving and Max, two brothers of Charles Cohen also lived in Portsmouth by 1935. Irving and his wife, Dorothy operated the Joy Dress Shop until it was declared bankrupt in 1935. By 1940, the couple lived in Columbus with their daughter, Shirley. Charlene and Max Cohen owned the Stone House Tavern on Hill Road in New Boston by 1934. Later, in 1959, Max was operating Pat’s Cafe, a bar on Second Street.^[136]

Jeannette and Moe Fleece arrived in Portsmouth by 1937. At this time, Moe worked as a manager for the local Kay Jewelry Store. The family moved to Terre Haute, Indiana during the early 1950s but were back in Portsmouth by 1957. Grace and Jerome Gabel lived in Portsmouth by 1940 and Jerome found work with the Pure Oil Company. Jack and Ruth Goldstein lived in Portsmouth by 1930. While the family departed in 1942, during his time in Portsmouth Jack was active with several local civic and nonprofit organizations. These organizations included the Boy Scouts, Kiwanis, and the Scioto County Red Cross.^[137] Jack worked in clothing retail and his final position in Portsmouth was with Atlas Fashion. Carl Hess worked as the sports editor of the Portsmouth Times from 1937 until 1941 when he departed to join the United States Army.^[138] Samuel Meltzer moved to Portsmouth in 1935 to work as a radiologist. He was the first board-accredited radiologist in the area.^[139] In 1937, Samuel married Ruth Schwalbe. Both Samuel and Ruth were active in medical-related organizations in Portsmouth. Samuel volunteered with the Scioto County Medical Society and he served as the organization’s president for a time. Ruth was active with the Mercy Hospital Guild. The wedding of Etta and Harry Ticatch, who lived in New Boston by 1939, is notable for being the first celebrated at the new Beneh Abraham location at Eighth and Gay. The wedding occurred in 1926. Etta was the daughter of Julius and Lena Levine, who have already been mentioned in this work.^[140] While in New Boston, Harry managed and operated the Ohio By-Products Company. Meyer Ticatch, a brother of Harry, also worked in the waste business in New Boston. His firm, in operation by 1934, was known as Ohio Waste Materials.

While the depression years brought challenges, a significant milestone for Beneh Abraham occurred in 1934 when the community paid off all outstanding debts incurred through the construction of the synagogue at Eighth and Gay, which was commonly known in Portsmouth as the Jewish Temple.^[141] A dinner was organized by members of Beneh Abraham to celebrate the event.^[142] Interfaith activities also continued to be important at Beneh Abraham. In 1941, the congregation began a tradition of exchanging ministers with Bigelow United Methodist Church. During these exchanges, the rabbi of Beneh Abraham would deliver a sermon at Bigelow and the pastor of Bigelow would teach at Beneh Abraham. This annual exchange lasted at least 21 years.^[143] Interfaith engagement also played a key role in the efforts of the Portsmouth Jewish Welfare Association (PJWA). This organization, formed around 1942, served to coordinate the philanthropic efforts of Portsmouth’s three Jewish organizations, Beneh Abraham, B’nai Brith, and the Temple Sisterhood. Money raised by the PJWA supported both local and international causes. In 1946, when at least $15,000 was raised by the PJWA, the Scioto County Ministerial Association co-sponsored a speaking event at the Second Presbyterian Church with the PJWA that brought Sophie Spanjaard, a survivor of Bergen Belsen to Portsmouth.^[144] By this time, knowledge of the Holocaust was widespread in the United States and an estimated 1.5 million Holocaust survivors were living as refugees in Europe. The money raised in Portsmouth from the event went to support the United Jewish Appeal, which worked extensively to support Holocaust survivors. By 1954, the PJWA had changed its name to the Portsmouth Jewish Welfare Board. Local fundraising efforts on behalf of the United Jewish Appeal continued until at least 1973.^[145]   

It is also important to note in this section those members of the local Jewish community who served during World War II alongside Americans of all backgrounds. At least five people are known. Their names are Morton Atlas, Gershon David, Edward Levi, Samuel Meltzer and David Timmer. In addition, Dr. Sol Asch served with the United States Public Health Service, which, while providing critical services to the United States, is not a branch of the armed forces. Morton Atlas was the son of Elizabeth and William Atlas and he worked with his family at Atlas Fashion.^[146] Gershon David, a resident of Jackson, Ohio, 37 miles northeast of Portsmouth, was the son of Simon and Merle David. The David family worked as cattle ranchers and farmers. Gershon’s grandmother was Carrie Lehman, the daughter of Simon and Nancy Lehman, and he is buried in the Jewish section of  Greenlawn Cemetery. Edward Levi, the son of Louis and Minnie, served in the United States Air Force as a radar operator during World War II. He also worked at the Levi Furniture Company for 40 years. During his time in Portsmouth, Edward was active with the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and he helped to plan Portsmouth’s Sesquicentennial Celebration.^[147] Eddie’s older brother, Bernard was also associated with Levi Furniture.

Like Gershon David, David Timmer was not a resident of Portsmouth. Rather, the Timmer family lived in Vanceburg, Kentucky 45 miles southwest of Portsmouth. David’s mother and step-father, Sara and Max Block, operated the Max Block Department Store in Vanceburg.^[148] This store, which existed by 1906, was among the oldest businesses in town by 1967. This same year, the store’s name was changed from Block Department Store to Stanley’s Department Store.^[149] Stanley was the son of Celia and David Timmer. David, who was a member of Portsmouth’s B’nai B’rith lodge and active with the Vanceburg Lions Club, died in 1966.^[150] During World War II, the Temple Sisterhood supported the war effort by volunteering with the local Red Cross. Its members also assisted local organizations such as the Mercy Hospital Guild and the Henry Massie School Girl Scout Troop.^[151] 

 

Jewish Life in Scioto County During the Post War Period: 1945 to 1975

During the late 1950s and early 1960s, Portsmouth’s Jewish population returned to its previous high point of around 200 individuals.^[152] In 1958, Beneh Abraham marked its centennial. An estimated 125 people attended the congregation’s anniversary banquet at the American Legion Auditorium, including many former members of Beneh Abraham who now lived outside of the Portsmouth area.^[153] Rabbi Louis Kuppin of Columbus, Mississippi, and Rabbi Lou Silberman of Nashville, two former student rabbis at Beneh Abraham, spoke. Since the early 1900s, the student rabbi placement program sponsored by Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati had been the source of Beneh Abraham’s trained religious leadership. Mayor Paul Flohr, Reverend Ernest Ford, and Father Hubert Ruebeck also attended the anniversary dinner as guests of Beneh Abraham.^[154] Portsmouth’s other Jewish organizations, B’nai B’rith and the Temple Sisterhood, were also active. The Sisterhood had at least 40 members.^[155] In addition, Beneh Abraham hosted an active religious school and youth group during the late 1950s and early 1960s.

New Jewish residents of Portsmouth during the 1950s included, Ben and Reba Albert, Bernard Cohen, Norma and Philip Diamond, Dorothy and Morris Einhorn, Morris and Sarah Foreman, Ann and Frank Gladstone, Jacob and Sara Pass, Arthur and Ruth Schwartz, Helane and Mike Segal, Harry Slepian, Geraldine and Maurice Wainstein, and Florence and Max Weinstein. Ben and Reba Albert operated the Ideal Furniture Store at 623 Second Street. Ben was also a member of B’nai B’rith, the American Legion, and Veterans of Foreign Wars.^[156] Bernard Cohen arrived in Portsmouth around 1957 to open Bernie’s Clothing Store at 522 Second Street. Norma and Philip Diamond arrived in Portsmouth by 1957 after Philip took a job with the Goodyear Atomic Corporation. This corporation operated the Portsmouth Area Gaseous Diffusion Plant, which produced enriched uranium from 1954 until 2001. Ben Kalmon and Morris Moses were two other members of Beneh Abraham who moved to Portsmouth in the 1950s to work with the Goodyear Atomic Corporation. Dorothy and Morris Einhorn lived in Portsmouth from 1947 to 1958. Morris, alongside Abe Zuber, founded the B & B Loan and Jewelry Company at 837 Gallia Street.^[157] In 1958, Abe became the company’s sole owner and the business continues to exist in Portsmouth as of 2022. Morris Foreman managed Walker’s Family Shoe Store at 420 Chillicothe Street.  

Ann and Frank Gladstone arrived in Portsmouth Park Forest, Illinois in 1955 after Frank took a job as manager of Kobacker’s.^[158] Jacob and Sara Pass operated Pat’s Cafe on Second Street from around 1949 to about 1958. Sara Pass was the sister of Charles and Max Cohen who were mentioned previously.^[159] Arthur and Ruth Schwartz lived in Portsmouth by 1957 after Arthur took a job as manager of Columbia Theater. Helane and Mike Segal lived in Portsmouth by 1949 and Mike owned the Segal Brokerage Company, handling food products.^[160] Helane was the daughter of Hannah and Sidney Kuhn. Harry Slepian worked with Kobacker’s during his time in Portsmouth. Geraldine and Maurice Wainstein moved to Portsmouth by 1948, and Maurice was associated with Robert’s Jewelry Store at 421 Chillicothe Street. Florence and Max Weinstein lived in Portsmouth by 1958. Max was the owner of the Portsmouth Optical Company on Gallia Street. This business had previously been owned by Jacob Glickman.

By the late 1960s, Portsmouth’s Jewish population was again on the decline. In 1974, the community numbered no more than 120 people. The existing syngaogue at Eighth and Gay grew increasingly expensive to maintain and its size no longer fit the needs of the congregation. In 1973, Beneh Abraham’s leadership sold the building to a Christian congregation known as the First Evangel Assembly of God. About two years later, in April 1975, a new synagogue was dedicated at the corner of Second and Union Street.^[161] The new sanctuary could seat 120 people. An additional area at the temple contained space for religious school classrooms and social gatherings.^[162] Beneh Abraham had purchased the corner lot from the Scioto Area Council Boy Scouts. Construction on the new synagogue began in 1974 and the hexagonal design was created by Benjamin Dombar of Cincinnati. The Brown Construction Company handled the building job. Jerri Fish, Phillis Fried, Michael Mearan, Herbert Strauss, Regina Schapiro, and Abe Zuber served on the congregation’s building committee. Paul Warsaw was the committee chairman and Bernard Levi, a third-generation member of Beneh Abraham, served as the congregation’s president.^[163] Brett Goldstein, a student from Hebrew Union College, served as Beneh Abraham’s religious leader during the dedication and Dr. Eugene Mihaly, a former student rabbi at the congregation and a professor at Hebrew Union College, was the guest speaker for the dedication.^[164]

Photo of Beneh Abraham under construction in Portsmouth TImes, April 3, 1974

While smaller than in previous years, Beneh Abraham continued to hold weekly Shabbat services throughout the 1970s. Major Jewish holidays were also observed at the congregation. Some Shabbat services such as Big Brothers Shabbat, which raised awareness of the work done by Brothers and Sisters of Scioto County, supported local charities.^[165] The Temple Sisterhood, which had around 70 members, continued to play an important part in managing the congregation’s religious school.^[166] New members of Beneh Abraham were also added during the late 1960s and 1970s. These individuals included Ross Cowen, Lawrence and Phyllis Fried, Philip Kovsky, and Allan and Evelyn Singer. Newer members of Portsmouth’s Jewish community were more likely to be college-educated professionals than in years past. For example, Lawrence Fried operated a dental practice in Portsmouth from 1968 to 1998.^[167] During his time in Portsmouth Lawrence also served on the school board and taught classes on dentistry at Shawnee State University. Allan Singer was also active as a local medical professional. For 32 years he worked as the administrative lab director at Scioto Memorial Hospital and the Southern Ohio Medical Center.^[168] The Southern Ohio Medical Center was formed out of the merger of Mercy, Scioto Memorial, and Southern Hills hospitals. As Beneh Abraham’s membership continued to decline, along with the overall population of Portsmouth, these newer families played a significant role in maintaining the congregation.

Into the Twenty-first Century: Portsmouth’s Ongoing Jewish Community

By the 1980s small-town Jewish communities throughout the Ohio River Valley were facing significant demographic challenges. The Jewish congregation in Ashland, Kentucky, Agudath Achim, located 32 miles east of Portsmouth, closed around 1986. This community had close ties to Portsmouth throughout its history. Organized Jewish life in Gallipolis and Ironton had disbanded by the early 1900s, and between the two towns only a few Jewish residents remained by the late 1900s. As of 2022, only three towns along the Ohio River between Pittsbugh and Cincinnati are home to organized Jewish communities. These communities are Wheeling, Huntington, and Portsmouth. One feature common to these places is the existence of institutions of higher education. These institutions are an important source of employment and offer opportunities for people of various backgrounds to relocate to the Ohio River Valley. In Portsmouth, various Jewish faculty, staff, and students at Shawnee State University have been involved at Beneh Abraham at different times since 2000. As Beneh Abraham’s membership continued to decline after 1980, Shawnee State University eventually partnered with Portsmouth’s Jewish community. This partnership allowed the congregation to sell its property on Second Street to the university with the understanding that it could still be utilized for religious services when needed for the next fifty years. When not in use, the religious articles of the congregation are stored away.

In the twenty-first century interfaith collaboration continues to play an important part of Beneh Abraham’s activities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when the Union Street space was too small to allow for social distancing, the Second Presbyterian Church on Waller Street opened its larger sanctuary to Beneh Abraham.^[169] This action also allowed Second Presbyterian to repay an act of kindness Beneh Abraham had done for the church in the 1930s when the synagogue opened its doors after Second Prebyterian experienced a fire. As of 2022, Beneh Abrahm claims no more than 20 active congregants.^[170] Some members come from Chillicothe and other areas outside of Portsmouth. The congregation also continues to support a visiting rabbi, Susan Stone. While diminished in size, Beneh Abraham serves as a living center for Jewish community and faith in the Portsmouth area. Its historic legacy in Ohio and the contributions of its members to Portsmouth’s civic, economic, and social development merit the preservation of this unique community.

 

Bibliography

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Amy Hill Shevitz. Jewish Communities on the Ohio River: A History. University Press of Kentucky. 2007.

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Evans, Nelson. A History of Scioto County, Ohio (Portsmouth: Nelson W. Evans. 1903).

“Portsmouth.” Touring Ohio. Accessed June 21, 2022. http://touringohio.com/southwest/scioto/portsmouth/portsmouth.html.

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