I am spending the summer processing Congregation Sherith Israel’s records for access at the Bancroft Library. It is a truly spectacular collection that documents, in fantastic detail, the history of one of the West Coast’s most important congregations. Its significance is amplified, however, by the fact that Sherith Israel’s 19th-century records survived the 1906 earthquake and fire. The collection is, accordingly, a wonderful and rare source of information about pre-earthquake San Francisco.  I have already found some hidden treasures and will try to share these as I continue to process over the next months. Just today, I encountered all rolled up among the Secretary’s financial records (themselves a treasure trove) a lovely set of letters from 1892-1893 written by Rabbis around the country  inquiring about the pulpit vacancy at Sherith Israel.  Inquirers include Rabbis from Montana, Pennsyvlania, New York, Tennessee, Washington, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, and other parts of California.

The advertisement (see below) reads:

RABBI WANTED!

THE PULPIT OF THE

CONGREGATION SHERITH ISRAEL

(CONSERVATIVE)

Being now VACANT,  Applications for the Position of

RABBI

are solicited. SALARY, $4,000 per annum.

Applicants must possess a THOROUGH ENGLISH and Hebrew Education; must be fluent English Speakers of attractive address, under 40 years of age, and graduates of a Rabbinical College. All applications to be addressed to L. Brown, Esq, 121 Sansome Street, this city; they will be treated confidentially.

ALEXANDER BADT, Secretary

San Francisco, Cal., June 1892

Letters inquiring about pulpit vacancy at Sherith Israel, 1892-1893

Rabbi Wanted Advertisement, 1892