I am My Brothers Keeper: Sephardic Immigration to Philadelphia and The Society of Levantine Jews

Correspondence clipping from Congregation Mikveh Israel discussing the plight of recently arrived Sephardic Jews to Philadelphia from the Ottoman Empire at the turn of the 20th century.

“A pious person: He who is difficult to anger and easy to appease” (Pirkei Abot 5:11). 

These words of our Sages that are studied during the period leading into Shabuot serve as a reminder of a recent anecdote that I read about Rev. (Rabbi) Leon H. Elmaleh (1873-1972) of Congregation Mikveh Israel - Synagogue of the American Revolution. While few individuals remain today who recall his grand persona and good deeds, he was described by one congregant who knew him personally, even into his retirement, as follows: 

“Rabbi Elmaleh was a unique individual. That’s a redundant phrase—unique individual—he was superb. He happened to be a customer of our apothecary following the death of Sol Kidorff, who had been his pharmacist. And in most cases, we refused payment for our services from him, and he always objected to it, but on the other hand, if he performed a service for anybody in the congregation, whether it be a wedding or a funeral, he would never charge a fee or accept a fee.”

Another legacy left by Rev. Elmaleh is that of the Levantine Jews Society (LJS), founded in 1915. This society was born out of the Sephardic Immigration Committee, founded some years prior by Rev. Elmaleh, in order to assist Jews from the war-torn Ottoman Empire to seek refuge in the United States. The primary purpose of the Levantine Jews Society, as indicated by their Constitution, was to actively care for Jewish immigrants from the Ottoman Empire during their initial years of arrival to the United States in general, and to Philadelphia in particular. In a sense, LJS served as the first benevolent or mutual aid society to assist Sephardic Jews arriving from various parts of the Ottoman Empire, which encompassed a vast region including parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Europe.

During the late 19th and early 20th centuries the United States saw a new wave of Jewish migration to its shores. While much of this immigration was from Eastern Europe, there was also a notable, though smaller, influx of Sephardic Jews from the Ottoman Empire. These immigrants often faced unique challenges in adapting to a new country, language, and culture. These unique circumstances put Rabbi Elmaleh to the challenge of acting as their guide—their adoptive father—in the sense that Rabbi Shelomo ibn Aderet of Barcelona (1235–1310 CE) rules regarding the Rabbinic leadership of a locale serving as “fathers” of the impoverished among them—even to the point of making investment decisions for them as if it were their own money on the line. As the Hazan of Mikveh Israel during the early 20th century, Rabbi Elmaleh was well-positioned to understand the needs of these immigrants. Consequently, LJS provided crucial support to these immigrants, which included:

1. Financial aid: Helping new arrivals establish themselves financially.

2. Cultural and religious integration: Supporting their adjustment to American life while maintaining their Sephardic traditions.

3. Social support: Providing a community network for people from similar backgrounds.

Throughout the scattered and diverse records of Mikveh Israel’s archival materials, Rev. Elmaleh makes note of the troubled and dire circumstances of Ottoman Jewry. Because of the forceful expulsion caused by World War I, Rev. Elmaleh repeatedly notes that the financial situation of Levantine (Ottoman) Jews was most difficult to maintain in a steady manner. “Many among them are peddlers,” he remarked, which forced them to move from city to city in search of business. This nomadic, almost exilic manner of living, is one of the oldest struggles recorded in our history—going back to Cain, son of Adam (cf. Gen. 4:14). Therefore, the LJS sought to integrate the new wave of Levantine Jews by providing them with the most basic of needs for Jews in a new land: Community.

Historical Correspondence of the Levantine Society at Congregation Mikveh Israel.

The LJS actively sought to unify Sepharadim in America by offering free or reduced cost seats and membership to Congregation Mikveh Israel. This initiative would not only allow for the newly settled Levantine Jews to feel a sense of dignity in being synagogue seat holders, it would also allow for them to meet and network with fellow Sephardic Jews in Philadelphia, in a setting that closely matched their religious and cultural traditions from across the Ottoman Empire. While it is true that Mikveh Israel followed (and still maintains) the Western Sephardic traditions of the Spanish and Portuguese Jews, Rev. Elmaleh saw enough common ground to form a coalition between various Sephardic groups for the sake of their growth and prosperity in the United States. 

There were even instances where the LJS went beyond the borders of Philadelphia in order to help Ottoman Jews within the Philadelphia metro area. In one instance, for example, Rev. Elmaleh led High Holiday services for a group of Levantine Jews at the Royal Palm Hotel in Maryland, and later, with his urging words and encouragement, they built their own synagogue and religious school in Atlantic City, NJ, which later became known as "Shaare Zion." This newfound encouragement also sparked the formation of another Sephardic synagogue in Atlantic City—Beth Yehudah—with Dr. Henry Pereira Mendes as their Minister, who was previously Minister of Shearith Israel of Manhattan, NYC. Together, they led the growth and integration of Levantine Jews across the greater Philadelphia region. 

Many well established members of Mikveh Israel wished to follow in Rev. Elmaleh’s successful philanthropic efforts to assist the newly arrived Ottoman Jews. For example, the LJS President, Mr. Maur Levan, added a copy of a letter to his will, stating: "To Mickve Israel Congregation, located at Broad and York Streets Philadelphia,  the sum of  Five hundred dollars ($500.) In trust  nevertheless to invest and keep the same invested and to use the net income thereof from time to time for the benefit of the immigrants of the Levantine Jews Society of Philadelphia."

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the LJS worked closely with Congregation Mikveh Israel to provide the impoverished Levantine Jewish immigrants with grave plots in its 55th & Market St. cemetery. Many renowned figures throughout American Jewish history are buried there, including Rev. Isaac Leeser (1806-1868) and Rev. Isaac Edrehi (1893–1978), who were both former Ministers of Mikveh Israel, as well as Rabbi Bernard Levinthal (1864–1952), one of the most prominent pioneers of Orthodoxy in the United States. Now, it was time for a new generation of Sepharadim to have the dignity shared by these great men, given the lack of resources available for them to purchase their own lot of land for cemetery use. 

While it is not entirely clear when LJS ceased to operate, records from Mikveh Israel Board of Managers minutes book indicate that they had a peak membership number of 70 or so members in 1915. According to Mikveh Israel’s former Parnas (President) of over 30 years, Mr. Leon Levy, by the mid 1950’s, the LJS served as a social club for Sepharadim in Philadelphia to meet and discuss various personal and communal topics of interest, with minimal need for them to tend to immigration and philanthropic pursuits, as the economic and social situation of Sephardic Jews in Philadelphia had drastically improved over the course of its 40 years or so of assisting them. Suffice it to say, this was a mission success! 

While there is so much more to add to this inspiring and moving episode in American Jewish History, the most important takeaway for us, learning from Rev. Elmaleh’s lasting legacy in the present, is that of seeking the welfare and common good of our fellow Jews. The great King David famously remarked about the Jewish people: who is like you, O Israel, a united nation in the Land (II Sam. 7:23). Whether we are Ashkenazic or Sephardic, secular or observant, rich or poor, city dwelling New Yorkers or relaxed Midwesterners, the LJS and its legacy reminds us to care for our fellow Jews in need, to ensure their safety and dignity, and to remain united as people. We only have each other to lean on, and while that takes great effort and work, it is not for nothing that our Sages taught: “where there are no men [to step up], strive to be the man [who does stand up] (Prike Abot 2:5).