Shangarai Chasset

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Template otherTemplate:Wikidata image Shangarai Chasset, also called Shaarei Chesed, was an Orthodox and later, Reform, Jewish congregation and synagogue, located in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the United States. The congregation worshipped in the Sefardi rite.

History

Shangarai Chasset was founded in New Orleans on December 20, 1827, and chartered by the Louisiana legislature on March 27, 1828 by Jacob Solis. The synagogue’s members were primarily of Sephardic Portuguese background. Around the same time the synagogue was founded, a related benevolent society was established with the same name, "Shaare Chessed," (the first interment therein was that of a Hyam Harris on June 28, 1828). Though Judah Touro was not initially interested in the congregation, he eventually gave generously to it.

The congregation constructed a synagogue building in 1845 on Rampart Street between St. Louis and Conti Streets, the first permanent synagogue building in Louisiana. A plaque remains at the site.

By 1846, the Jewish population had become more French and German because of the migration of Jews from Alsace-Lorraine. As a result, a Sephardic businessman, Gershom Kursheedt, convinced Judah Touro to establish a new Sephardic synagogue which he did on the corner of Bourbon St. and Canal St. The new congregation was called Nefutsoth Judah, Dispersed of Judah. By 1881, the two congregations couldn't exist separately and re-united under the name of The Gates of Mercy of the Dispersed of Judah. In 1937, the congregation changed its name to Touro Synagogue in honor of their mutual benefactor.

Far from established Jewish communities, the congregation’s membership attempted to create a semblance of Jewish life and community in the new territory opened to them as part of the Louisiana Purchase. Upon its founding, most Jewish people were reportedly indifferent and not affiliated with the synagogue. Of those affiliated with the congregation, their level of observance was minimal. Jacob Rader Marcus, a noted historian, comments that the lack of affiliation to the synagogue may have in part resulted in many of the Jewish men in the Louisiana Territory taking non-Jewish wives and having non-Jewish children. However, the high intermarriage rate did not preclude the congregation from appointing men with gentile wives to leadership positions in the synagogue. Despite shortcomings in their religious observance, their love of their religion, and service to their community was nonetheless noteworthy, as it paved the way for future generations of Jewish life in New Orleans.

Rabbinical leadership

Template:Template other The following individuals served as rabbi of the congregation:

Ordinal	Name	Term start	Term end	Time in office	Notes
Template:Nts	Manis Jacobs	1828	1839	Template:Age in years years
Template:Nts	Albert "Roley" Marks	1839	1845	Template:Age in years years	Template:Efn
Template:Nts	Ferdinand Hirsch	1845	?	Template:Age in years years
Template:Nts	Dr. Hermann Kohlmeyer	1847	1850	Template:Age in years years
Template:Nts	James Koppel Gutheim	1850	1853	Template:Age in years years
Template:Nts	Joseph Levin	1855	1859	Template:Age in years years	Template:Efn
Template:Nts	Solomon Jacob	1859	1860	Template:Age in years years	Template:Efn
Template:Nts	Dr. Yissochar Dov Bernard Illowy	1861	1865	Template:Age in years years
(Template:Nts)	James Koppel Gutheim	1865	1868	Template:Age in years years
Template:Nts	Isaac Leucht	1868	1872	Template:Age in years years
Template:Nts	unknown
(Template:Nts)	Isaac Leucht	1879	1881	Template:Age in years years	Congregation merged with the Nefutzot Yehudah

See also

• Oldest synagogues in the United States

External links

• Roley Marks mentioned in Princeton Packet OnlineNews
• Roley Marks mentioned in biography of Gershom Kursheedt in JewishVirtualLibrary.org
• International Jewish Cemetery Project - Louisiana detail.
• Zivotofsky, Rabbi Ari Z. Ph.D. and Amar, Zohar Ph.D.(2003) "The Halachic Tale of Three American Birds: Turkey, Prairie Chicken, and Muscovy Duck, The Journal of Halacha and Contemporary Society, Rabbi Jacob Joseph School Press. Includes a lengthy letter from Rabbi Illoway.