Synagogue, Hanover St. [Baltimore, Maryland]: D.R. Stiltz & Co., 1864. Titled to mount recto. Photographer's imprint and copyright statement to mount verso. Pencil inscription to mount verso reads: "note: Henrietta Szold's father was rabbi of this synagogue "Hanover St. Synagogue".

An outdoor view of the facade of the synagogue on Hanover Street, Baltimore, showing the front elevation with a portico. The verso inscription identifies that Benjamin Szold (ca 1831-1902) was the rabbi of the synagogue. Founded in 1853, Temple Oheb Shalom held its first services in Osceola Hall at Gay and Lexington Streets before purchasing the old Fifth Presbyterian Church on Hanover Street, the building pictured here. The synagogue was renovated in 1870.

Born in Hungary, Szold studied under Rabbis Jacob Fischer of Shalgaw, Wolf Kollin of Vrbové, and Benjamin Wolf Löw at the Pressburg Yeshiva, before receiving rabbinical authorization from Judah Assod of Bur and Simon Sidon of Tyrnau. He was continuing studies in Vienna, the University of Breslau, Silesia, and Stockholm, before accepting a position at Temple Oheb Shalom in Baltimore, Maryland, becoming its first ordained rabbi. He introduced a new prayer book, Abodat Yisrael in 1863, shortly before this view of the synagogue was taken. Outside of his religious pastoralism he was an advocate for Russian refugees and was sympathetic to Zionist movements.

Immediately after his immigration to the United States, Szold married Sophie Schaar, with whom he had eight daughters. Henrietta Szold (1860-1945), the eldest, was a Zionist leader and founder of Hadassah, The Women's Zionist Organization of America. A women's organization founded in 1912 by Szold, is one of the largest international Jewish organizations, involved in community programs and health initiatives.

A very rare view of an important center of 19th century American Judaism.

[Early Photography, Albumens, CDV, Carte de Visite, Religious History, Judaica, Judaism, Jewish History, Jewish Diaspora, Zionism, Israel]