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Abram Wolf Edelman (a.k.a. Abraham Edelman) (1832-1907) was a Polish-born American rabbi. He was the first rabbi in Los Angeles, California,[1] serving as the first rabbi of Congregation B'nai B'rith, from 1862 to 1885. It is now known as the Wilshire Boulevard Temple.
Abram Wolf Edelman | |
|---|---|
| Born | August 17, 1832 |
| Died | July 26, 1907 |
| Resting place | Home of Peace Cemetery |
| Occupation | Rabbi |
| Spouse | Hannah Pessah Cohn |
| Children | Benjamin Edelman Abram M. Edelman Henry W. Edelman David W. Edelman Rachel Edelman Matilda Edelman |
Abram Wolf Edelman was born on August 17, 1832, in Kutno, Poland. He had a classic Jewish education.[2][3] He married and immigrated to the United States with his wife in 1851, the year he turned nineteen.[3]
By 1858, they moved to San Francisco, California, where he studied Jewish theology and taught Hebrew.[3] He also learned Spanish well enough to speak it.[3]
After completing his education, Edelman was invited to move to Los Angeles to serve as the rabbi of its first Jewish, founded by Joseph Newmark.[3] As a result, he became the first rabbi in Los Angeles,[1] serving at Congregation B'nai B'rith from 1862 to 1885.[4] He was also the cantor.[3]
According to Harris Newmark, another pioneer of the Newmark family, Edelman later resigned because he was an Orthodox rabbi and the congregation was slowly becoming Reform.[3] But his services were not stricto sensu Orthodox. They included "mixed seating, a mixed choir, Conformation, English prayers and English sermons."[3]
Edelman acquired a building on the corner of 6th and Main streets in Downtown Los Angeles, across the street from the Pacific Electric Building, and collected rents from it.[3]
He became a Freemason,[4] joining Masonic Lodge #42 in Los Angeles.[3] He was also a member of the fraternal Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Foresters.[4]
He married Hannah Pessah Cohn in Warsaw in 1851, the year they immigrated to the United States.[3] They had four sons, Benjamin, Abram M., Henry W. and David W., and two daughters, Rachel and Matilda.[3] Their son, Abram M. Edelman, became a prolific architect in Los Angeles.[1] Several of his buildings have been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5] Another son, David W. Edelman, became a doctor and later served as chief of staff at the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, later known as the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.[6]
Edelman died on July 26, 1907, in Los Angeles.[2][4] He was buried at the Home of Peace Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in East Los Angeles.[4]
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