Gesänge für den öffentlichen jüdischen Gottesdienst …, (Reform Hymnal), Kneseth Israel Gemeinde, Philadelphia: Stein & Jones, 1862

95 pages (6 7/8 x 4 1/4 in.; 173 x 105 mm). ex-library with perforated stamping on title and several other pages; stamps. Supralibros, "L.Goldschmidt" on detached, heavily embossed upper board. worn. Housed in a heavy cardboard and buckram folder; title and call no. gilt on spine, within matching buckram slipcase.

L. Goldschmidt-Supralibros

Jakob J. Petuchowski, Prayerbook Reform in Europe: The Liturgy of European Liberal and Reform Judaism

In the early stages of the development of the Reform movement in America, few liturgical resources were available to its adherents. Each congregation fashioned a liturgy uniquely suited for its particular needs. The first Reform prayer books began to appear in the 1850s but were soon augmented by “hymnals and songsters…[which,] particularly in the early phases of Reform… played a major role in the reformed worship services.”

Established in 1847 by German immigrants, Kneseth Israel was among the earliest congregations in the United States to incorporate Reform practices, and the first in Philadelphia to do so. The congregation was guided in these efforts by Rev. Louis Naumburg (1813-1902), an immigrant from Bavaria who served as the hazzan and teacher beginning in 1850. It was during his tenure that German hymns were first introduced into the service. The text comprises only German-language hymns, as German had been the official language of the Congregation since its inception (English was not introduced into the service until four decades later.)