The Israelites

     The Jewish congregation in Danville was organized under a 
charted granted by the court of Montour county in 1854, with the
name of Benai Zion.  The charter members were A. Levi, Jacob
Loch, Lewis Lang, Moyer Lyon, Jacob Weil, Solomon Meyer, Ja-
cob Mayer, Jacob Levi, Sandel Dreifuss, Feis Blum and Simon El-
lenbogen.  The constitution and by-laws constitute a well-written
code of laws and regulations.  The officers are a president, a treas-
urer, a secretary and three trustees, all to be chosen annually by the
congregation.  The president, treasurer and secretary are ex officio
 an executive committee.  No more than one thousand dollars is al-
lowed to be raised by pew-rent in any one year.  The price of
pews according to location was fixed at $15, $10, and $7 per an-
num.  Two dollars must be paid for the privilege of being married
in the Synagogue.  It must be remembered however that Israelites
in Danville had a church organization long anterior to 1854, when
they became a chartered body.  They had built a frame school-house,
which they continue to use for school purposes.  It was built  in
1853.  The new Synagogue was erected in 1871.  Rabbi Jastrow
of Philadelphia conducted the dedicatory services of the new Syna-
gogue.  The procession was formed at the house of the president of
the congregation, and proceeded in order bearing the appropriate
symbols of the Jewish religion, according to the instructions given
to the children of Israel.  At the portico of the Synagogue, Miss
Bertha Eger presented the keys to the president with a nneat and
pertinent address, to which the president made an apt reply, when
he unlocked the door and the procession followed by the crowd en-
tered the audience chamber and witnessed the ceremonies of the
dedication.  Rabbi jastrow preached an eloquent sermon highly
appropriate to the occasion.  Rev. Nusbaum the teacher in charge
closed with a brief address, and so ended the interesting ceremonies
of the day.


     Going back to 1853 we find that the first rabbi or teacher in
charge of this congregation was Rev. Friendlich.  The next was
Rev. Emanuel Oppenheim.  He was a man of extensive learning,
not only in the German and Hebrew, but also in the English.  He
was a good speaker and a writer of ability in the latter and frequently
contributed to the current literature of the day.  Rev. Oppenheim
was highly respected by all classes of the community.  He was affia-
ble to all and remarkably warm in his friendships.  He went to
Pottsville from this place, where he died a few years ago, much re-
gretted by a large circle of friends.  He was followed by Rev
Hommer as teacher in the congregation of Danville.  Rev. Heil-
brenner was the next and he was succeeded by Rev. Brandise.  Then
came Rev. Simon Gerstman, who was a scholar and a gentleman,
as well as a teacher.  He was well versed in the English language
and wrote on various subjects.  A few line, in verse, on the death
of Louis Loeb, from his pen will be found in this book.  After him
 came Rev. Nusbaum.  He was a quiet man and mingled but little
with the world, outside of his own people.  He was followed by
Rev. Friedenthal and he by Rev. Newmark who is the present
teacher.

     Jacob Leob is president of the congregation and has been, with a
brief exception, ever since the organization.  H. L. Gross is secre-
tary and Samuel Goldsmith treasurer.  The trustees are Moses
Bloch, Jacob Goldsmith and Jacob Moyer.  There are over twenty
families connected with the Jewish congregation Benai Zion.