Dallas

County seat of Dallas county, Texas, on the east bank of the Trinity River. It was settled in 1844. It has a population of 50,000, including 1,200 Jews. Moses Ullmann, now of Galveston,Tex., and Dr. E. M. Tillman, still of Dallas, were the first Jewish settlers, taking up their residence there in February, 1871. A few emigrants made Dallas their home after the promulgation of the Russian May Laws in 1881, a larger number arriving subsequent to the Russian persecutions ten years later. Since then the growth of the Jewish population has been gradual and steady.

The Hebrew Benevolent Association was founded in May, 1872, and the Ladies' Hebrew Benevolent Association in the same year. The Jewish cemetery was purchased in 1872, and the first Jewish service was held during the New-Year holidays of that year. Dallas Lodge, No. 197, I. O. B. B., was established in 1873, and now has a large membership. Congregation Emanuel was organized in 1874, and held its first service in the hall of the I. O. B. B. Temple Emanuel was dedicated on Shabuoth (Feast of Pentecost), 1876, but having become too small for the increased congregation, a new temple on Ervay street was dedicated in 1898. The Orthodox Jews established a congregation, Shearith Israel, in 1884, but their synagogue was not dedicated till 1894. Besides the two congregations here mentioned there are two ḥebrot (small congregations) maintained by the Polish, Russian, and Rumanian immigrants. The Orthodox community also supports a ladies' benevolent association, making three Jewish benevolent societies in Dallas.

The social and literary interests of the Dallas community are represented by the Phœnix Club and the Progressive Literary Association. Benevolent orders are represented by the I. O. B. B., Free Sons of Israel, and B'rith Abraham. The following rabbis have ministered at Temple Emanuel since its foundation: A. Suhler, H. M. Bien, Henry Schul, Joseph Silverman, E. M. Chapman, G. A. Kohut, Oscar J. Cohen, and William H. Greenburg, the present (1902) incumbent.

In active communal and public life Dr. E. M. Tillman, David Goslin, E. M. Kahn, Charles Kahn, Alex. Ortlieb, and Alex. Sanger are prominent. Philip Sanger, recently (1902) deceased, was identified with nearly every public movement in the city. D. A. Eldridge, attorney, is an ardent communal worker.

Dallas has a Jewish weekly newspaper, "The Jewish Sentiment," edited and published by Frank J. Cohen.

Bibliography:

  * H. Cohen, Settlement of the Jews in Texas, in Pub. Am. Jew. Hist. Soc. No. 2.



A. H. C.