Alexandria, Louisiana

City on the south bank of the Red river, 360 miles northwest of New Orleans. The foundation of a Jewish community in Alexandria took place in 1848 when several Jews settled there. The total Jewish population in 1900 was 600, or about one-fourteenth of the entire population of the city. Among the occupations followed by the Jewish citizens are banking, brokerage, and cotton-planting. There are besides a number of tradesmen and a few artisans. The congregation was probably founded in 1864. In 1866 a benevolent association was established here by the Jews, and four years later (1870) the first synagogue was erected. Other institutions were founded after the lapse of a few years. In 1882 a Young Men's Hebrew Association was established, and this was followed by a lodge of the Order of B'ne B'rith, which received its charter in 1884. Further advance in the development of the community was marked by the opening of a Sunday-school and Bible-class in 1890, and a branch of the National Council of Jewish Women in 1896. The following were rabbis of the community of Alexandria from its foundation to 1900: M. Klein, L. Meyer, J. C. M. Chumaceiro, S. Saft, I. Heineberg, J. Schreiber, and Alex. Rosenspitz.

J. S. R.