Abram Wolf Edelman


Abram Wolf Edelman was a Polish-born American rabbi. He was the first rabbi in Los Angeles, California. He served as the first rabbi of Congregation B'nai B'rith, now known as the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, from 1862 to 1885.

Early life

Abram Wolf Edeman was born on August 17, 1832, in Kutno, Poland. He immigrated to the United States with his wife in 1851. By 1858, he moved to San Francisco, California, where he studied Jewish theology and taught Hebrew. He also spoke Spanish.

Career

Ederman was asked to move to Los Angeles by Joseph Newmark. As a result, he became the first rabbi in Los Angeles. He served as the first rabbi of Congregation B'nai B'rith from 1862 to 1885. He was also the cantor. According to Harris Newmark, Edelman resigned because he was an Orthodox rabbi and the congregation was slowly becoming Reform. However, his services were not stricto sensu Orthodox as they included "mixed seating, a mixed choir, Conformation, English prayers and English sermons."
He 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.
He became a Freemason, joining Masonic Lodge #42 in Los Angeles. He was a member of the Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Foresters.

Personal life

He was married to Hannah Pessah Cohn in Warsaw in 1851. They had four sons, Benjamin, Abram M., Henry W. and David W., and two daughters, Rachel and Matilda. One of his sons, Abram M. Edelman, became a prolific architect in Los Angeles, with buildings now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Another son, Dr. David W. Edelman, was the chief of staff of the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital, later known as the Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.

Death

He died on July 26, 1907, in Los Angeles. He was buried at the Home of Peace Cemetery, a Jewish cemetery in East Los Angeles.