Congregation Ahavath Achim records, 1923-1939, 1997

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Ahavath Achim Congregation (Seattle, Wash.)
Title
Congregation Ahavath Achim records
Dates
1923-1939, 1997 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 vertical files
Collection Number
3166
Summary
Legal documents, minutes, and historical booklet of Congregation Ahavath Achim, the first formal Sephardic congregation in Seattle, Washington
Repository
University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections
Special Collections
University of Washington Libraries
Box 352900
Seattle, WA
98195-2900
Telephone: 2065431929
Fax: 2065431931
speccoll@uw.edu
Access Restrictions

Open to all users.

Languages
English, Ladino

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Ahavath Achim (or Ahim) was the first formal Sephardic congregation in Seattle. It was organized in 1909 as Ohavat Ahim, and services were held in a rented hall on Washington Street. In 1914, some congregants left to form Sephardic Bikur Holim, and the following year, others who were immigrants from Rhodes left to found Congregation Ezra Bessaroth.

In 1920, the Congregation built its synagogue on E. Fir St. between 17th and 18th Avenues. Between this time and 1940, the Congregation continued to lose members to the other Sephardic congregations. In 1940, the building was closed due to the absence of men during World War II, and the hiring of the Congregation's leader, Rabbi Morris Scharhon, by Sephardic Bikur Holim. The building remained empty until 1945, when it became a meeting place for the Jordan Club and later, from 1955-1960, for a reincorporated Ahavath Achim that served as a cemetery association and charitable organization.

Congregation Ahavath Achim became a social club with a Men's Club and Ladies Auxiliary. In addition to maintaining cemetery plots, the organization donated funds to Jewish causes and was a reason for Sephardic individuals to meet socially. The organization may still be active as a social club, but incorporation lapsed as of 2012.

Isaac Maimon is a member of the Sephardic Jewish community of Seattle. He was born in Turkey and came to Seattle at the age of thirteen in 1924. Between 1938 and 1940, Maimon assisted Reverend Morris Scharhon in conducting services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur at Ahavath Achim synagogue. He served as president of the Sephardic Bikur Holim (SBH) congregation, 1955-1956. He has also served as the historian for the SBH congregation. Mr. Maimon also teaches Ladino and writes for the SBH newsletter La Boz.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

Legal documents and minutes of Congregation Ahavath Achim, as well as a booklet of the history of the congregation.

Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top

Forms part of the Washington State Jewish Archives.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

Restrictions may exist on copying, quotation, or publication. Contact University of Washington Libraries Special Collections for details.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Organized into 2 accessions.

  • Accession No. 3166-001, Congregation Ahavath Achim records, 1923-1939
  • Accession No. 3166-002, Congregation Ahavath Achim records, 1997

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

 

Accession No. 3166-001: Congregation Ahavath Achim records, 1923-1939Return to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Legal documents, minutes (xeroxed copies).

Included are articles of incorporation, a mortgage, by-laws, an insurance policy, #8 building contract, and the minute book for the Ladies Auxiliary from 1931-1939, two thirds of which is written in Ladino.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights not transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Donated by Ralph Varon, 3/1/1981.

Description
Congregation Ahavath Achim records

Accession No. 3166-002: Congregation Ahavath Achim records, 1997Return to Top

1 vertical file

Scope and Content: Booklet titled "History of the Congregation Ahavath Achim of Seattle, Washington, 1906-1996" by Isaac Maimon, issued in 1997.

Restrictions on Access: Open to all users.

Restrictions on Use: Creator's literary rights transferred to the University of Washington Libraries.

Acquisition Info: Harold Lander, 2005-03-03

Description
Congregation Ahavath Achim records

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Jews--Washington (State)--Mercer Island
  • Jews--Washington (State)--Seattle
  • Personal Papers/Corporate Records (University of Washington)
  • Sephardim--Washington (State)--Seattle

Corporate Names

  • Ahavath Achim Congregation (Seattle, Wash.)--Archives
  • Congregation Shevet Achim (Mercer Island, Wash.)--Archives
  • Congregation Shevet Achim (Mercer Island, Wash.)--Correspondence
  • Congregation Shevet Achim (Mercer Island, Wash.)--History

Form or Genre Terms

  • Newsletters
  • Scrapbooks

Other Creators

  • Personal Names
    • Schwartz, Yitzchak, (associated name)
    • Young, Ze'ev, (associated name)
    Corporate Names
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington)
    • Washington State Jewish Archives (University of Washington), (host institution)