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Illustration of Adas Yisroule taken from 1877
City Directory for Hartford Connecticut.
From Hartford Jews 1659-1970 by Rabbi Morris Silverman:
"Despite Beth I srael's [Hartford
first congregation, of which the Ballersteins were members] early upholding
of Orthodox tradition, the congregation finally permitted such innovations
as a mixed choir, family pews, Confirmation (a group ceremony for girls
and boys as differentiated from the individual bar mitzvah)and, as time
went on, an organ In 1862, the congregation's first Confirmation of 14
children [one of whom was one of the Ballerstein girls, Fannie*]. This
was the second ceremony of its kind in [the United States].
In 1865, in reaction to Beth Israel's innovations, a
new synogogue, Adas Yisroule came in to being.
A new congregation
of Israelites has been formed in this city following the "orthodox" forms
of the Jewish faith, which differs in some important particulars from the
forms which govern the Beth Israel congregation....
Thirty-four members are already
obtained, a flattering number for a start...*
Adas Yisroule later enjoyed
most congenial relations with Beth Israel....", a fortunate circumstance
for family relations as Moses Ballerstein continued to be an active member
of Beth Israel, while his son-in-law, Frank Lazarus was active in Adas
Yisroule. In the year following Adas Yisroule's disbanding, R. Ballerstein,
probably Moses' nephew Raphael, shows up in records as Treasurer of yet
another congregation, Ohaba Shalom.
* She was probably a sister-in-law of Frank Lazarus.
** Courant, Sept. 18, 1965 |
