Rabbi Jacob S. Raisin papers

Jacob Salmon Raisin (1878-1946) served as rabbi of Charleston's Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim (KKBE) from 1915 to 1944, and as rabbi emeritus from 1944 to 1946. A noted Hebraist and scholar, he was the author of several books and many published articles and essays.

Jacob Raisin came to America in approximately 1892 from Nieswiez, Russia (now Nyasvizh, Belarus). Educated in the public schools of New York and later at City College, he began his rabbinic career in 1900 after graduating from both Hebrew Union College and the University of Cincinnati. His brother Max was also ordained by Hebrew Union College, graduating in 1903. Jacob went on to receive a Ph.D. from the University of Denver in 1911, a D.D. from Hebrew Union College in 1913, and an LL.B. from Albany Law School in 1915. Before coming to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1915, he served in synagogues in Port Gibson, Mississippi; Butte, Montana; East Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Troy, New York. While in Charleston he also led services in small communities in Dillon, Florence, Darlington, Georgetown, and Beaufort, South Carolina, and Parris Island Marine Base.

Raisin was a prolific author whose works include Georg Elyot: Katavaha Ve-Helekh Ruhah Hayeha (Hebrew), 1899; A Glimpse into Jewish Science, 1900; Sect, Creed and Custom in Judaism: A Study in Jewish Nomology, 1907; Reform Judaism Prior to Abraham Geiger, 1910; The Haskalah Movement in Russia, 1913; Jewish Contributions to the Progress of Russia, 1919; Twice Told Talmud Tales, 1929; and Gentile Reactions to Jewish Ideals with Special Reference to Proselytes, 1953 (published posthumously). He contributed articles to numerous English and Hebrew magazines and journals, including H.U.C. Journal, The New Era, The Masonic Observer, The Jewish Tribune, The Ark, The Jewish Forum, The American Hebrew, and The American Israelite.

Rabbi Raisin was active in educational and civic organizations both within and outside the Jewish community. He was a member of Charleston's local Zionist group B'nei Zion (Sons of Zion) and the Zionist Organization of America. He served as a member of the County Board of School Commissioners (Charleston), the Salvation Army, the Chamber of Commerce, the Charleston Community Chest, the Jewish Welfare Board, and many other organizations. In 1917 Jacob Raisin married Jane Lazarus and the couple had three children: Mordenai, Rachel, and Aaron.