An early member of the First Congregational Church started Bank of America and Levi Straus' family were some of Temple Emanu-El's first members. Of equal importance at the time was the succor these religious institutions provided their members. The San Francisco Jews of the 1850s missed the familiarity of their homelands and clung to their religious traditions for stability. According to historian Fred Rosenbaum, religion for these Jews was a shield against the "immorality and depravity" that characterized San Francisco at that time.
Daily Alta California, April 10, 1851
TO THE ISRAELITES OF SAN FRANCISCO.--Notice is hereby given that we, the undersigned, have made an arrangement with the butcher Mr. Joseph Begin, 76 Kearny Street, between Commercial and Sacramento, who will supply the Israelites of this place with the finest quality of KUSHER beef, veal and mutton which will be killed in the presence of Mr. Blankenstein and others by a competent and qualified SHACHET, according to the Mosaic laws.
| A. WEISS | I.S. LINCOLN |
| M.S. BLANKENSTEIN | I. SOLOMON |
| T. FRANKEL | BARNET KEESING |
| J. RAPHAEL & CO. | PHILIP MANN |
By 1865 "about 4,000 Jews lived in San Francisco, monopolizing the
clothing, fur and dry goods trade, especially jewelry, crockery, shoes and
soap. Virtually all of the merchants in the city are Jews."
By 1879, San Francisco's Jewish population had reached 16,000. Many were
respected for their business achievements and contributions to the city.
However, San Francisco's first "Elite Directory" was divided into
two parts: 1) Gentile; 2) Jewish.