Les Juifs de San Francisco (Californie)

The California Gold Rush attracted to San Francisco, from the mid-nineteenth century onward, numerous Jewish merchants, mostly of German-speaking origin, who quickly made it one of the principal Jewish communities on the West Coast of the United States. Rather than seeking gold, many established themselves as traders, suppliers and founders of commercial houses, and several Jewish families played a prominent role in the city's economic development. The community distinguished itself by an open Jewish life and a strong implantation of Reform Judaism, with large congregations. Active in philanthropy, culture and public affairs, it remains today an important and liberal community of the San Francisco Bay Area.

Sources & resources

• Encyclopaedia Judaica — 2e éd., Keter/Macmillan
• Jewish Virtual Library ↗