Call Number:

SCRC 157

Repository:

Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center

Extent:

0.54 linear feet (2 boxes)

Language:

English, Hebrew, Russian, and Yiddish

Preferred Citation:

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Mordechai Yohlin Family Papers, SCRC 157, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Date:

1914-1997 (inclusive)

Creator:

Yohlin, Mordechai, 1883-1942

Form:

Clippings, Correspondence, Immigration records, Manuscripts, and Photocopies

Abstract:

Orthodox Rabbi Mordechai (Max) Yohlin was born in Belliatzerkov, Kiviska, Russia on March 24, 1883, to parents Hersh and Brucha Schriber. He married Esther Pessie, daughter of Yossuf Serebrier, with whom he had six children, Betty, Mary, Rose, Rae, Harry and Sylvia. Yohlin immigrated to Philadelphia in 1925 in order to become rabbi and cantor of Congregation Keilath Kodesh Anschai Sode Lovon where he served until 1936. In 1933, he published his two volume Bible commentary, Sefer K?ohelet Mordekhai. Yohlin served on the Philadelphia Vaad Hakashrus, a Rabbinic body that provided kosher supervision, and as an executive committee member of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, American Jewish Congress, and the Jewish National Fund. Rabbi Yohlin's family home was designated a Beth Din or Rabbinical Court to adjudicate gittin (Jewish divorces) and dinei Torah (matters of litigation). Although not formerly appointed, Mordechai Yohlin acted as spiritual leader of Atereth Israel Synagogue until his death on September 20, 1942.

The Mordechai Yohlin Family Papers consists of Rabbi Yohlin's Russian military papers and passport with crude English translations, incoming correspondence from other rabbis including B. L. Levinthal, Leibesch Schiffman, Samuel E. Tiktin, and H. Friedling, manuscripts, certificates issued to Yohlin, a souvenir journal commemorating his twenty-five years of service as an Orthodox Rabbi, and a few photographs. The collection also contains materials collected by Yohlin's family members including photocopies of correspondence from his descendants regarding donations of his book Sefer K?ohelet Mordekhai to various libraries, a biographical sketch, "A Legacy of Love, " written by Yohlin's daughter, Sylvia Frankel, photocopies of various published material and newspaper clippings about Rabbi Yohlin, and a photocopy of a family tree.