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Pinchos J. Chazin Papers
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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
Pinchos J. Chazin was born in 1914 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was raised in Perth Amboy, New Jersey where his father, Hirsh L. Chazin, was an Orthodox cantor. Pinchos Chazin received his B.A. from the City College of New York in 1935 and his M.A. from Columbia University in 1939. That same year he was ordained as a rabbi by the Jewish Theological Seminary. During World War II, Chazin served as a military chaplain for the Air Force at Drew Army Airfield in Florida. Upon his return from the service in 1946, he served as rabbi of Beth Judah Synagogue in West Philadelphia. In 1948, Pinchos Chazin became rabbi of Congregation Temple Sholom in Northeast Philadelphia, where he worked for forty-three years.
In addition to being a much-loved spiritual leader and inspirational speaker, Rabbi Chazin served for twenty-five years as a chaplain with the Philadelphia Police Department and for forty-seven years as chaplain of the Shomrim Society of Philadelphia and Delaware County. He was president of the Philadelphia Region of the Rabbinical Assembly and the Philadelphia Board of Rabbis, and was a founder and longtime board member of Solomon Schechter Day School. Pinchos Chazin was an avid book reviewer, frequent lecturer, and the author of twelve cantatas.
Pinchos J. Chazin married Beatrice Pugatsky in 1942 and they had three children. He died in February 2006 at the age of 91.
This collection contains the papers of Pinchos J. Chazin, reflecting his rabbinical work with the congregation and within the Jewish community in Philadelphia. Much of the collection is composed of sermons written by Chazin and delivered at weekly services and on religious holidays. This collection also contains wedding ceremony sermons, marriage licenses, and eulogies. Chazin wrote many book reviews and authored twelve cantatas; these materials are found in the collection as well. In addition, there are materials related to Temple Sholom's rebuilding campaign following a fire at the synagogue in 1988. This collection also contains articles, correspondence, newsclippings, and photographs.
The collection is arranged into 13 series as follows:
- Series 1: Sermons, 1949-1998, undated
- Subseries 1.1: Parshas, 1949-1994, undated
- Subseries 1.2: Holidays, 1949-1995, undated
- Subseries 1.3: Other Sermons, 1955-1998, undated
- Series 2: Speaking Engagements, 1943-2002, undated
- Series 3: Book Review Lectures, 1955-1990, undated
- Series 4: Cantatas, 1974-2002, undated
- Series 5: Eulogies, 1952-2004, undated
- Series 6: Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies, 1952-2002, undated
- Series 7: Other Writings, 1938-1988, undated
- Series 8: Temple Sholom Fire Rebuilding Campaign, 1988-1989
- Series 9: Personal Materials, 1925-1994, undated
- Series 10: Photographs, circa 1925-2004, undated
- Series 11: Accession 2014-25, circa 1910s-2006 (PORTIONS RESTRICTED)
- Series 12: Accession 2014-23, circa 1940s-1980s
- Series 13: Accession 2016-26, 1941-2014
The bulk of the collection was donated by Rabbi Chazin's daughter Rhena Kelsen in March 2007 with additions donated in May and July 2014, and June 2016. Some photographs were donated by Pinchos J. Chazin and his family in 2004.
A portion of this collection was previously administered by the Philadelphia Jewish Archives Center, acquired by Temple in June 2009.
Initial processing took place in 2012 by Special Collections Research Center staff. Collection processed and finding aid prepared in April 2014 by Jenna Marrone, Project Archivist. Revisions made to finding aid in July 2016 by Jessica M. Lydon, Associate Archivist.
Subject
- Air bases, American
- Cantatas, Sacred – Scores
- Cantatas, Secular -- Scores
- Chaplains, Military
- Chaplains, Police
- Conservative Judaism--Sermons
- Eulogies
- Jewish sermons, American
- Jews--Pennsylvania—Philadelphia
- Marriage licenses
Place
- Publisher
- Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
- Finding Aid Author
- Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
- Finding Aid Date
- August 2024
- Access Restrictions
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Collection is open for research. One file in Series 11 is restricted for a period of 75 years from the date of creation due to the presence of third party medical information.
- Use Restrictions
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The Pinchos J. Chazin Papers are the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.
Collection Inventory
Series 1: Sermons, 1949-1998, undated, contains sermons written by Chazin and delivered during weekly and holiday services. These sermons are hand-written and include some passages in Hebrew. This series has been divided into three subseries: Subseries 1.1: Parshas, Subseries 1.2: Holidays, and Subseries 1.3: Other Sermons.
Subseries 1.1: Parshas, 1949-1994, undated, contains sermons written by Chazin and delivered at weekly Shabbat services. Many of these sermons discuss current events in relation to the scriptural reading, and some reference material accompanies the sermons. The parsha sermons contain some passages in Hebrew. This subseries has been arranged chronologically according to the parsha reading in the Jewish calendar.
Subseries 1.2: Holidays, 1949-1995, undated, contains Chazin's sermons for religious holidays. This subseries includes sermons delivered on High Holidays Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as for holidays such as Chanukah, Passover, Shavuot, and Shemini Atzeret. Some sermons were written to accompany Yizkor service, and some Yom Kippur folders also contain sermons for Kol Nidre. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by holiday, and then chronologically.
Subseries 1.3: Other Sermons, 1955-1998, undated, includes sermons that Chazin wrote and delivered outside of weekly or holiday service. These sermons are arranged alphabetically by their identifying information.
Series 2: Speaking Engagements, 1943-2002, undated, contains Chazin's lectures, speeches, and talks delivered at Temple Sholom and throughout the larger Philadelphia community. This series includes Chazin's lectures from his Shabbat morning Chumash Dialogue, Temple Sholom Men's Club presidential installation addresses, and other lectures. Addresses given at special events, including Temple Sholom anniversary dinners, can also be found here. In addition, this series includes scripts from Chazin's radio talks and television appearances. This series is arranged alphabetically by the speech's identifying information, and then chronologically.
Series 3: Book Review Lectures, 1955-1990, contains many of Chazin's book reviews, written in lecture format and delivered before various congregations and Jewish organizations. He was a known book reviewer and was frequently requested to present on certain authors. Although for the most part he reviewed books on Jewish subjects, he also reviewed popular literature by authors such as Saul Bellow, James Michener, and John Steinbeck. In particular, he lectured on books by Cynthia Freeman, Harry Golden, Chaim Potok, Maurice Samuel, Irving Stone, Leon Uris, and Elie Wiesel. This series is arranged alphabetically by the author's last name, and then alphabetically by the title of the book being reviewed.
Series 4: Cantatas, 1974-2002, undated, contains twelve cantatas written by Chazin. In addition to being frequently performed, two of them, Henrietta Szold and What Makes a Jewish Home, were published. Many of the cantata scripts include Chazin's notations and edits, as well as sheet music and reference material. This series is arranged alphabetically by cantata title, and then chronologically.
Series 5: Eulogies, 1952-2004, undated, contains eulogies delivered by Chazin. Many of the eulogies contain notes on the names of family members and information regarding the funeral. This series is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the deceased.
Series 6: Marriage Licenses and Ceremonies, 1952-2002, undated, contains Chazin's copies of marriage licenses for wedding ceremonies he performed. Some licenses contain notes in Hebrew and English. This series also includes a few sermons delivered at wedding ceremonies; these types of sermons are identified as such on the folder. This series is arranged alphabetically by the groom's last name. Wedding ceremony sermons for unidentified couples can be found at the end of the series.
Series 7: Other Writings, 1938-1988, undated, contains articles written by Chazin for the Temple Sholom Bulletin and the Drew Field Echoes. This series also contains school reports and Chazin's master's thesis. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Series 8: Temple Sholom Fire Rebuilding Campaign, 1988-1989, contains material related to the 1988 fire at Temple Sholom and the congregation's efforts to rebuild. Materials include correspondence, meeting minutes, newsclippings, planning notes, and posters. This series is arranged alphabetically by type of material.
Series 9: Personal Materials, 1925-1994, undated, contains awards, correspondence, newsclippings about Chazin, and special event memorabilia. This series is arranged alphabetically by type of material, and then chronologically.
Series 10: Photographs, circa 1925-2004, undated, contains photographs of Chazin throughout his life. There are photographs of Chazin as a young man, upon his graduation from seminary, and as a chaplain with the Air Force. This series also includes photographs of Rabbi Chazin at special events in Philadelphia and at Temple Sholom. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject.
Series 11: Accession 2014-25, circa 1910s-2006, contains material acquired after the main portion of the collection was processed. Materials include sermons, addresses, and poetry written by Chazin, as well as awards, certificates, correspondence, news clippings, photographs, and photograph albums. Among the correspondence are World War II-era letters exchanged between Chazin and his wife, Bea. This series also includes memorials in honor of Chazin, as well as memorials for his parents, Dora and Hirsh L. Chazin. This series is organized to reflect the arrangement of the processed portion of the collection. A folder level inventory is not available for this series, which includes Boxes 32-34 and Box 37.
One folder in this series is restricted for a period of 75 years from the date of creation due to the presence of third party medical information.
Series 12: Accession 2014-23, circa 1940s-1980s, contains material related to Chazin's role as rabbi of Temple Sholom and was acquired after the main portion of the collection was processed. This series is comprised of addresses delivered by Chazin, as well as correspondence, meeting minutes, and project files related to organizations such as Solomon Schechter Day School, the Rabbinical Assembly of America, and other Temple Sholom-based groups. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject. A folder level inventory is not available for this series, which includes Boxes 35-36.
Series 13: Accession 2016-26, 1941-2014, contains material related to Chazin's role as rabbi of Temple Sholom and was acquired after the main portion of the collection was processed. This series contains sermons and eulogies delivered by Chazin, two cantatas, newspaper clippings, printed materials, personal correspondence, and family photographs including a 1932 photograph of Shoemaker Junior High School graduating class in which Chazin' wife, Beatrice is pictured. This accrual includes materials dated after Chazin's death and added to the collection by his daughter Rhena Kelsen. A folder level inventory is not available for this series, which includes Box 38 and one map folder.