Tobias Geffen Papers

This collection contains the surviving papers of Rabbi Tobias Geffen who served as a rabbi in New York City (1904-1907), Canton, Ohio (1907-1910), and Atlanta, Georgia (1910-1970). It includes extensive correspondence with members of his family, autobiographies in Yiddish and English (several versions) and other material relating to his personal life.

Also included are several copies of his books and articles, both in published and manuscript form, various manuscript novellae, manuscript annotations on books and articles written by others, manuscript sermons delivered by Geffen on various holidays and special occasions, etc. Of special interest is the extensive documentation of Geffens' rabbinate in Atlanta, consisting of correspondence, responsa to numerous religious questions, and various charitable efforts on behalf of institutions in Europe and Palestine. There is a large body of material relating to the dietary certification of Coca-Cola. The responsa represent request from sixty-one different Jewish communities throughout the South. Among the correspondents are the Union of Orthodox Rabbis of the United States and Canada, the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of America, internationally prominent rabbis in Europe and Palestine, etc. The subjects discussed include supplying etrogim, sacramental wine, Passover, the Sabbath, Kashrut, gittin, schochetim, etc. Of unusual interest is Geffen's involvement with Jewish soldiers in World War I and assistance to Jewish prisoners in the Atlanta Federal Penitentiary, and his efforts to make the orphan home kosher and to give the orphans a religious education.

The collection also contains material on the synagogue, Congregation Shearith Israel of Atlanta, Georgia (financial records, Purim ball, etc.), the sisterhood, the Hebrew School, youth work in the synagogues and the Shearith Israel Lodge of Independent Order of Brith Abraham in the synagogue. Also included is a family tree of Tobias Geffen and Sara Hene Rabinowitz.