DELAWARE:
A state on the Atlantic seaboard of the United States. The first Jew of whom anything definite is known as a resident of the state was Solomon Solis, born in Wilmington March 13, 1819 (Morais, "The Jews of Philadelphia," p. 51). Prior to 1855 M. M. Stern, now of Philadelphia, was engaged in business in Milford. There were, however, few Jews in the state before 1860, when Nathan Lieberman settled in Wilmington, his brother Henry about the same time locating in Dover, the capital of the state. Since then there has been a small influx, the total number of Jewish residents being given as 928, of whom over 800 reside in Wilmington. That city contains the only Jewish organizations in Delaware. Congregation Adath Kodesh Baron de Hirsch was organized in 1885 and incorporated Sept. 13, 1889. Its present rabbi is Herman A. Blatt. A free Hebrew Sunday-school, dating from Jan. 1, 1896, has now (1903) over 300 pupils. The charitable organizations are the Moses Montefiore Benefit Society, incorporated Feb. 10, 1883; the Hebrew Charity Organization, incorporated March 9, 1902. The latter has a loan fund without interest. There are also the Young Men's Hebrew Association, the Wilmington Lodge No. 470, I.O.B.B., and a few smaller organizations. A few Jewish families are scattered in Viola, Newcastle, Odessa, Millsboro, Laurel, Delaware City, Lewes, Georgetown, Seaford, Harrington, Middletown, and Milford.
