Last night I spent the evening brewing with the president of the German Society of Pennsylvania, Mark McGuigan, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia. The synagogue and the German Society of Pennsylvania are working together to promote German Jewish (i.e. Ashkenazi) heritage in Philadelphia.  One of the cool projects is traditional brewing.

The German Society of Pennsylvania was founded in Philadelphia in in 1764 to serve the large number of German immigrants who came between the 1680s and the American Revolution.  It is estimated that over 100,000 German-speaking immigrants came Pennsylvania during the 18th Century and these immigrants made up about a third of Philadelphia’s population by the 1760. Most immigrants arrived in a miserable state after long unhealthy sea voyages but the German immigrants also had to deal with language and cultural disconnects inherent in moving from central Europe to an English Colony. To make the transition easier and get these immigrants into a state of self-sufficiency more quickly, sixty-five prominent German colonists established an organization “for the relief of distressed Germans” on December 26, 1764.  Initially, the Society focused on helping new immigrants who arrived in Philadelphia under the indenture status.  The society assisted them as they worked off the cost of their voyage, lobbied for legislation that protected these immigrants from exploitative contracts or abusive employers, and provided interpreters who taught English.  Beginning in the 1780s, the Society began assisting young German men attend the University of Pennsylvania. In 1817, the Society established a Volksbibliothek (people’s library), as a lending library that offered members general interest and educational reading materials both in German and English.

Obviously, relations between Jews and the German Society have not always been good.  But prior to WWI, Germany was THE CENTER of Jewish education and society for northern Europe.  Today, we are working to rebuild the trust and sharing a few beers is a good start.

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Published by Michael Carver

My goal is to bring history alive through interactive portrayal of ordinary American life in the late 18th Century (1750—1799) My persona are: Journeyman Brewer; Cordwainer (leather tradesman but not cobbler), Statesman and Orator; Chandler (candle and soap maker); Gentleman Scientist; and, Soldier in either the British Regular Army, the Centennial Army, or one of the various Militia. Let me help you experience history 1st hand!