# Sigmund Hecht

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**Sigmund Hecht** (1849–1925) was a [Hungarian](/source/Hungary)-born American [Reform](/source/Reform_Judaism) rabbi. An immigrant to the [United States](/source/United_States), he served congregations in [Alabama](/source/Alabama) and [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin) before serving as the fifth rabbi of [Congregation B'nai B'rith](/source/Wilshire_Boulevard_Temple), the oldest synagogue in [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles,_California), from 1899 to 1919.

## Early life

Sigmund Hecht was born on August 1, 1849, in [Hlinik](/source/Hlinik), [Hungary](/source/Hungary).[1][2] His father was named Moritz Hecht.[2] He grew up in Zsolna, Hungary and went to a rabbinic seminary in [Vienna](/source/Vienna), [Austria](/source/Austria), receiving a degree in Jewish theology in Bistrizt, Hungary.[2]

He immigrated to the United States in his early twenties, arriving in 1868, three years after the [American Civil War](/source/American_Civil_War) of 1861-1865.[1] He first studied Jewish theology in [New York City](/source/New_York_City).[2] He then moved to the [American South](/source/American_South), where he received a [Doctorate of Divinity](/source/Doctor_of_Divinity) from the [University of Alabama](/source/University_of_Alabama) in 1886.[2]

## Career

He served as a rabbi at [Temple Beth Or](/source/Temple_Beth_Or) in [Montgomery, Alabama](/source/Montgomery,_Alabama), from 1876 to 1888.[1][3] During that time, he established a Sunday school.[3] He then the served as the rabbi of Emanu-El in [Milwaukee](/source/Milwaukee), [Wisconsin](/source/Wisconsin), from 1888 to 1899.[1]

His third service was at [Congregation B'nai B'rith](/source/Wilshire_Boulevard_Temple) in Los Angeles, California, where he was the senior rabbi from 1899 to 1919.[1][4] He paved the way for more fundraising and established programs for women and young people.[4] He also oversaw the move of the Jewish cemetery from [Chavez Ravine](/source/Chavez_Ravine) to the [Home of Peace Memorial Park](/source/Home_of_Peace_Cemetery_(East_Los_Angeles)) in [East Los Angeles](/source/East_Los_Angeles,_California).[4] In 1916, he trained [Edgar Magnin](/source/Edgar_Magnin), who went on to serve as the rabbi of B'nai B'rith from 1919 to 1984.[2]

He wrote *Post Biblical History: A Compedium Of Jewish History from the Close of the Biblical Records to the Present Day (for the Home and Sabbath School)*, published by the Bloch Printing Company / the American Jewish Publishing House in 1896.[2]

## Death

He died on June 27, 1925.[1][2] He was seventy-six years old.[2] His papers are kept at [The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives](/source/The_Jacob_Rader_Marcus_Center_of_the_American_Jewish_Archives) in [Cincinnati, Ohio](/source/Cincinnati,_Ohio).[2]

## References

1. [Rabbi Sigmund Hecht:1849-1925](http://www.jewishmuseummilwaukee.org/history/statistics/rabbis/hecht.php) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150227042852/http://www.jewishmuseummilwaukee.org/history/statistics/rabbis/hecht.php) 2015-02-27 at the Wayback Machine, [Jewish Museum Milwaukee](/source/Jewish_Museum_Milwaukee)

1. [A Finding Aid to the Sigmund S. Hecht Papers. 1877-1919.: Manuscript Collection No. 700](http://americanjewisharchives.org/collections/ms0700/), Cincinnati, Ohio: [The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives](/source/The_Jacob_Rader_Marcus_Center_of_the_American_Jewish_Archives)

1. [Encyclopedia of Southern Jewish Communities - Montgomery, Alabama](http://www.isjl.org/alabama-montgomery-encyclopedia.html), [Goldring / Woldenberg Institute of Southern Jewish Life](/source/Goldring_/_Woldenberg_Institute_of_Southern_Jewish_Life)

1. [Wilshire Boulevard Temple: Our History](http://www.wbtla.org/pages/the-temple-pages/our-history)

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