2005-Joseph S. Mannasse gravesite as it appeared during a visit in 2005 to the Home of Peace Cemetery on Imperial Avenue, west of Interstate 805.
Joseph Mannasse List of honorees Louis Rose Society Jewishsightseeing home
Writings about Joseph S. Mannasse
Undated —Smythe, William Ellsworth, biographical sketch of
Joseph Mannasse, http://sandiegohistory.org/bio/manasse/manasse.htm
-1922-
September 20, 1922—1) Adolph Levi, "Our Growth," The
Jewish Community News, page 6: ...About 1862, a few men residing in Old Town
(now North San Diego) started a congregation called Adath Jeshurn. The leading
spirits of that congregation were Marcus Schiller, J.S. Mannasse, Louis
Rose, Rudolph Schiller and I. J. Asheim, all men whom it was my privilege to
know. Services were held principally on the holidays at one ofthe residences,
very often at the home of Marcus Schiller, who was president of the
congregation. In 1869, when our city (downtown San Diego) was laid out and
people began to come here, the congregation also was moved to the new city which
was rapidly growing up. About the year 1886, the name of the congregation was
changed to the one it now bears, Beth Israel....
2) L.A. Blochman, "The Congregation As I Knew It," The Jewish
Community News, p. 7: Through the dim and hazy past stand forth fond
memories that sometimes make us wish that we were young once more, and wonder if
all of our vaunted progress is real, or even desirable. As we ponder on the days
gone by, when San Diego was only a large village, and we reflect on Judaism as
we then knew it, our feelings are commingled with pleasures and regrets. When we
think of the leaders of the Jewish community of those days, forever past, all of
them gone to the great beyond, all of them who worked untiringly and unselfishly
for the good of Jewry, none of them asking or expecting gain or pay, all of them
working for the benefit of all. Those were the days of real Judaism. Those were
the days when all of the Jews of San Diego were united by a bond that made them
one great family. The sorrows and joys of anyone of them were shared by all.
There were no orthodox, and no reform, no clans or sets, no Zionists, no
cliques, no mutual admiration bunch, not even a Rabbi, but all were Jews, all
were friends, everyone was ready and willing to help the other. Harmony
prevailed and joy and contentment reigned—Oh that those happy days might
return once more. Those Purim parties where we danced the good old waltzes and
polkas and after the dancing came the eats, and such eats! The platters piled up
with turkey and duck and chicken, and those salads, and the home-made cakes that
everyone vied with the other to see who could make the best. Yes, those good old
souls are gone, and their children, sad to think about, scattered and some even
worshipping other gods. When memories come to them of the happy days of old, we
wonder if some time regrets do not linger near. Then the holidays and the fast
days. When the Jews of the town gathered together in some hall, and Joe Mannasse
furnished his Torah and Marcus Schiller and Luis Mendelson read the
prayers and A. Blochman, Simon Levi, Rudolph Schiller and others assisted, and
year after year all of the Jews met together, some times in one hall and some
times in another. Then came the "boom" and the village grew into a
town and we dreamt of a Temple of our own. As usual the Jewish women came
to the front, and held a great fair. The Gentiles as well as the Jews came
forward with donations of funds and goods and the banks and wholesalers were
solicited and made the building of uur present Temple a possibility. That
was thirty-five years ago and a few, a very few, of those original workers still
belong to our congregation. And then through the efforts of my Mother, a Jewish
Sunday School was started. Then a Rabbi was secured, and the Congregation
progressed. Afterwards came hard times, alternated by good times, and the ups
and downs of the community were reflected in the congregation. One Rabbi
succeeded another. Some times we had none. Our membership was drifting and
transient, but the few old faithful and old reliables kept the organization
together, and now as we look back at the annual Jewish Charity Ball, which was
one of the Social events of the City and how it was waited for by Jew and
Gentile alike, and compare it with our present day affairs, we are prone to ask,
Have we Jews progressed? With all our petty jealousies, conceit and bickerings,
with our differences and separations, is the Judaism of San Diego the City,
equal to the Judaism of San Diego the village?
-1952-
February
22, 1952—Myron Lustig, "The History of the San Diego Jewish
Community, Part II," Southwestern Jewish Press, pages 1, 2.
-1974-
Summer 1974—Schwartz, Henry, "The Uneasy Alliance:
Jewish-Anglo Relations in San Diego 1850-1860," The Journal of San Diego
History 20:3 (Summer 1974) http://sandiegohistory.org/journal/74summer/alliance.htm
-2005-
2005-Joseph S. Mannasse gravesite
as it appeared during a visit in 2005 to the Home of Peace Cemetery on Imperial
Avenue, west of Interstate 805.
-2006-
February
1, 2006—"Photo Essay: January 29, 2006 Jewish Tour of Old
Town San Diego," Louis Rose Society Newsletter, Vol. 2, No. 2
2006-05-17—Donald H. Harrison, "Restoration of
Casa de Bandini wins support from religious, ethnic groups," jewishsightseeing.com
2006-05-27—Donald H. Harrison, "A Star of David button is intriguing find at historic site." jewishsightseeing.com
2006-06-20—Bruce Coons, "Help save San Diego's early history!" jewishsightseeing.com
2006-06-27—Donald
H. Harrison, "Adobe ruins at Stagecoach Park
reminders of 'Wild West' period." jewishsightseeing.com