Israel de Lieben was born in Bohemia, which is now a part of the Czech Republic. Sometime prior to 1774, he moved to Charleston, South Carolina, where he became a certified kosher butcher. He was also one of the founders of the Supreme Council of Scottish Rite Freemasonry, which is a subset of the Freemasons. He died in 1807.
The Coming Street Cemetery in Charleston, South Carolina was established in 1762, making it the oldest Jewish cemetery in the American South. The cemetery is owned by the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue. It contains over 600 grave markers, most of which are from the late 18th century and the early 19th century.
Sources
“Coming Street Cemetery (U.S. National Park Service).” National Parks Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, 17 May 2019, www.nps.gov/places/coming-street-cemetery.htm.
“Frequently Asked Questions.” Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, S.J., U.S.A., Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, 20 Nov. 2018, scottishrite.org/about/questions/.
Keyser, Samuel Bar Isaac. “Samuel Bar Isaac Keyser Kabbalah.” Collection: Samuel Bar Isaac Keyser Kabbalah | The Center for Jewish History ArchivesSpace, Center for Jewish History, archives.cjh.org/repositories/3/resources/2713.
Sarah–
I love that you picked this stone from Charleston, which used to be one of the major Jewish communities in the colonies that would become the United States. (At one point it was larger than New York!) I am curious what you think it means that he was a kosher butcher and a freemason. Also what do you make of the style of the stone? Thank you for putting in the link on your page!
best,
Laura