Leon Spitz

Rabbi Leon Spitz (1891-1959) was notable for his work in establishing Conservative congregations. Spitz grew up locally and was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary. During a break from his work as a WWI chaplain, he was asked to come home to organize what became the Emanuel Synagogue, the first introduction of Conservative Judaism to Connecticut. He was also assigned to set up Conservative congregations in numerous other eastern communities. Spitz was an ardent Zionist and officer of the Zionist Organization of America, the American Jewish Congress, and the Connecticut/Rhode Island division of United Palestine Appeal.

Rabbi Spitz was a prolific author of historical fiction for children and adults. Most of this collection is comprised of manuscripts and copies of his publications. There is also a notable letter dated 1923 from Mordecai Kaplan in which Kaplan mentions the criticism he has been receiving for his approach to Judaism. Kaplan suggests that he and his supporters would all be better off to say that they are neither Reform nor Orthodox but rather a third party.