Shmuel Yankel Goldstein

Shmuel Yankel Goldstein was born into a religious family in Zabludow, Poland, in the late 19th century. Growing up, much of Shmuel’s life revolved around his faith. Eventually, around 1890, he became the lead rabbi in his hometown in the Russian Empire. His synagogue was home to many Jews throughout the Russian Empire. Problems arose, however, with the rise of pogroms in Russia. Shmuel’s synagogue was constantly the target of Antisemitic protests. In fact, Shmuel’s synagogue fell victim to what is generally regarded as the most lethal pogrom, the pogrom in Bialystok. The increasing violence of the pogroms, especially during the Russian Revolution led Shmuel to immigrate, along with his family, in the early years of the 20th century. Shmuel was one of the earlier orthodox rabbis who arrived in America during the wave of Jewish immigration. He and his family immediately moved to Atlanta, Georgia and Shmuel began working as a horse trader. Despite his change in profession, Judaism remained a key part of his family’s values. After scraping up enough money through his profession with horses, Shmuel began working as a dentist in Atlanta. It was through his career in dental care that Shmuel became a very prominent member among the Atlanta Jewish community. He began to travel all over the United States, eventually settling back down in Atlanta and having 7 children. He eventually passed away in 1951 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Quinn KorachJuly 10, 2018