Rehine, Zalma

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REHINE, ZALMA

REHINE, ZALMA (1757–1843), merchant and Baltimore communal leader. Rehine was born in Prussia. After his arrival in America, he settled in Richmond, Virginia, and became a storekeeper. In 1793 he helped found the Richmond Light Infantry and served in it until 1800. When Isaac *Leeser went to the U.S. in 1824, he was employed by Rehine who was his uncle. In 1829 Rehine left Richmond for Baltimore, where he organized a minyan and, according to tradition, the first communal religious service by Baltimore Jews took place during High Holy Days in Rehine's home. The first Baltimore congregation grew out of this nucleus.

bibliography:

Occident, 7 (1849), 226–7; 21 (1863), 143–4; H. Ezekiel and G. Lichtenstein, History of the Jews of Richmond (1917), 37–40.

[Isaac M. Fein]