Collection Guide
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Cohn (Rabbi Morton J.) Collection
MS-0561
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Table of contents
Contributing Institution:
Special Collections & University Archives
Title: Rabbi Morton J. Cohn Collection
Creator:
Cohn, Morton J.
Identifier/Call Number: MS-0561
Physical Description:
26.76 Linear Feet
Date (inclusive): 1925-1990
Language of Material:
English
.
The collection consists of materials collected from Cohn's school days until his death. Included are correspondence; over
2000 sermons; plays; personal documents; photographs and materials relating the various congregations he served. There are
scrapbooks and newspaper clippings regarding both Cohn and his wife Sally and current events, index cards, pamphlets, research
notes and plaques.
This collection is open for research.
The copyright interests in these materials have not been transferred to San Diego State University. Copyright resides with
the creators of materials contained in the collection or their heirs. The nature of historical archival and manuscript collections
is such that copyright status may be difficult or even impossible to determine. Requests for permission to publish must be
submitted to the Head of Special Collections, San Diego State University, Library and Information Access. When granted, permission
is given on behalf of Special Collections as the owner of the physical item and is not intended to include or imply permission
of the copyright holder(s), which must also be obtained in order to publish. Materials from our collections are made available
for use in research, teaching, and private study. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including
but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials.
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Identification of item, folder title, box number,
Rabbi Morton J. Cohn Collection, Special Collections and University Archives, San Diego State University Library.
Rabbi Morton Jacob Cohn was born January 12, 1910 in Detroit, Michigan and was ordained as a reform rabbi in 1934. After serving
pulpits in various cities, he enlisted as a Navy Chaplain during World War II with the Southern Pacific Fleet and continued
in the Naval Reserve for many years. In 1946 he settled in San Diego where he became rabbi of Congregation Beth Israel and
remained there until 1964 when he left to found Temple Emanu-El, whose religious school bears his name.
Rabbi Cohn was meticulous in preserving anything relating to his career, the San Diego Jewish community, Judaism and currents
events involving Jews, making his collection a comprehensive picture of San Diego Jewish life during his almost 50 years here.
As rabbi of the largest Jewish congregation in San Diego, he was a formidable leader in the Jewish and secular communities.
He was one of three rabbis, (Cohn, Levens, Stern) who lead the San Diego Jewish community from the years after WWII until
the 1970's. He was very involved in interfaith activities, gave a weekly radio sermon, created and participated in musical
parodies for holidays, rabbinical conventions and special occasions. He maintained a card catalog of life cycle events at
which he officiated and a bibliographical file of research materials. Part of this collection is material regarding his wife,
Sally Cohn, who was very involved in women's groups and the sisterhoods of the congregations Cohn served. She started the
San Diego Women's Association for the Salk Institute. They had two children Jane and Morton Cohn Jr. Rabbi Cohn died in 1991;
Sally Cohn died in 1994.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Jews--California--San Diego
Congregation Beth Israel (San Diego, Calif.)