Isaac Leucht

Who was Isaac Leucht?

Isaac Leucht was a Reform Rabbi and communal leader in New Orleans. He was the last rabbi of Congregation Shangarai Chasset before it merged with Congregation Nefutzot Yehudah to become what is now the Touro Synagogue.

In 1868, Leucht arrived in New Orleans to serve as Shangarai Chasset's cantor. When James Gutheim, who was the rabbi at that time, left the synagogue to assume a position in New York, Leucht took over as the rabbi as well. He held those positions through 1872, when he left to become the cantor at Temple Sinai. After a yellow fever outbreak killed Shangarai Chasset's rabbi and cantor in 1879, Leucht returned to Shangarai Chasset. Two years later, Shangarai Chasset merged with Nefutzot Yehudah. Shortly thereafter, the synagogue was renamed in honor of their earlier shared benefactor Judah Touro.

Under Leucht's leadership the synagogue further adopted the innovations of Reform Judaism that Gutheim introduced. According to the Touro synagogue website, in 1881, the second-day observance of the holidays was dropped; in 1889 Shabbat morning worship was abbreviated to "last not longer than one hour including the sermon"; in 1891 the congregation decided to allow worship with or without covered heads, depending on how long one had been a member. It was also in that year that the synagogue joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.