Leucht, I. L. [Isaac Louis]

Submitted by Mike Miller

Leucht, I. L., well-known Rabbi of New Orleans, was born at Darmstadt, capital of the Grand Duchy of Hesse, Germany, Jan. 25, 1844, son of Nehemiah H. and Johanna (Rosenbaum) Leucht, the latter of whom was born at Zell, near Würzburg, Germany. The mother was a daughter of the noted Rabbi, Mendel Rosenbaum to whose great energy and untiring efforts in behalf of his people is ascribed the emancipation of the Jews in Bavaria. When he had his first interview with King Ludwig I, to whom he represented that on account of the harshness of the laws in their bearing upon the Jewish people hundreds and thousands of them were immigrating to the United States, the king made the historic reply: "I am not Pharoah, to run after them to the sea." However, the Rabbi lived long enough to witness the complete emancipation of his brethren in Bavaria. I. L. Leucht received his early education in the schools of his native city, and upon the completion of his academic studies, entered the Rabbinical school at Würzburg, where he completed the 4-year course of preparation for his life work. In 1864 he came to the United States and shortly thereafter was installed as assistant to Rabbi Hoehheimer of the Eden Street synagogue, Baltimore, Md. July 2, 1868, he came to New Orleans, as assistant to Rabbi James K. Gutheim, whose successor he became 6 months later. In 1882 his congregation in Rampart street joined the Portuguese synagogue, called the "Dispersed of Judah," and Rabbi Leucht was appointed to minister to the united congregation worshipping at Touro synagogue, in Carondelet street, which had been founded by the noted philanthropist, Judah Touro. Ten years later Rabbi Leucht was largely instrumental in building the splendid office in which the congregation of Touro synagogue is now housed at St. Charles and Berlin streets, and where he continued to preside as Rabbi. Politically, he was independent, lending his influence and activities to the support of the progressive and reform faction in any movement for the betterment of conditions. In the course of his labors in Louisiana, Rabbi Leucht filled several important and responsible public positions, having been a member of the state school board through 2 terms, president of the prisons and asylums commission several years, and president of the Red Cross association. Throughout the term of his residence in New Orleans, embracing a period of about 45 years, he was always found ready to give aid, encouragement, and hearty coöperation in all charitable undertakings and to every commendable enterprise, and through his beneficent work in this direction, as much as by reason of his professional abilities, he grew into prominent recognition and esteem among the people with whom his lot was cast. He was president of the Kingsley House organization, first vice-president, respectively, of Touro infirmary and the Jewish orphans' home, and officially connected with many other of the city's most useful and active organizations. April 20, 1869, Rabbi Leucht was married to Miss Mathilde Kahn, whose parents formerly resided at Paris, France. To them were born three children, namely: Mrs. Melvil Israel, Mrs. Charles Rosen, and Emile Leucht.

Note.--Since the above was written, Rabbi Leucht has passed on to his eternal reward. His death caused real sorrow in very many homes of his adopted city, where he was universally mourned by all classes of citizens.

Louisiana: Comprising Sketches of Parishes, Towns, Events, Institutions, and Persons, Arranged in Cyclopedic Form (volume 3), pp. 252-253. Edited by Alcée Fortier, Lit.D. Published in 1914, by Century Historical Association.