author
David de Sola Pool
1885–1970
A leading Sephardic rabbi in the United States, he spent nearly five decades guiding New York’s historic Congregation Shearith Israel. His writing and public work helped connect Jewish tradition, scholarship, and civic life in the 20th century.
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About the author
Born in London in 1885, David de Sola Pool became a British-born American rabbi, scholar, author, and civic leader. He is widely remembered as a major Sephardic Jewish voice in the United States, and his long career placed him at the center of religious and communal life for generations.
In 1907, he went to New York to serve Congregation Shearith Israel, the oldest Jewish congregation in the United States. Over the years, he became especially associated with its leadership and with the preservation and interpretation of Sephardic Jewish tradition in America.
Beyond the synagogue, de Sola Pool was known for writing, scholarship, and public service. He remained an influential figure in Jewish life until his death in 1970, remembered for combining learning, leadership, and a strong sense of community responsibility.