Sigmund Hecht

Sigmund Hecht (1849–1925) was a Hungarian-born American Reform rabbi. An immigrant to the United States, he served congregations in Alabama and Wisconsin before serving as the fifth rabbi of Congregation B'nai B'rith, the oldest synagogue in Los Angeles, California, from 1899 to 1919.

Early life Sigmund Hecht was born on August 1, 1849, in Hlinik, Hungary. His father was named Moritz Hecht. During that time, he established a Sunday school. He paved the way for more fundraising and established programs for women and young people. He also oversaw the move of the Jewish cemetery from Chavez Ravine to the Home of Peace Memorial Park in East Los Angeles. In 1916, he trained Edgar Magnin, who went on to serve as the rabbi of B'nai B'rith from 1919 to 1984.

He wrote Post Biblical History: A Compedium Of Jewish History from the Close of the Biblical Records to the Present Day (for the Home and Sabbath School), published by the Bloch Printing Company / the American Jewish Publishing House in 1896.

Death He died on June 27, 1925. He was seventy-six years old. His papers are kept at The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives in Cincinnati, Ohio.