Philanthropist - Judah Touro 1775-1854

Philanthropist - Judah Touro 1775-1854

Though Judah Touro often wished to remain anonymous when he made his donations, it wasn’t an easily kept secret, and he soon became known throughout New Orleans for his generosity. He used his real estate business profits to build cemeteries, synagogues, almshouses, and churches. When sailors were coming down with batches of yellow fever, he helped build an infirmary just for them. Though he gave greatly to causes of his own religion, such as helping open the Jews' Hospital in New York City with a $20,000 donation, he also aided those outside of his faith, as during a New Orleans fund-raising drive for Christians suffering persecution in Jerusalem, he gave ten times more than any other donor. He also gave help on a face to face level, giving $1,500 to a woman who asked for help for her starving children and paying the $900 debt of an alcoholic man with a large family so that the man's children would be spared the separation from their parent. His passing and will left endowments for almost every Jewish organization in New Orleans.

Laura Carter Holloway

1884

Judah Touro - Wikimedia

Link: Judah Touro (via Wikipedia)

Laura Carter Holloway

Laura Carter Holloway

Laura Carter Holloway

Medium: Composite Photograph

English

Figures

Philanthropy

Historic