SephardicTemple.org
About SephardicTemple.org
As a precursor to the history of the Sephardic Temple Tifereth Israel in Los Angeles, it should be noted that Sephardic Jews were in the city as early as 1853 albeit for a short time. Two of importance were Solomon Nunes Carvalho, a photographer and artist who previously was a member of the Fremont Expedition to California in 1853 and Samuel K. Labatt a retailer in dry goods. In 1876 David d'Ancona made a brief trip to Los Angeles. He wrote in his diary, "Los Angeles is the Damascus of America."
