Newspaper advertisement for kosher meat being sold by Rabbi Alkow, The Ogden Standard, Thu., July 30, 1914.

Rabbi Samuel Alkow was the first recorded rabbi of Ogden’s Jewish congregation from 1914 to 1917. It is uncertain if Rabbi Alkow was fully in charge of activities for Congregation Brith Sholem, as he collaborated with congregations in Ogden and Salt Lake during his time as a rabbi in Utah. Rabbi Alkow was a teacher in the Hebrew language and theology, as well as a director of Congregation Montefiore in Salt Lake City.[1]

From 1914 to 1917, The Ogden Standard reported that Rabbi Alkow held High Holy Jewish services, such as the Day of Atonement, also called Yom Kippur, on September 29, 1914.[2] Rabbi Alkow also held services for Rosh Hashanah in September 1917. Since the congregation’s synagogue was not constructed yet, these services, like Rosh Hashanah in September 1917, were held in Knights of Pythias Hall and the Fraternity Block in Ogden.[3]

Shortly after holding services for the Jewish New Year during September 1917, Rabbi Alkow enlisted in the army to become a chaplain. According to The Ogden Standard, “[Rabbi Alkow] concluded that his field in the army would be broadened and well served since there are so many young men of Jewish faith now enlisted.”[4] No other rabbi replaced Samuel Alkow until April 1919.