14 Facts About Tobias Geffen

Tobias Geffen served as the leader of Congregation Shearith Israel in Atlanta, Georgia, from 1910 to 1970.

Tobias Geffen was born on August 1,1870, in the Lithuanian city of Kaunas.

Tobias Geffen was ordained by Rabbis Tzvi Rabinowitz of Kovno and Moshe Danishevsky of the Slobodka Yeshivah.

Tobias Geffen immigrated to the United States in 1903 and became rabbi of New York's Congregation Ahavat Zedek in New York City.

Tobias Geffen was successful in uniting the community in Canton, but had some health problems.

Tobias Geffen's doctor recommended he move to a warmer climate.

Tobias Geffen organized the first Hebrew school in Atlanta in his own home, as the synagogue could not support a full school.

Tobias Geffen was the leader of the Southern division of the Union of Orthodox Rabbis.

Since he lived in Atlanta near The Coca-Cola Company's headquarters, Tobias Geffen received many inquiries from rabbis across the United States inquiring whether Coca-Cola was kosher and whether it was kosher for Passover.

Tobias Geffen asked the company for a list of the beverage's ingredients.

Tobias Geffen was provided with the Coca-Cola formula, a closely guarded trade secret, on the condition that he not disclose the formula.

Tobias Geffen discovered that one ingredient was glycerin produced from tallow from non-kosher beef.

Tobias Geffen convinced the company to substitute a vegetable-based glycerin.

Satisfied that Coca-Cola's ingredients were kosher, Tobias Geffen issued a responsum in 1935 that Coca-Cola was kosher for year-round consumption.