Career
He was the last rabbi of Congregation Shangarai Chasset before it merged with Congregation Nefutzot Yehudah to become what is now the Touro Synagogue. In 1868, Leucht arrived in New Orleans (from Baltimore) to serve as Shangarai Chasset"s cantor. When James Gutheim, who was the rabbi at that time, left the synagogue to assume a position in New York, Leucht took over as the rabbi as well.
He held those positions through 1872, when he left to become the cantor at Temple Sinai.
After a yellow fever outbreak killed Shangarai Chasset"s rabbi and cantor in 1879, Leucht returned to Shangarai Chasset. Two years later, Shangarai Chasset merged with Nefutzot Yehudah.
Shortly thereafter, the synagogue was renamed in honor of their earlier shared benefactor Judah Touro. According to the Touro synagogue website, in 1881, the second-day observance of the holidays was dropped.
In 1889 Shabbat morning worship was abbreviated to "last not longer than one hour including the sermon".
In 1891 the congregation decided to allow worship with or without covered heads, depending on how long one had been a member. lieutenant was also in that year that the synagogue joined the Union of American Hebrew Congregations. The Jewish Community of New Orleans credits Leucht for his ecumenical ties to the non-Jewish community, also listing his service as president of the Louisiana Red Cross, and Commission of Prisons and Asylums as examples.
Leucht"s brother Joseph also found employment as a rabbi and cantor, first in Baltimore"s Hebrew Congregation, where his father-in-law, Rabbi Abraham Rice was rabbi, then later as rabbi of Temple Bnai Jeshurun in Newark, New Jersey.
