In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Louisville. — At a meeting of the congregation Adath Israel, held Feb. 13th, it was resolved to adopt your minhag for this congregation. A committee of five were appointed to secure means to defray the expense for establishing a choir forthwith. Thus Louisville has first stepped forward to embrace the opportunity of uniting with you in regard to a minhag, and we hope that the other Western congregations will follow our example.
Editor’s Note: The minhag mentioned here is what would eventually become Minhag America. It would later be adopted by the majority of Reform congregations in much of the US. Minhag America was published in 1857, though it was surely being distributed and used in congregations, such as Congregation Adath Israel in Louisville, before that date.
— January 23, 1855
150 Years ago
Foreign Record
– A Jewish journal, called “Glad Tidings,” has been commenced in Calcutta; it is published every Friday, and is printed in the Arabic language and Hebrew characters.
– Price Bismark has given orders for lists to be drawn up, showing the proportion of Protestants, Roman Catholics, Jews and professors of other creeds, in each electoral district of Prussia.
– A few weeks ago there died at Farth, Bavaria, the chief rabbi, Dr. Loewy, Chevalier or the Order of Merit of St. Michael, first class. The deceased was one of the first Jewish reformers in Germany.
– Baron Meyer De Rothschild, whose death was announced last week, belonged to the English branch of the family, and was one of the head of the great banking firm. He was for a long time member of the House of Commons and a great society man. Considering his means his charities cannot be termed liberal.
– The Jewish school at Botuschan (Roumania) has been relieved from its financial difficulties, so that its expenses for the year 1874 have been insured. The school is of great advantage to the Jewish poor in the districts, and its discontinuance would have materially influenced the moral and intellectual welfare of many Jewish children in Roumania. The happy result is greatly owing to the exertions of the President of the Vienna Israelitish Alliance and the Consul Peixott.
— February 20, 1874
125 Years ago
Jottings
– It was probably perfectly proper for the Right Rev. Leighton Coleman, Bishop of the diocese of Delaware, to open the Jewish charity ball at Wilmington, but still it seems to us possibly just a little incongruous.
– Statistics from the leading cities of Germany and Austro-Hungary show that marriages between Jews and Christians are becoming less rare every year. More general social intercourse is considered to be the predisposing cause.
– According to the Jewish Voice, the annual deficits of every Jewish congregation in St. Louis are increasing. That this condition of affairs should exist in a city having so large and prosperous a Jewish community is to be wondered at.
– There is only one anti-Semitic paper in London and that is the Daily Mail. The Jewish World is not anti-Semitic, it is only anti-Jewish. We only wish to caution American papers not to take the Daily Mail as an authority on anything reported in that paper concerning Jews or the Dreyfus affair.
– New York’s spasms of morality are occasionally amusing. Her latest effort is to fine or imprison the proprietors of delicatessen shops for selling and delivering cooked food on Sunday. To enjoy the humor of the situation it must be remembered that the demand which they supply is almost entirely caused by the custom of housekeepers giving servants their Sunday out and ordering the supper from delicatessen shops.
— February 23, 1899
100 Years ago
Criticism.
There is no truer test of a man’s qualities for permanent success than the way he takes criticism. The little-minded man can’t stand it. It pricks his egotism. He “crawfishes.” He makes excuses. Then, when he finds that excuses won’t take the place of results, he sulks and pouts. It never occurs to him that he might profit from the accident.
Jottings
– The Federation of Jewish Religious School Teachers will be in session at Harrisburg, Pa., February 21 – 24. An elaborate program has been prepared extending over four days.
– During the month of December, 1923, 383 immigrants arrived in Palestine in addition to 37 former residents returned, making a total of 420. Among the immigrants there were 173 men, 113 women and 97 children.
– The newly elected Jewish members of the British Parliament were permitted to keep their heads covered while taking the oath of office. The Old Testament was used for the ceremony. Major Brunel Cohen, who lost both legs in the World War, attracted particular attention as he sat in the front bench while signing the roll.
– The Central Administrative Board of the Independent Order B’nai B’rith, at a meeting here voted to aid members of the Order who are suffering as a result of conditions in Germany. An immediate appropriation of $2,000 was voted and the President, Adolph Kraus, was authorized to spend an additional similar amount if required.
— February 21, 1924
75 Years ago
Rabbi Louis Feinberg of Cincinnati Mourned; Summoned at Age of 62
Rabbi Louis Feinberg, spiritual leader of Avondale Synagog (Adath Israel) Congregation for the past 31 years, died in Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati Sunday morning, Feb. 29th, at the age of 62. He had been ill since Friday evening. He was one of the most widely known figures in Conservative Judaism in the nation.
“Ice Follies” To Open At Cincinnati Garden
Fast moving comedy is given a place of honor among the 27 acts and sequences of the “Ice Follies of 1949,” the Shipstads and Johnson production to be presented as the first major stage show at the new Cincinnati Garden, Seymour Avenue at Langdon Farm Road, Cincinnati, March 16th-22nd.
Such famous comedy artists as Frick and Frack, Dick Rasmussen, Bill Cameron, Les Hamilton, Carlos Romero, Jr., Virginia Morrison and Ed Dunigan re included in the cast of 167 expert skaters being brought to the Garden.
This is the 13th annual edition of the ice extravaganza.
While there will be plenty of comedy, there also will be all the elements of a beautiful spectacle, highlighting championship figure skating, pageantry, beauty and grace.
An original musical score by Larry Morey, known for his association with the Walt Disney Studios, is an innovation.
— February 24, 1949
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Albert R. Kohn cordially invite their friends and relatives to worship with them at the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Karen Ann, and to attend a Kiddish in her honor following the services. Saturday Feb. 23, at 10:45 a.m. at Temple Sholom. 3100 Longmeadow Ave.
Karen is the granddaughter of Mrs. Benjamin Kohn, Jackson Heights, N.Y., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry Hachen formerly of Cincinnati.
Bar Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Morris A. Barron are proud to announce that their son, Robert H., will be called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Feb. 23rd, at Congregation Rodeph Shalom in Philadelphia, Pa.
Robert is the grandson of Mrs. George Newburger of Palm Beach, Fla., and of Mr. George L. Sturm of Cincinnati and the late Mr. and Mrs. Hyman Berkowitz.
His maternal great grandmother is Mrs. David J. Joseph Sr. of Cincinnati.
– Mr. and Mrs. Ronald J. Goret are happy to announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Stuart Alan, Saturday, March 2, at 9 a.m., at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddish immediately following the service.
Stuart is the grandson of Mrs. Sam J. Wilson and the late Mr. Sam J. Wilson and Mr. Nathan B. Goret and the late Mrs. Nathan B. Goret.
— February 21, 1974
25 Years ago
Food writers Shapero and Rosenberg to spice up Israelite
By Brian Meyers
Assistant Editor
“It’s with great pleasure we welcome these two writers to our staff,” said Ted Deutsch, Israelite publisher. “They will be instrumental in helping us with our plans as we expand the paper.”
The newest addition to the staff of The American Israelite are food writers Barbara Rosenberg and Julie Shapero who will be working with food editor Zell Schulman to add more culinary spice to the paper.
Both Rosenberg and Shapero are members of the International Association of Cooking Professionals. Their articles will appear on a regular basis.
Kaplan named director of JFS
Joel B. Kaplan, who has worked at Jewish social service agencies across the nation for 25 years, has been named executive director of Jewish Family Service effective March 1., according to Hank Schneider, president of the JFS board of directors.
— February 25, 1999
10 Years ago
Damaged scroll keeps memory alive: HUC-JIR service to tell the story and honor Memorial Scrolls Trust
A Torah scroll, once an integral part of the worship of Czech Jews and now among the treasures of the Cincinnati Skirball Museum, will once again be the center of a worship service at the Scheuer Chapel on the campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, 3101 Clifton Avenue, on Tuesday, February 25, at 10:15 a.m. The worship service commemorates the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Memorial Scrolls Trust, which brought the scroll to the Skirball, located on the campus of the College-Institute.
Abby Schwartz, interim director of the museum, will speak about what the scroll means to the College-Institute during the worship service, and will dedicate a new text panel to be placed near the scroll in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Memorial Scrolls Trust.
“The Nevlekov Torah is a remnant of a Jewish community that was lost. Its presence here gives us the opportunity to cherish and appreciate its history,” says Schwartz.
— February 20, 2014
