In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
To Our Cincinnati Readers. — During our absence from the city, an article appeared in the Israelite, advocating among other reforms the necessity of some reform in our burial usages. The language in which the article was worded, gave offense to some of our friends, and they, of course, honored us with their reply. But at the same time our friends informed us, that they would reply to the rejoinder if the latter was published. Not perceiving the end of this controversy, nor the positive good effected by it, we must respectfully decline publishing, as our readers outside of Cincinnati would not take the least interest in the subject. We must beg our friends to drop the controversy as no positive good can result from it.
— June 29, 1855
150 Years ago
Items
– In England there are 300 different religious sects.
– Her majesty the Queen of Holland has given a donation of one hundred guilders to the Jewish Diamond Workers Orphan Fund, Amsterdam.
– A king of Babylon ordered cremation for his subjects, and built for that practice the first furnace; but Messrs. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego wouldn’t cremate.
– The number of pilgrims who visited the tomb of Mohammed at Mecca this year is said to have been 160,000 and owing to the precautions adopted by the Egyptian government, their health has been unusually good.
– The Rev. J. Jaszkenitz, a Polish preacher in Winona, Minn., has sued thirty-two of his congregation for pew rent. They refused to pay because he called them empty heads in his pulpit, and they claim that the truth should not be spoken at all times.
Foreign Record
– Baron Rothschild is now building a splendid mansion in the Avenue de Marigoy, Champs Elysees, Paris, which is to cost six million francs. It will be the most sumptuous residence in Paris.
– One the ground that the law of equality is extended to the members of every religion, the Municipal Council of Alessandria (Italy) has voted the sum of 4000 francs for the purpose of enlarging the Jewish cemetery.
— June 26, 1874
125 Years ago
– A curious piece of gossip reaches us from New York City, to which, of course, we attach no importance; idle gossips abound everywhere in this world. It is whispered about that it is proposed to appoint our dear and venerable friend, Dr. Gustav Gottheil, as Chief Rabbi of the Polish Russian Congregations of New York, and that the publications in the Yiddische Gazetten of the Rabbi’s portrait and his learned son’s Zionistic speech, recently delivered at Baltimore, is a quiet and shrewd move in that direction. We, of course, do not believe a word of this. Still, some people say it is so, and they ought to be silenced.
– The last of the government’s publications I received is a respectable volume, “Experimental Study of Children” by Arthur McDonlad. The subject is very interesting, and undoubtedly well handled, as we know from former writings of this author. So much the more do we regret that our eyesight gave out, we could not possibly read so poor a print, such small type printed with pale ink on the cheapest sort of paper. It is a disgrace to our country to issue such a piece of work from the government printing office. We are not behind others in typography; but in good government we are far behind, especially as regards culture, art and good taste.
Jottings
– An effort is being made in Washington to have the library, museum, Smithsonian Institute, etc., which are now closed on Sunday, made accessible to the people on that day. Among those who are agitating in favor of the change is Mr. Simon Wolf; a letter presenting this view, address to President Whitman of Columbia College, appears in a recent issue of the Washington Post.
– The “Christian Herald and Signs of Our Times,” of New York, devotes a page to a profusely illustrated and appreciative article not he new home of the United Hebrew Charities, presented to the jews of the metropolis by Solomon Loeb.
– Rabbi Henry Cohen of Galveston, Texas, is visiting relatives and friends in London.
— June 29, 1899
100 Years ago
Jottings
From 1881 to 1923 a total of 1,681,683 Russian Jews entered the United States, an average of nearly 40,000 a year. This average was slightly exceeded in 1923. Under the new law the number will be less than 10,000 a year. The question “Wohin?” Is still to the fore.
Editor’s Note: This jotting is likely responding to the Immigration Act of 1924, which set strict quotas on immigration from Asia as well as Eastern Europe. The immigration quota was set at 165,000, which was an 80 percent reduction from the average immigration that was taking place before WWI. The act, also known as the Johnson-Reed Act, was aimed at keeping the U.S. population as homogenous as possible and was incredibly popular with groups like the KKK. The restrictive act would not be revised until 1952.
– An operation for the purpose of removing the effects of old age, and the transplanting of the gland of a monkey or goat, will in the future be unnecessary. All that will be necessary will be to swallow a tablet containing a desiccated gland and the process of rejuvenation will manifest itself. This latest of medical discoveries is the work of a Chicago Jewish therapeutist, Max Schein, who explained it before the convention of the Physical Therapeutical Association, held there. The convention accepted these miraculous tablets as a result-producing “Elixir of Youth.” It was stated by Schein that the tablets have already been used successfully for the purpose of removing voters, and that they have proven to be better than operation.
Race Supremacy Theory “Bunk”
Scientists Use Them Merely To Defend Their Race Prejudices.
When scientists quote statistics to prove race superiority, they are merely defending the prejudices of their race, is the startling contention of a famous scientist in The Menorah Journal. The anthropological data marshaled in the recent immigration debates to establish the superiority of the Nordic strains to other racial strains is branded as thoroughly blasted and scientifically unsound by Edward Sapir, noted scientific writer and Chief of the Division of Anthropology of the National Museum of Canada at Ottawa. It is of paramount importance to realize that nearly all discussions of racial ability are most powerfully biased by the necessity of the individual ego’s triumph in the end.
— June 26, 1924
75 Years ago
Plan 50 Booths For Festival at Beth Am July 10
A total of 50 booths are being planned for the Beth Am Festival of Sunday, July 10, at the Hebrew Institute and Beth Am grounds at Seymour Avenue and Reading Road, Milton Wacksman, festival chairman, announces.
Just what is Beth Am? The question was answered by an official of the institute in these words:
“The Hebrew Institute Beth Am is a community institution. The school and the numerous educational programs and activities are conducted along traditional precepts of Judaism. The traditional spirit, method and curriculum appeal to every Jew — Orthodox, Reform and Conservative — as traditional Judaism is the fountainhead of Judaism. Traditional Jewish education of the school and its activities make it accepted to Orthodox, Reform and Conservative Jews alike. Beth Am is therefore a true community institution.”
— June 30, 1949
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Donald Dunn are proud to announce the forthcoming Bas Mitzvah of their youngest daughter, Allison Jean, on Friday evening the 28th of June at 8 p.m. at the Northern Hills Synagogue, 715 Fleming Road.
Allison is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin G. Dratch of Cincinnati and Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Dunn of Rochester, New York. Mrs. Rose Pinales of this city is the maternal great-grandmother.
We would be very pleased to have our family and friends worship with us and attend the Oneg Shabbat following the services.
Bar Mitzvah
Barry and Evelyn Schwartz request the honor of your presence at the Bar Mitzvah of our son, Garry Stephen Schwartz, on Saturday, June 29, at 9 a.m., at Golf Manor Synagogue.
The maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Neal Kaffeman. The paternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Joe Schwartz. No cards. Kiddish following.
— June 27, 1974
25 Years ago
JCC kicks off annual Mitzvah Day
More than 300 volunteers from across Cincinnati gathered on May 2 at the Jewish Community Center to kick off the third annual Jewish Federation of Cincinnati Mitzvah Day.
Event Chairmen Lori and Michael Lazarus welcomed the volunteers whose projects stretched from Westwood to Batavia to Mason.
Thirty-five volunteers assembled more than 1,300 Personal First Aid Kids for the American Red Cross. Many groups participated in special projects.
Hadassah Tikvah Group organized a good drive for the benefit of the Free Store Food Bank. Ohav Shalom Religious School collected and delivered personal care products to Mary Magdalen House in Over the Rhine.
The students were treated to an educational program led by a former recipient of services. Yavneh Day School K through fourth grade students and parents performed a variety of mitzvot. The fourth grade Girl Scout Troop assisted Hillel and BBYO with their car wash to benefit their “Feed the Homeless” program.
The Lazarus’ said it was very gratifying to them to see such enthusiasm from the entire community.
— July 1, 1999
10 Years ago
20th annual JCC Adams Classic a huge success
On Thursday, June 19 the Mayerson JCC held its 20th Annual JCC Adams Classic fundraiser recognizing the JCC Early Childhood School at Losantiville Country Club.
Betsy Singer-Lefton, JCC Adams Classic organizer said, “The event was a huge success! We are happy to say that each year the Adams Classic keeps growing. This year we sold out of afternoon golf spots and reservations to the Course of Caterers dinner.” She continued, “We are very happy that so many people are dedicated to supporting the JCC and its important role in the community.”
This year’s tournament included a record breaking 156 golfers, 20 tennis players, 136 sponsors, and over 50 volunteers who made sure the day went smoothly.
“We had an exceptional volunteer planning committee led by Mark Newman and Cory Pollock. They helped plan a record breaking fundraiser,” said Marc Fisher, CEO of the Mayerson JCC. “The Adams Classic is very important to the success of the JCC. The support of the many volunteers and generous sponsors of this event allow us to make a difference at our J and for our entire community.”
— June 26, 2014
