In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Missionaries Wanted.
Wanted a dozen, or so, of zealous and active missionaries, to convert the members of the British Parliament to Islamism, Buddhism, Lamaism, Brahmanism, or any other ism. It is merely intended to save their poor souls from the church of England, and the intolerance connected with this outworn establishment.
— July 15, 1854
150 Years ago
Items
– People are getting irreligious. No new prayer-book has been made last year.
– The New York Sun reaches us regularly the next day after its publication in New York. The spirited sheet is always welcome in this office.
– There are now in this country Jewish orphan asylums in New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, New Orleans, and San Francisco; but we have no resorts for widows or old men, except one in New York.
– It is so intensely hot here that ideas are turned into gas and disappear before they can be put on paper; banking accounts dry up as wells do in the country; ready-made sermons melt to incoherent and aqueous fluids; creditors and debtors melt together in one mass, and the Ohio River rises by the streams of sweat pouring into it. That comes from the comet, they say, although they known not exactly what a comet is.
Editor’s Note: The comet mentioned here may be “The Great Comet of 1874” which was visible throughout the summer of that year. It was also called “Coggia’s Comet,” and was discussed prolifically in newspapers such as the Israelite, the Omaha Daily Bee, and others throughout the world.
— July 17, 1874
125 Years ago
Thanks, Very Much
The American Israelite has just entered upon the forty-sixth year of its existence, and its German mate, Die Deborah upon the forthy-fifth. None of us can be so selfish as to deny these two contemporaries their due need of praise. They have certainly done noble work I the cause of Israel in this country and, candidly, we would sooner see two-thirds of all Jewish American papers go out of existence, than even one column of The American Israelite, whose identification with the rise and progress of Judaism in the United States and Canada is undisputed. The half-century mark of our esteemed contemporaries will soon be reached and we hope and pray to see then a their head the venerable editor, Dr. Isaac M. Wise. To the enterprising publishers, Messrs. Leo Wise & Co, we beg to express our best wishes and the assurances of our good will. — Jewish Voice.
Jottings
– Mr. H. Kibitshek of Charlton, Iowa, sends us $1 for the Hebrew Union College.
– Incendiaries attempted to destroy the Jewish synagog in Kingston, N.Y., Saturday morning, but were unsuccessful.
– A course of Hebrew has been instituted at Stanford University. Prof Henry H. Haynes, instructor in Semitic languages at the divinity school at San Mateo, will give instruction three hours in the week throughout the year.
– George Cohen, 26 years old, was shot at Keene, a small town near Louisville, Ky., July 16, by Ed Shelton. He is probably fatally wounded. The shooting arose over a saucer of ice cream, which both men claimed. Shelton is under arrest.
— July 20, 1899
100 Years ago
J.T.A. Expands
The Jewish Telegraphic Agency has opened a branch office in Los Angeles, under the management of Ellis Ranen, formerly head of the Jewish Department of the Foreign Language Information Service, for the purpose of better serving the press of the Pacific region. Service has been commenced by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency to El Diaro Israelite of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Jottings
– Congress is not easily discouraged. It keeps on passing laws in an effort to find some that will work. — Steubenville (Ohio) Herald-Star.
– Literary circles in Austria and Germany suffer a serious loss in the death, at Prague, of Mr. Franz Kafka, a young poet of great promise. The deceased was very popular in Prague, where he resided, and his work was highly esteemed.
– The Israelite’s Denver contemporary has discovered a more elegant way of putting it. It no longer announces that a couple were married, but puts it: “nuptial vows were exchanged.”
– Three of those who were tried in a Leipzig court for an attempt to throw bombs from an airplane on the Frankfort synagog were found guilty. Two of them were given imprisonment for seven years, and the third for six years.
– The first Tunisian film — with Tunisian actors and scenery — was produced recently. It is called “Ain El-Ghezal,” and the author, director, and producer is Samama-Chikly, a Jew. The principal actress is his daughter, Mlle. Haydee Chikly, a girl of seventeen. The palaces of the Bey of Tunis figure in the film, having been photographed by special permission of the Tunisian ruler, who himself appears in the film.
Editor’s Note: The Beys of Tunis were the ruling family in Tunisia until 1957.
— July 17, 1924
75 Years ago
In a Lighter Vein
The life of an editor these hot summer day might be a happier one still if he did not have to concentrate on the conventions our Jewish organizations are in the habit of holding in the summer, as if conspiratorially. We read the reams of publicity that pour forth from these meetings. You, good reader, are spared the trouble of consuming the ocean of words.
Mark Twain once said everyone is talking about the weather but no one has done anything about it. Everyone is talking about Jewish conventions these days — at least 10 of them were held last week — but no one can do anything about them.
We have a prize-winning suggestion: the formation of a Jewish convention clearing house that would advise our organizations when, where and at what time to hold or not hold their conventions.
Social and Personal Notes
– Mr. and Mrs. Cyril L. Slesnick and family have left for a vacation of several weeks in northern Minnesota.
– Mr. an Mrs. Louis Stillpass, their daughters, Beverly and Phyllis, and Miss Marcia Kelbanow, have returned home from a vacation at the Shelburne Hotel, Miami Beach, Fla.
– Mr. and Mrs. Louis T. Block are in Bermuda, where they are established at the Princess Hotel.
— July 21, 1949
50 years ago
2 UC Students Harassed by Soviet Police
Two UC students say they were taken into custody and searched by Soviet secret police July 11 after attendance at a Kiev party given by a Jewish film director about to emigrate to Israel.
Sheldon Benjamin of Canton and Miriam Rosenblum of Cleveland were detained 2 1/2 hours but were released a half hour before their tour group left Kiev.
The two are co-chairmen of the Cincinnati Union of Councils of Soviet Jews. Miss Rosenblum’s father is chairman of the national body.
Bike Safety Inspection Is Being Held Today at Gold Manor Pool
Golf Manor Pool is the site of a bicycle safely inspection for the 17th year on Thursday (today) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The program is co-sponsored by the Sheriff’s Patrol and Coca-Cola Bottling.
The program was initiated in 1949 by former Sheriff Dan Tehan, the need for such a program increases yearly.
Bicycle sales have been booming in this period of scarce energy.
“We expect more and more people to take the two-wheelers this summer, especially for recreational purposes, explains Col. Daniel F. Wolfangel, commander of Hamilton County Sheriff’s Patrol.
Besides a physical check of bicycle equipment, each rider receives a quick verbal test of safety rules, a reflective registration sticker (to aid in recovery of stolen bikes), and the Ohio State Highway Patrol bicycle rule book.
All tests are free and voluntary. Participants each receive a cold bottle of Coca Cola. Boys and girls with perfect Ikes and a good understanding of safety rules will be awarded cartons of Coke and will become eligible to compete in the All Hamilton County Bicycle Championships, to be held Saturday, Sept. 21, at Coney Island.
— July 25, 1974
25 Years ago
Chesley meets with Clinton, Gore, Barak
By Ben Rosenfield
Editor-In-Chief
Cincinnati attorney Stan Chesley and his wife, Federal Judge Susan Dlott, were guests of President Clinton last week.
Chesley, a board member of the Israeli Policy Forum, met with the Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak in New York, then dined at the White House Sunday night with Dlott and Cincinnatians Gary and Kim Heiman. Chesley met with Barak a second time Tuesday at Vice President Gore’s home.
“I’m encouraged that Barak is totally committed to the peace process. That includes Palestinian issues, Syria, and Lebanon.”
Jewish Federation of Cincinnati hosts Summer Family Mission to Israel — attendance higher than ever
“The 1999 Summer Family Mission was an unprecedented success,” said mission co-chairman Barry and Nancy Gibberman.
According to Shelly Shor and Michael Gerson, approximately 60 people participated in past family missions.
“Taking 99 people to Israel on this mission in 1999 was really a wonderful achievement,” they said.
— July 22, 1999
10 Years ago
Rockdale Temple to honor long-standing members
KK Bene Israel, Rockdale Temple, the oldest continuous Jewish congregation west of the Allegheny Mountains, will honor its roster of long-standing members (of 45 years or more) at the July 18th Shabbat Service.
Rabbis Coran and Kahan are pleased to honor this group of sustaining members who live the credo characterizing Rockdale as the place where its members are valued and where values matter.
Wise Temple members help Cincinnati homeless
Over 50 Wise Temple families will participate in the mitzvah of helping Cincinnati homeless families at Wise Center and make it a temporary home where families from the Interfaith Hospitality Network can eat, sleep and play for the week beginning July 20. Wise’s IHN Co-chairs, Deb LaFrance and Peggy Markstein, will coordinate the volunteers, some who have been helping with IHN for over 20 years. The Sisterhood chair, Julie Levine will coordinate Sisterhood members for Monday, July 21 and Mark Levine will coordinate Brotherhood members for Thursday, July 24.
As they do 5 times each year, during the week of July 20 – 28, Wise Temple volunteers will convert religious school classrooms into bedrooms, complete with beds, nightlights and curtains, so that homeless families can stay together, in private rooms, while waiting for permanent housing. Congregants bring hot, home-cooked meals for dinner each night and, in addition, provide breakfast and lunch throughout the week. Many families come with children to socialize with the IHN guests during the evenings.
Summertime is an especially good time for Wise Temple volunteers of all ages to help out with socializing with the IHN families in the evenings. If the weather is nice, the children can use the backyard play set and playground for outdoor activities of all kinds. Volunteers are encouraged to bring jump ropes, chalk, basketballs, pets, or other outdoor activities.
— July 17, 2014
