In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
To Rev. I. M. Wise:
Reverend Sir, — It becomes my pleasant duty to inform you that, at a meeting of the “Hebrew Young Men’s Literary Association” of Baltimore, held 25th inst., you were elected by a unanimous vote to honorary membership thereof, which I am hoping you will accept.
I remain your obedient servant,
Aaron Friedenwald,
Rec. Secretary of H.Y.M.L.A.
Thanking our friends for the kind attention bestowed on us, we accept the honor, and wish them the right spirit of progress, moderation, and love of science. We are aware that the society contains so many active and well instructed men that our humble cooperation can be of little consequence to them; still we offer our services to the society.
— November 3, 1854
150 Years ago
Local and Domestic
– George G.S. Judah has opened the Phoenix, a first-class hair-dressing and shaving saloon, and invites his friends and patrons to come and see him, No. 273 Vine Street, west side, near Seventh Street and they will be promptly waited on.
– Mrs. Hannah Stix, of Cincinnati, having received the highest vote (2886) as Directress of the Orphan Asylum, ought to be made President of that institution, and Mrs. Ullman, of Louisville, Vice-president, for she has the next highest vote (2693). Mrs. Stix, we think, will not run in opposition to Mr. Abraham Aub, who is doing his work quite well, and so things will be amicably settled.
Foreign Record
– A Jewish gentleman was murdered in his own house at Magdeburg a few weeks back. The populace was so exasperated at the outrage that, if the police had not arrived in time, the murderer would have undoubtedly been subjected to the justice of “lynch” law.
– According to a Vienna paper, the late Baron Anselm de Rothschild has bequeathed a sum of money for the establishment of a synagogue, in which services are to be held in accordance with orthodox rites.
— November 6, 1874
125 Years ago
Jottings
W.H.M. Christie, Astronomer Royal at the Greenwich Observatory, has officially announced that the twentieth century begins January 1, 1901. This should definitely settle the question.
– The organizers of “Hebrew” political clubs should be marked in every community and made to suffer for their iniquity in every possible way. Men who make merchandise of their religion to gain office are of necessity rascals, and should be the last to be placed in positions of trust.
– The first Hebrew Dictionary in Hebrew, after the classical time, we believe was written by the chief rabbi of the Provence in France. His name was Jehuda Aryeh. He was the son of Zebi Hirsch, a Rabbi of Krotoszyn. The name of the book is Oholai Shem. The copy before us, seemingly a second edition, was published in Jesniz by Israel Abraham in the year 1719. The author was a philosophical philologue. Encyclopedists should take notice of this.
– The fair for the benefit of the building fund of the Jewish temple at Indianapolis netted over $5,000.
– As a result of a factional quarrel as to who should be the Rabbi in an orthodox congregation at New Haven, Conn., the police had to be called in to preserve order at a wedding, at which Rabbi Jacob Frommer and Cantor Cohen both insisted on officiating, the latter having been invited to do so.
— November 9, 1899
100 Years ago
Jottings
– To what extent the Ku Klux Klan influenced the elections on Tuesday remains to be seen. That the activities of that outlaw order reach a climax in the last days of the campaign there is no question, neither is there any doubt, that both the Klan and those who profited by its favor will be held to strict accountability by the law of the land and the demands of public opinion.
– The Ku Klux riots at Niles, Ohio, last week, in which a hostile organization known as “The Knights of the Fiery Circle” engaged, while disgraceful in the extreme and indicating an utter disregard for law and order on both sides, was nevertheless handled with exceptional promptness and intelligence by all concerned, from Governor Donahey to the Sheriff of the County. When it became evident that there was danger of rioting in its worst form, militia was promptly dispatched and succeeded in quelling the riot and dispersing the mobs before any more serious damage had been done than the wounding of a number of participants. The only one upon whom discredit falls, so far as the accounts go, is the Mayor of Niles, who for reasons of his own, permitted the Ku Klux to parade in large numbers and declined a similar request from their opponents. That he erred in granting the request was plain to the citizens of Niles, who protested even to the Governor, but that the Mayor should have disappeared when the rioting began places him in a very ugly position, particularly since the Governor had preciously warned that he would be held to strict account if any trouble came because of his unwise acts.
Editor’s Note: The riot in Niles actually resulted in the Mayor’s house being bombed due to his approval of a permit for the Klan parade. The riot lasted for 18 hours. While the Israelite reports that the militia responded promptly, martial law was actually instituted in the town for ten days after the event. According to the city of Niles’ website, 104 people received riot related indictments.
Protest Against Balfour Declaration
Jerusalem (JTA) — The 2nd of November, the Seventh Anniversary of the Balfour Declaration establishing the Jewish National Home in Palestine and guaranteeing that “nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine” will be observed by the members of the Moslem Christian Association as a day of protest. The Arab Executive issued a proclamation calling on the Arabs of Palestine to strike, to gather in the mosques and churches and to cable their protest against the Balfour Declaration to the Mandates Commission of the League of Nations now in session at Geneva.
— November 6, 1924
75 Years ago
Dr. Leo Baeck again is at the HUC as a visiting professor
Dr. Leo Baeck, often characterized as one of the greatest living Jews, has returned to Hebrew Union College for his second year as Efroymson visiting professor in theology.
Sharett Says Israel Needs Immigration
Tel Aviv (JTA) — “The fate of Israel hinges upon the fate of immigration,” Foreign Minster Sharett declared this week at a Mapai meeting in Ramat Gan, near here.
“We are compelled to saturate the country with people,” in preparation for any emergency, the Foreign Minister said.
It is difficult to asses the repeated reports of a “second round” of warfare predicted by the Arabs, he added, “but it is most obvious that every minute is most precious to us. Our power and our nation must be increased.”
Something New! Sunday
Morning Sr. Basketball
Men interested in playing basketball on Sunday mornings are urged to contact the Jewish Center Athletic office and register as soon as possible. Teams will be formed within the next few days to play at HUC Gym starting at 10 a.m. every Sunday.
All Jewish Center members over 19 years of age are invited to participate. Captains will be announced soon and teams will be chosen before Dec. 4. Don’t be left out; nows’ the time to sign up.
— November 10, 1949
50 years ago
Bureau of Jewish Education to Offer Incentive Grants
In an effort to promote more effective teaching in religious schools, the Bureau of Jewish Education is initiating a program of teacher-initiated experimentation that will provide incentive grants for creative experimentation with new concepts, instructional materials or classroom techniques, the announcement was made by Dr. I.C. Sharon, president, and Max Frankel, executive director.
Mr. Frankel said, “There is, perhaps, no greater priority in religious education today than the need to find more effective ways to reach and instruct our youth.”
Financed by a special allocation from the David F. Weston Special Purpose Fund of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, this innovating program will attempt to search out the creative teachers in our community to provide them with a tangible incentive for experimentation and for development of new instructional materials and approaches, and to encourage them to share the results of their experimentation with other teachers through publication of their work and participation in teacher workshops. Teachers in all Jewish schools in Cincinnati have been invited to submit proposals.
— November 7, 1974
25 Years ago
Parshat inspires zoo outing
On Sunday, Oct. 17, the Religious School of Beth Israel Synagogue in Hamilton took a field trip to the Cincinnati Zoo. This program was in conjunction with Parshat Noach, the Torah portion for Saturday, Oct. 16. The students were accompanied by parents, grandparents, and other members of the synagogue.
In the spirit of the story of Noah’s Ark, the students were given a list of questions to answer about various animals they would encounter at the zoo. Following a picnic lunch, the children were quizzed by Rabbi Eric Slaton on their answers.
Although the day was gray and cold, everyone enjoyed and learned from their visit to the zoo.
— November 11, 1999
10 Years ago
President Obama reappoints Dr. Gary P. Zola to key administration post
On Thursday, October 23, 2014, President Barack Obama announced his intention to re-appoint Dr. Gary P. Zola, Executive Director of The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and Professor of the American Jewish Experience at the Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), to the key Administration post Zola has held since 2011 as Member, Commission for the Preservation of America’s Heritage Abroad. The President also announced his intention to reappoint members Herbert Block and Dr. Richard Weisberg to the Commission.
“These fine public servants bring a depth of experience and tremendous dedication to their important roles,” said President Obama. “I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”
The Commission—an independent agency of the Government of the United States of America—is directed by law to fulfill two primary functions:
1. To identify and report on cemeteries, monuments, and historic buildings in Eastern and Central Europe that are associated with the heritage of U.S. citizens, particularly endangered properties, and
2. To obtain, in cooperation with the Department of State, assurances from the governments of the region that the properties will be protected and preserved.
— November 6, 2014
