In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
The Israelite is no sectional paper, neither in regard to parties or localities. It is printed in Cincinnati; but it is the paper, at this present day, of Jews living in two hundred and fifty cities, towns and villages. — Editor of the Israelite.
— January 19, 1855
150 Years ago
Local and Domestic
– If Mr. M. Keyser or Daniel Stern will give us his address we will fill his orders.
– Cleveland, O. — The Star Literary Society, an organization consisting of young Israelites, held its first anniversary ball recently, so we are informed by a correspondent, and in accordance with his request duly chronicle the important fact.
– Our readers in Cincinnati will receive their papers by mail, as the carrier made any amount of mistakes. If our direction is not exact enough, please let us know. Many, we are afraid, will receive no paper this week, because they did not subscribe in this office. We beg them to send us their addresses.
Foreign Record
– From a report presented by the Burgomaster of Vienna, it appears that of every 100 Catholic children born in that city in 1873, no less than seventy-three were illegitimate. Among the Protestants the proportion was thirty six in every 100; and among the Jews twelve in every 100; thus conclusively proving that the standard of morality is considerably higher among the Jews than it is among the Christians.
– The Sultan of Turkey has accorded to the Jews of Crete the right of being represented in the General Assembly of that Island, held every year at Canea, and which was hitherto composed solely of Turks and Greeks. The Jews immediately availed themselves of their new privilege and elected as their representative one of their own body, a member of the local Committee of the Alliance. Renouf Pacha, Governor of Crete, has promised that Jews shall speedily be represented in the local tribunals.
— January 15, 1875
125 Years ago
Jottings
– The first letter mentioned in the Bible is that of King David written to Joab (2 Samuel 12), sent to him by the unhappy Uriah.
– An antiquarian in Florence, Italy, succeeded lately in finding a complete copy of the Bible in five volumes, printed in Rome1471-72, which contains a complete copy of the commentary by Nicolaus de Lyra (died 1340), which guided Martin Luther in his translation of the Bible. A short time ago a similar copy was sold for 22,000 crowns.
– The Socialistic Congress in Paris adopted unanimously the following resolution by M. Brunetiere: “The Universal Socialistic Congress declares its contempt of the anti-Semites and so-called Nationalists, and cautions all working men against all forms of reaction.” This resolution banishes anti-Semitism from the laboring class in France and Belgium anyhow, perhaps also in Germany and Germanic Austria, Vienna excepted, where common sense is nearly defunct.
– The people of the United States can be reasonably certain that every boy and girl educated in the public schools (barring criminals) will grow up a patriotic citizen, who will give his country the very first place in his heart. With children educated in private schools, there is always room for doubt.
– When State Agent Wittier visited the penitentiary at Stillwater, Minn., last month, he remarked that Jews were conspicuous there by their absence.
– Miss Minnie Swarts, the pretty 18 year old heroine, who saved the lives of several firemen by her courage and presence of mind at a fire in New York where fifty of them were overcome by smoke and gas, was publicly thanked by Commissioner Scannelli and Fire Chief Croker and presented with a suitable set of resolutions. She refused a purse of bank notes which the Commissioner offered her.
— January 18, 1900
100 Years ago
Dedication of Hebrew Union College Dormitory
January seventeenth will be a Red Letter Day for the Jewish women of America. On that date the Dormitory of the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati will be dedicated. This building is a gift to the institution from the Jewish women of this country, to whom credit for the entire financing for the erection of the building is due.
Elaborate preparations were made for the celebration. Several thousand Jewish women from all parts of the country are expected to attend the exercises.
The new building adjoins the main administration building of the College and the spacious gymnasium erected by Mrs. J. Walter Freiberg as a memorial to her husband who was for many years president of the Union. The gymnasium building has a swimming pool and complete athletic equipment. Sound bodies there will be that are to dwell in the imposing L-shaped building of red brick and stone. Hospitality is in the very air of the large, inviting living room beyond the entrance doors. There is a red brick fireplace where logs will snap and crackle, and the fenders glow.
The dedication of the dormitory building has been timed so that it will coincide with the Biennial Convention of the Sisterhoods and the Union. The question of maintaining the Dormitory will be a topic of outstanding importance at the Sisterhood conference.
Jottings
– The Muscle Shoals scheme of Henry Ford was withdrawn from Congress, but Ford has not withdrawn his interest, no matter what representations are made to that effect. Every plan to deal with this great project should be tested by but one consideration — the interests of the government.
– Sir Johnson-Hicks, the British Home Secretary, has abandoned his brilliant scheme to have all of the aliens now in England appear before him and prove that their residence is not against the interests of the Nation. Discretion has been the better part of valor in this instance. It is not at all unlikely that the proposed law to register aliens in this country has some such scheme lurking in the background.
— January 15, 1925
75 Years ago
Plum Street Temple Rededication and Dinner Set for This Sunday
The Wise Temple Congregation will hold its 108th annual dinner Sunday, Jan. 22 at 7 p.m., at the Hall of Mirrors, following services marking rededication of the Plum Street Temple at the latter Temple at 5 p.m. the same day.
The dinner has been moved from the Cincinnati Club to the Netherland Plaza Hall of Mirrors because of heavy reservations.
Mrs. George Rosenthal, chairman, announces the numerous hostesses have been most active and are very encouraged by all the responses.
The rededication service at the Temple, Eighth and Plum Streets, at 5 p.m., is open to the public and friends. A list of distinguished guests and speakers was announced last week. Everyone is invited.
Dr. Jacob R. Marcus Completes 30 years on the HUC Faculty
Dr. Jacob R. Marcus, the Adolph S. Ochs professor of Jewish History at the Hebrew Union College, is completing his 30th year as a professor at that institution.
Dr. Marcus is president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, which will convene in Cincinnati this summer. He also is chairman of the Public relations Committee of the Cincinnati Jewish Community Council; director of the American Jewish Archives, and chairman of the publications committee of the Jewish Publication Society.
He is a widely known author and lecturer. His books include “The Rise and Destiny of the German Jew”; “The Jew in the Medieval World” and “Communal Sick-Care in the German Ghetto.”
Bar Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Jack Fishberg, of 1318 Ryland Avenue, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Alan Charles, Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Bond Hill Minyan, Beth Am Building.
– Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Schreibman, of 2950 Glendale Avenue, Detroit, and formerly of Cincinnati, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Paul Louis, in Detroit, Saturday, Jan. 28, at the Northwest Hebrew Congregation.
Paul Louis is the grandson of the late Mr. and Mrs. Paul Schreibman of Cincinnati.
— January 19, 1950
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
– Mrs. Libby Klein of Cincinnati and Mr. Jack Klein of Clarksville, Tenn., announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Louis Jeffrey, on Saturday, Jan. 25, at 10:45 a.m. at Plum Street Temple, Eighth and Plum.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddish following the service.
Jeff is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Lewetch and Mrs. Ruth Klein and the late Mr. Louis Klein.
– Dr. and Mrs. Nate Fairman proudly announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Harry Meyer, on Saturday, Jan. 25th, at 10:45 a.m., at Temple Sholom, 3100 Longmeadow Lane.
Harry is the grandson of Mrs. Lottie Fairman of this city and the late Mr. Meyer Fairman and the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry L. Brodie, of Philadelphia.
Friends and relatives are invited to worship with the family and join them for the Kiddish following services.
— January 16, 1975
25 Years ago
Yavneh pre-school part of Early Childhood Showcase
Yavneh Pre-School, in Kenwood, is one of the more than 40 schools which will take part in the Early Childhood Showcase, formerly the Early Childhood Education Fair, which is now in its eighth year.
Mary Lee Sirkin, who heads up the Pre-School program at Yavneh noted that the school has participated each year because it feels it is great way to communicate with a wide population of young families. Both parents and teachers have a chance to evaluate a variety of programs and educational philosophies, and it is often helpful in attracting new parents to Yavneh.
In fact, this year, for the second time, Yavneh will use the Showcase to publicize a follow-up Open House they will host February 28th at the pre-school.
Yavneh is proud of its educational philosophy, which includes nurturing the Jewish Heritage; students celebrate the Sabbath each Friday as well as all major and minor holidays throughout the year. Another unique aspect of Yavneh’s program is L’dor V’dor (from generation to generation), a weekday class-room visit by a senior who has “adopted,” or been “adopted” by the class. This intergenerational contact has been a very enriching experience for all ages.
— January 20, 2000
10 Years ago
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati announces addition of Kneseth Israel Cemetery
Jewish Cemeteries of Greater Cincinnati (“JCGC”) and Congregation Zichron Eliezer (“CZE”) announced today that Kneseth Israel Cemetery, one of the eleven cemeteries at the Covedale property and previously operated by CZE, has become part of JCGC.
Commenting on the addition of Kneseth Israel to JCGC, David Hoguet, Executive Director, stated, “Kneseth Israel is the first independent Jewish cemetery to join JCGC since we started operating in the fall of 2008 after 22 of the 26 Jewish cemeteries in the area decided to join the organization. JCGC already operates the other ten cemeteries at the Covedale property, so now all eleven cemeteries will be JCGC Cemeteries.”
CZE Rabbi Avrohom Weinrib commented, “We are very pleased to have our cemetery join JCGC. The legacies of those who have passed away are of utmost impor- tance to us, and we know that JCGC will treat our cemetery with the honor and dignity it deserves.”
— January 15, 2015
