In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Foreign Intelligence
Frankfort. — Herman Goldshmid, the Jewish astronomer who discovered the planet Lutetia, Nov. 15th, 1852, and another one in 1854, is strange to say, a passionate painter, this being his usual avocation, and astronomy his favorite amusement.
Editor’s Note: The “planet” Lutetia discussed here was actually an asteroid, as was Mr. Goldschimd’s 1854 discovery. Goldscmid actually discovered 14 asteroids in total and was awarded the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society for his work in this field. A crater on the moon is named in honor of him.
— March 23, 1855
150 Years ago
Office Hours
From and after this date, Dr. Wise will be in this office daily, Sabbath excepted, from one to four o’clock p.m., but must not be interrupted in his private study except by personal friends or official business, a he has to attend to a piece of work of particular importance. Letters to reach him personally must be marked “private.”
Items
– The Italian government, it is stated, has realized about $96,000.000 within the last eight years from the auction-sale of confiscated church property.
– The fine of $5,000 imposed upon the sender of a scurrilous postal card in New York the other day ought to save as a lesson the world over.
– The destitution in New York City is said to be appalling. Never in the history of that city has there been such a constantly increasing army of homeless, unemployed ones.
– An eminent foreign physician asserts that the drinking of coffee invigorates and improves the sight, and renders unnecessary the use of spectacles, while he considers the use of chocolate injurious to the vision.
– Two girls attending a seminary in Illinois set two chickens fighting in their room last Sunday. Bets on the result ran high, and at the conclusion of the contest the winning maiden was “better” by a gold watch, a pair of silk stockings, a French corset, two rolls of false hair, a patent bustle, and a beautiful book mark with “Christ Our Guide” worked on it in colored silk.
— March 19, 1875
125 Years ago
Jottings
– As far as can be learned by comparison of estimates, there being no religious consensus, the number of Jews in London is approximately 100,000.
– Rev. Louis Reynolds, Rabbi of Temple Beth Zion at Bradford, Pa., has resigned his position and will become a law student at the University of New York, He is 29 years of age.
– At Pueblo, Colo., contracts have been let by Temple Emanu-El congregation (Reform) for the building of a new temple, to be completed July 1, 1900, at a cost of $10,000. Rabbi Harry Weiss is in charge.
– At Omaha, Neb., the congregation has given a tangible expression to its satisfaction with the ministration of Rabbi Abram Simon by unanimously voting him a substantial increase of salary, though the first year of his term of office has not yet expired. The compliment is enhanced by the fact that Rabbi Simon’s predecessor was Rabbi Franklin, who was both able and popular.
– According to reports published in the daily papers last Sunday, it has been found necessary in Holland to place two hamlets, Appletern and Mansbommel, in the Netherlands, provinces of Gueldern, under martial law to put a stop to human sacrifices. It appears that a Baptist sect has managed to construe some passage in Scriptures as commanding the killing of all children who were baptized before reaching the age of understanding and proceeded to murder the innocents, and a heretic or two, incidentally. As these places are near Castle Het Loo, the Queen’s residence, the authorities feared that these fanatics might take into their heads to try to reform her majesty, so they suppressed their manifestation of religious zeal most summarily.
— March 22, 1900
100 Years ago
Jottings
– At a dinner given in Philadelphia on March 5th by Albert M. Greenfield in response to a plea of Rabbi Stephen S. Wise and others, $50,000 were subscribed to the fund for the maintenance of the Jewish Institute of Religion, of which Dr. Wise is the acting President. The largest single donations were made by Mr. Greenfield and Jules E. Mattbbaum, who contributed $10,000 each.
– Friends and counsel of Esther Kaplan, who has been living in the United States for ten years with her father and mother and two brothers, all American citizens, not facing deportation on the ground that she is feeble-minded, are planning to make a last appeal to Secretary of Labor Davis for permission for her to remain. “Under the statute the Secretary of Labor has absolute power in her case and can allow her to remain here. Here is one of the most pathetic cases that has ever come before the Supreme Court, Louis Marshall stated.
– Mrs. Rose Gluck man of Bayonne, N.J., has made a $500,000 gift in real estate. It is to be used to establish and maintain, under the aegis of the United Hebrew Congregations of Bayonne, a home for aged Jews. The gift includes Mrs. Gluckmans’ residence and all the property held in trust for her under he husband’s will. Isaac Gluckman, who made his money in real estate speculation and the hardware business in Bayonne, died March 19, 1915. In his will he instructed executors of the estate, valued then at nearly $1,000,000 to hold the property in trust for Mrs. Gluckman and to pay her the entire income. At her death the property was to be given to whatever charitable institution Mrs. Gluckman might designate in her will.
– The United States leads in divorce. These divorce rates may be contracted with those of other countries. In Switzerland, where divorce is as easy to obtain as it is in the United States, there is only one divorce to every sixteen marriages. In other countries the divorce ration is still lower. In France, there is one divorce to twenty-one marriages, in Denmark, one to twenty-two, in Germany, one to twenty-four, in New Zealand, one to twenty-four, in Norway, one to thirty, in Sweden one to thirty-three, in Great Britain one to ninety-six, while our neighbor, Canada, has only one divorce to one hundred and sixty-one marriages.
— March 19, 1925
75 Years ago
Leader Optimistic in Combined Drive of Reform Groups
Early reports on the city-wide Combined Campaign for the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of religion and the Union of American Hebrew Congregations indicate that Cincinnati’s goal of $45,000 will be oversubscribed, according to Herbert R. Bloch, a national campaign chairman and leader of the Cincinnati drive.
Mr. Bloch is a vice chairman in Cincinnati with Co-Chairman Robert P. Goodman, a member of the UAHC Board and its former president.
The national goal is $1,875,000.
On Short-Wave
Jewish Agency sponsored short-wave broadcasts in the English language, beamed daily to Europe in North Africa, may be heard in the United States under favorable conditions, from 5 to 5:30 p.m., New York time, on a wave length of 33.3 meters or 9,000 kilocycles.
Stoves, Clothing, Furniture Needed Appeal Emphasizes
“Cold weather, fuel shortages and the resulting employment situations have brought more people to Cincinnati Goodwill Industries for children’s and adults’s shoes and clothing than the Goodwill Industries have been able to supply,” Goodwill Industries, Court and Plum Streets, announced today.
“Everyone is requested to go through his or her home from basement to attic, select shoes and clothing that can be worn by children or adults, and call MA 5623 to ask a Goodwill truck to pick up contributions.
“The Goodwill Industry repair shops need furniture for every room of the house.
“The public is urged to make a complete check of furniture in there house the they do not need, and call MA 5623 any hour of the day or night. The need cannot be over emphasized.”
— March 23, 1950
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
– Andrew (Andy) Pastor will celebrate his Bar Mitzvah Saturday, March 22, at 9 a.m., at B’nai Emunah Synagogue, Tulsa, Okla.
He is the son of Dr. snd Mrs. Stanley Pastor of Tulsa; grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Pastor of Cincinnati, Mrs. Sadie Cohen and the late Mr. Harry Cohen, of Dallas.
– Mr. and Mrs. Neil Schaeffer cordially invite you to worship with them at the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Jeffrey Scott, on Saturday, March 22nd, at 10:45 a.m., at Rockdale Temple, a Kiddish will follow service.
Jeff is the grandson of Mrs. S. Becker, and Mr. and Mrs. B.H. Schaeffer.
Teen Drama Classes Scheduled for Center
Two teen drama classes will be taught this spring at the Jewish Community Center of Cincinnati by Mrs. Marcia Weiland, local actress and director. Tomorrow is the final day for registration for the eight-week series, which begin April 13, according to Mrs. Dale Busch, director of the JCC’s Theater Department.
Mrs. Weiland will teach informal, improvisational techniques in acting, mime, movement, and make-up. The classes are limited to 15 students who are Center members. The fee is $12. Interested persons should call Dale Busch at 761-7500.
— March 20, 1975
25 Years ago
Linda Gradstein, NPR Reporter, speaks to 500
By Joan Porat
Contributing Writer
National Pubic Radio reporter Linda Gradstein is more often heard than seen, but approximately 500 people caught her “live” at Adath Israel Congregation on Feb.24 when she addressed the topic, “Jerusalem: Will the City of Peace be an Obstacle to Peace?” Gradstein’s strength lies in making complex Middle East issues comprehensible and thought-provoking regardless of her listeners’ level of knowledge.
She had arrived with strep throat directly from Israel just hours earlier, but nevertheless articulate delivered her fourth annual Middle East update in Cincinnati with the same “haimish” (warm) qualities her fans have grown to enjoy. Her lecture was co-sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, WVXU’s “Simply Money” and Adath Israel.
— March 23, 2000
10 Years ago
Cincinnati Chapter of Hadassah will hold its annual Hadassah Education Day
Cincinnati Chapter of Hadassah will hold its annual Hadassah Education Day on Sunday, March 29, 2015 at 2:00 p.m. in the Teller Lounge at Hebrew Union College, 3101 Clifton Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45220-2404. This year’s topic is “Jewish Women at Work: Achieving Success in Male- Dominated Industries”. Feel free to exchange business cards.
Bobbi Handwerger is Hadassah Education Day Chair, and committee members are Sandra Berg, Sharon Casper, Jamie Dalin, Bea Goodman, Tracy Levine, Gilda Schwartz, Karen Silverman and Bonnie Juran Ullner.
The Keynote speaker will be Cheryl Bogenschutz, the Director of Strategic Engagements for itelligence, Inc., an SAP consulting company. Cheryl has been in IT leadership positions in the Cincinnati area for over 30 years. Her IT career has spanned a variety of industries including Paper, Automotive and Retail. She currently serves on the IT Advisory Boards for the University of Cincinnati, Xavier University and Miami University.
— March 19, 2015
