In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Foreign Intelligence.
Turkey. — The administrators of the Jewish community at Constantinople have decided on sending unleavened bread, meat, and wine to the French soldiers at the Crimea, for the feast of Passover.
— April 20, 1855
150 Years ago
Items
– It has been demonstrated by observations in mines that the temperature increases at the rate of one degree Fahrenheit in every 50 or 60 feet in depth.
– London is ahead. It has more Jews than Palestine, more Scotchmen than Edinburg, more Irish than Dublin, more Catholics than Rome, and more thieves than Chicago.
Foreign Record
– A public funeral was accorded last week to a Jewish military veteran named Gans at Witzenhausen, near Cassel. The deceased, who was 87 years of age, took part in the war for freedom in 1813. The funeral was attended by a large gathering of people, and the cortege, which was headed by the 83rd Regiment of the Line and by a detachment of the members of the Rifle Association, proceeded through several streets in the town. A funeral oration was delivered at the grave and the service concluded with the firing of three salvos.
– A London Telegraph correspondent states that the number of Jews residing in the Russian Empire (including the Kingdom of Poland), is 2,325,000. The Jews are only allowed to live in certain parts of the realm, except if they have received university degrees, or attained the position of merchants of the first guild. Certain privileges of residence are also given to students and artisans. An effort is being made to throw open the whole of Russia for the settled residence of Jews; but this question which is now before a Government Commission is opposed by the Slavophilist or ultra-national party. Jews can be householders (except in peasant villages) but not land owners.
— April 16, 1875
125 Years ago
Jottings
– The Tampa, Fla. Jewish congregation has increased considerably in numbers recently and is considering the advisability of engaging a Rabbi.
– “The Original Harris Cohen, No. 2,” a New York Baxter street clothing merchant, celebrated the wedding of his daughter by dividing among his employees the profits of his sales on that day.
– The authorities of the Pasteur Institute at Paris have decided henceforth to give the sick and convalescent under their charge only Palestine wines grown in Jewish colonies in the Holy Land.
– At Omaha, Neb., Rabbi Abraham Simon celebrated the “Seder” on the eve of the first day of Passover at the Metropolitan Club; forty young people, members of the Sabbath-school of Temple Israel, participated.
– At Louisville, Ky., Mrs. Solomon Goldstein is lying in a critical condition as the result of being struck on the head by a stone thrown through the window by Albert Meeker, a young ruffian who had a few moments before been expelled from her husband’s store for using offensive and profane language.
— April 19, 1900
100 Years ago
Jottings
– England is still on the way to disarmament. In the budget for the coming year it is proposed to spend for the army, navy, and air forces only six hundred million dollars. The total expense for all government purposes is to be over four billion dollars, which is more than the proposed expense for the same time of the United States.
– The Clericals who are now attempting to dictate legislation at Washington and at the various state capitals do not want religious liberty which would give all religious equality before the law. What they want is Protestant superiority and domination, and more especially control of the public schools. Conservative Protestantism or Fundamentalism, as it is now called, is unquestionably losing ground in the United States. Having failed by persuasion, preaching and threatening hell-fire to bring the majority of the people into the churches, they are now trying to use force. Finding that gentler means do not serve their ends they are now resorting to “the big stick.”
– As time passes it is becoming more and more clearly evident that the elimination of Trotsky from the Society Government was a misfortune for Russia. For all Trotsky’s communistic fanaticism, he possessed sufficient Jewish good sense to learn from experience what was and what was not possible, and to discontinue attempts to do what was impossible. His successor or successors have not this good judgement, with the result that they are still trying to do the impossible, and naturally the country is going from bad to worse. The reports to the contrary that are being sent abroad are untrue. They emanate from official sources and are intended to induce foreign capitalists to invest in Russian enterprises. The foreign investors are, however, not permitted to enjoy the fruits of their enterprise. As soon as they become profitable they are put under such regulations that are in effect confiscatory. Russia is a good country for foreign investors to keep out of and will be until a radical change in government takes place.
— April 16, 1925
75 Years ago
Avondale School Strawberry Festival
Above are the officers participating in the “Strawberry Festival” which will be held at the Avondale School on Thursday, April 20, from 4:30 to 10 p.m. From left to right they are Mrs. Joseph Goldberg, treasurer of the festival; Mrs. Chester Swillinger, general chairman; Mrs. Herman Ronsheim, president of the PTA, and Mrs. David Galinkin, personnel chairman.
One of the features will be a vaudeville show starring pupils of the school. In addition there will be games of all kinds, a Mickey Mouse circus and a merry-go-round.
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Schwartz, of 7345 Parkdale Avenue, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Howard Kenneth, Saturday, April 29, at the Louis Feinberg Synagogue.
Howard Kenneth is the grandson of Mrs. Max Schwartz, of 874 East Mitchell Avenue.
— April 20, 1950
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
– Our daughter, Amy, will celebrate her Bas Mitzvah on Saturday morning, April 19, at 10:45 at Isaac M. Wise Temple at Eighth and Plum Streets. We cordially invite our friends to worship with us and to join us for Kiddish following the services.
Amy is the granddaughter and Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Weber, of Baltimore, and Mrs. Walter Marmer and the late Walter Marmer, of Cambridge, Md.
Donna and Mel Marmer
– Dr. and Mrs. Nathan Polasky are very happen to announce the forthcoming Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Cynthia Rebecca, on Friday, April 18, at 8:15 p.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Rds.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to attend the services and the reception immediately following.
Cynthia is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Laufer and Mrs. Ben Polasky and the late Mr. Polasky.
Bar Mitzvah
– Dr. and Mrs. Arnold Peck are happy to announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Allan Lawrence, on Saturday, April 26th, at 9 a.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddish following the services.
Allan is the grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Aaron Peck of this city and the late Mr. and Mrs. Morris Schucalter of Baltimore. He is the great grandson of Mrs. Anna Peck of Miami Beach.
– We are pleased to announce the Bar Mitzvah of our son, Scott Alan, on Saturday, April 19, at 9 a.m., at Agudas Israel Synagogue, 6442 Stover Avenue, Golf Manor. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and to join them for the Kiddish following the services.
Scott is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jack I. Weiss and the late Mr. and Mrs. Sam Goldman.
-Joy and Len Goldman
– Our son, Steven Robert, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah Saturday morning, April 19, 1975, at 9 a.m., at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
We cordially invite all our friends and relatives to join us for services and Kiddish following.
Steven is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Kirschner of Cincinnati and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Negin of Mansfield, Ohio.
An open house reception will be held in Steven’s honor on Saturday evening, April 19, 1975, from 8:30 p.m. at the Inn of the Williamsburg Apartments, 200 W. Galbraith Road.
Please join us for this happy occasion. Absolutely no cards.
Leonard and Loni Kirschner
— April 17, 1975
25 Years ago
Yavneh Seventh Grader to Compete at State Writing Competition
Jared Goldfarb, seventh grade student at Yavneh Day School, is one of the thirty-two seventh graders from the Southwest region of Ohio selected to compete in the “Power of the Pen” statewide competition. The creative writing competition will be held at Dennison University on May 26.
Approximately 600 students participated at the district level, including twelve Yavneh students. Five Yavneh students were among the 300 students invited to participate at the state level. The top finalists at the Dennison competition will be published in the annual literacy magazine, “Power of the Pen.”
“I am really excited to compete in a statewide tournament,” commented Jared, who is the son of Beth and Dr. Richard Goldfarb of Montgomery. “It is fun to write in a competitive atmosphere. I have always liked writing.” Jared, who will continue next year at Yavneh’s middle school as an eighth grader, says that he plans to continue writing in high school. “I will try out for the writing teams at Sycamore,” he said.
— April 20, 2000
10 Years ago
Jewish Family Service delivered more than just food for Passover
Seven–year–old Hayden Zimmerman and her mom Susan Zimmerman spent their afternoon delivering Passover food and warm smiles to Jewish Family Service clients during the 17th annual Dr. Samuel S. Rockwern Passover Delivery of Jewish Family Service project March 29, 2015.
“Happy Passover,” said Hayden as she handed Sergiu, a Passover recipient, a boxed filled with matzah, matzah ball soup mix, macaroons, gefilte fish, horseradish, Passover candy, grape juice, nuts, apples, and a chicken dinner. Grateful for the food and company, Sergiu and his wife Svetlana invited Hayden and Susan into their home where they spent more than a half hour sharing stories about life, gardening, grandkids, and bunnies.
Hayden and Susan were two of 134 volunteers that helped deliver more than 400 meals to families unable to afford the high cost of Passover food across 41 zip codes in the greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky area. This project was started by a group of dedicated volunteers in 1998.
— April 16, 2015
