In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Mr. P. Rosenthal. — This gentleman has addressed to us several private letters on different subjects, not falling under his care. We do not know what right he has to trouble us with his opinions which, he ought to know, are after all of very little importance.
We read none of his letters, but throw them into the fire as they come. Let the gentleman spare himself the trouble of writing letters to us. Spare your trouble, gentlemen, you talk and write in vain; your day has gone by in Cincinnati, your sham-piety is exposed, your pretensions to learning are ridiculed, your business has become miserably poor, and you had best pack your bundle and go to some other city. Cincinnati can be humbugged no longer.
— April 27, 1855
150 Years ago
City Items
President of the Board of Aldermen.— At the organization of the Board of Aldermen, Mr. Julius Reis, an Israelite and one of our prominent merchants, was elected President of the Board. This is the highest municipal office ever occupied by an Israelite in this city, being next in rank to Mayor. We congratulate Mr. Reis on the honor which has been conferred upon him, and hope that his example will encourage other of our business men to take part in local politics; we need men of this stamp to rescue our city from the corruption into which it is rapidly drifting.
Items
– Prussia withdraws all State subvention from the Catholic church. If we had been a member of the Prussian parliament, we would have voted so exactly, not just because it is just, nobody will expect justice from a state just emerging from a war of conquest; but because it is a fine political move, to gain just as many votes as there are Catholics in Prussia for the separation of Church and State, and to force Pius IX and his counselors into the path of Democracy, where the Roman Catholic Church must land finally to save itself for a little while. The Catholics of Prussia are no worse off now than the Jews always were, who had to foot the bill for synagogues, schools and charities. Let the Catholics try to get along as well as the Jews did, or as the religious denominations in general do in this country. Let them pay for value received or give up business.
– America will have an Academy of Music in New York. A rich merchant gave them one million dollars for the purpose, and four million more at his death. This will bring the greatest master minds in music to the country, and in a very short time we will supply Europe with new music.
— April 23, 1875
125 Years ago
Jottings
– Prof. S. Mannheimer, Librarian of the Hebrew Union College, begs the readers of the Israelite to send him clippings as well as pamphlets that have reference to the death and memorial services of the late Dr. Wise. He intends to collect as much material as will come into his possession and put it into permanent form, so as to make it available for use by the patrons of the college library.
– The unanimous vote of the members of Mt. Carmel Lodge of Cincinnati, at the meeting last week, by which was carried the recommendation of the committee to subscribe $3,000 to the Isaac M. Wise Memorial Fund of the Hebrew Union College as a tribute to the memory of one of the charter members of the lodge, was a spontaneous act of appreciation of the work and services of the most illustrious of its members. This action will serve, without a doubt, as an impetus to others to take similar steps. Mt. Carmel admonishes her sister lodges and other organizations, as well as individuals throughout the country, to go and do likewise.
– A general moment has been started among the Jewish immigrants from Russia to aid their brethren at home, who are starving in the famine stricken districts of Russia, the situation being worst in Bessarabia and the Person district. The pittance doled out by the government is barely sufficient to maintain life, and even of this the Jews are, as a rule, robbed through the unscrupulous rapacity of local officials. It is to be hoped that the movement will result in the collection of a substantial sum, for help is sadly needed.
— April 26, 1900
100 Years ago
Bible
Press dispatches report that “the friends of the Bible” in the state Legislature have made trades in order to pass the bill making Bible reading compulsory in the public schools.
It is said that “the friends of the Bible” will vote with the enemies of Governor Vic Donkey to override all the governor’s vetoes if the enemies of Donkey will vote for the Bible in schools. The Bible has survived all other outrages that have been perpetrated in its name, and so it is safe to presume that it will not only outlive the latest outrage, but also the little men who make it a football of their politics. — Cincinnati Post.
Jottings
– Thousands of Warsaw Jews marched to the grave of I.L. Peretz, famous Yiddish writer and poet on the tenth anniversary of his death on April 13. Delegations representing various organizations placed wreaths on the grave of the dead poet and Sholom Ash, American Yiddish novelist and disciple of Peretz, delivered an address.
– A noteworthy gift was received by the Jewish Children’s Home of New Orleans, namely, $10,000, from Miss Lena Adler, in celebration of her seventieth birthday. Miss Adler was herself a graduate of the Home.
– President Coolidge has accepted an invitation to deliver an address at the ceremonies May 3 in connection with the laying of a cornerstone for the new Jewish Community Center building at Washington.
– In New York City, Temple Emanu-El held special services in memory of Isaac M. Wise. Rabbi H.G. Enelow paid a glowing tribute to his achievements, and spoke on his contribution to modern Judaism in America. In his opinion Rabbi Wise was universally regarded as the outstanding Jew of his generation, although is achievements are not fully recognized by the present generation.
— April 23, 1925
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
– Our son, Scott Stephen, will be called to the Torah to celebrate his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, May 3, 1975, at 9 a.m., at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads. A Kiddush will follow services.
An open house reception will be held in Scott’s honor on Saturday, May 3, 1975, at 7:30 p.m., at our home, 9999 Walnutridge Court.
We cordially invite you to attend.
Scott is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Harry B. Meit, Louisville, Ky., and the late Mr. and Mrs. Max M. Goldberg, also of Louisville.
Kitty and Jerry Meit
– Mr. and Mrs. Lee Schimberg are pleased to announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Daniel Arthur, on Friday evening, May 2, at 8:15 at the Valley Temple.
Daniel is the grandson of Mrs. Helen Isay Smith of Cincinnati, Mr. Archie Schimberg of Chicago, Mrs. Harold S. Goldberg of Boston, and the late Mr. Goldberg.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family and join them for the Kiddush following the service.
— April 24, 1975
25 Years ago
Mini Maccabi to be held at Yom Ha’atzmaut Community Celebration
“In anticipation of this summer’s J.C.C. Maccabi Games to be held in Cincinnati this August, we will be paying tribute to the spirit of the games by holding a Mini Maccabi at the Yom Ha’Atzmaut Community Celebration,” announced Carol Ann Schwartz, Israel Programs Cabinet Chair of the Council on Jewish Life & Learning of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati.
“This is a great opportunity to promote the JCC Maccabi Games to the Cincinnati Jewish Community.” The Yom Ha’Atzmaut main Maccabi Games celebration will give children of all ages a taste of the Maccabi spirit and excitement yet to come,” expelled Andrea Bochner, Games Director.
Athletic actives will include a moonwalk, a climbing wall, mini basketball hoops, soccer kick, golf challenge and a baseball toss.
— April 27, 2000
10 Years ago
Local teacher wins prestigious award
Dr. Karen Kissell, Ph.D., has been singled out by her peers in the International Montessori Educational Program (IMEP) to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr. Kissell accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award at a formal presentation and luncheon during the American Montessori Society annual conference. When given the chance to speak to her peers, Kissell focused her remarks on the importance of including the Montessori Method in early childhood education options. “It is extremely important that a Montessori education is accessible to all children, regardless of their socioeconomic or cultural background,” she said. “Children have different learning styles, and it is critical that we offer all children the opportunity to learn in a Montessori classroom.”
— April 23, 2015
