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 Crimea, for the feast of Passover.
— April 20, 1855
150 Years ago
Items
– The library of the present Emperor of China contains 400,000 volumes.
– Those who are anxious to appear wise among the ignorant usually appear ignorant in the company of the wise.
Local and Domestic
– Peoria, Ills. — rev. Dr. Browned has been unanimously re-elected minister of this congregation.
– No. 15 of Israelite and Deborah is wanted int his office. Friends are requested to send us their spare copies.
– Fincastle, VA. — Mr. Isaac Sweitzer of this place has sent us five dollars annual subscription to the Union and College, which was handed over to the secretary.
– Bloomington, Ills. — There are in this city between twenty to twenty-five Hebrew gentleman who are about establishing a congregation, which we hope will soon be accomplished.
– Chicago, Ills. — Mrs. Dora Kursoski was pretend by the “Sisters of Peace,” whose president she was for eight successive years, with a costly gold watch and chain.
— April 17, 1874
125 Years ago
When those self-made reformers say, “We Jews made the Bible, the Talmud and all the commentaries, all being spirit of our spirit, and we can also undo it when we want it so,” they tell a falsehood. Not we, Jews, but some very few of us have done it, and hammered into the brains and souls fo the masses in the hard fought battle of truth against ignorance and stupidity. It is not spirit of our spirit; it is of the spirit of the few enlightened and God-inspired souls that rose among us by the grace of God. Who are we, what right have we to obliterate the spiritual gifts of those men of God, those prices of peace, those mighty men of righteousness? Evidently none. All that islet for us to do is simply to ascertain what of all that is ordained was intended for all eternity and all mankind, and what was intended originally for a certain age or country. This is all that reformers are permitted to do. You dare not destroy other people’s property.
Jottings
The last donation of the late Baroness Hirsch is one of the greatest made by any woman of this century. On her sickbed in Paris the Baroness sent three millions of florins to a special Hungarian fund, the income thereof to be distributed annually among the poor of Hungary without reference to the recipients’ religious confession, either in the form of gifts or as loans without interest. The whole sum was received before her death by the Hungarian minister of cult and instruction. Baroness Hirsch paid cash down before she died for all the magnificent monuments erected to her deathless name and immortal fame.
— April 20, 1899
100 Years ago
Jottings
– The forty-two Poles who were recently tried at Warsaw for throwing a bomb into a hall in the village of Lutetow in July, 1923, where a ball was taking place, resulted in a farce, as was to have been expected. Although three persons were killed outright, and a large number wounded, and several of whom have since died, fourteen of the accused were acquitted, one was given a six months’ sentence, another a four months’ sentence, and seventeen a two months’ sentence.
– By a vote of 210 to 108 the House adopted a resolution, declaring that Sol Bloom, Democrat, was entitled to his seat as a member from the Nineteenth New York District. By this action the House threw out the election contest of former Representative Walter Chandler, Bloom’s Republican opponent at the polls, After the vote had been adopted another roll call was demanded. Republicans immediately attempted to round up some of their absentees. Bloom also won on the second roll call, 209. 198.
– At Jerusalem a pubic procession planned by the Jewish organizations for the purpose of displaying the development of Palestine in recent years, was forbidden by the Government. The procession was to have been held during the week of Passover when hundred of Jewish tourists from all over the world will be assembled in the Holy Land. Since the anti-Jewish outbreaks of several years ago, the policy of the Palestine Government has been to orbit public professions of either the Jews or Arabs during the holidays.
Editor’s Note: The Palestine Government at this time refers to the British Mandate.
– Palestine will have its own currency shortly. The Government has appointed a special committee for the purpose of inquiring into the economic and financial basis of a separate Palestinian currency. The committee will take the matter up also from the historical standpoint, with a special consideration for the Jewish numismatic traditions. The committee appointed by the Government is headed by Mr. Davis, Treasurer of the Palestinian Administration, and has as its members all the bank directors of Palestine, MR. Jacobus Kahn, Mr. Van Vrlesland, the Director of the Customs, and two Arabs.
— April 17, 1924
75 Years ago
Women Are Stalwarts in Welfare Fund Campaign
With their dollars, Cincinnati Jewish women are seconding the words of Henry W. Morgenthau, Jr., general chairman of the United Jewish Appeal, who says that “this is the year of greatest opportunities for the reconstruction of lives broken by years of persecution and wandering.”
Under the co-chairmanship of Mrs. Arthur Bettman, Mrs. Harold K. Moss and Mrs. Nathan Levine with Miss Grace Henle as secretary the Cincinnati Women’s Division of the Jewish Welfare Fund Drive is planning three large luncheon affairs at which “plus” giving will be emphasized.
Last year more than 1,000 women, in their own names, gave $151,000. This year it is hoped that the number of givers and dollars will be doubled.
But “plus” giving implies more than that; it means dollars in addition to, or independent of that contributed by the man in the house. For example, if Mr. A gives $1000 and Mrs. A gives $365 from her own resources, the family gift is $1000 plus $365.
Cincinnati Jewish women are fully aware of the pressing need of the United Jewish Appeal for the funds that will make it possible to resettle migrants entering the gates of Israel at 25,000 a month; to rehabilitate thousands of our people remaining in Europe and North Africa, and to aid the displaced who come to the United States.
Mrs. Bettman, one of the co-chairmen, summed up the enthusiastic spirit of the Jewish women for eh community when she said:
“The purpose of the Women’s Division is to raise money — just as much as possible for a cause that does not need explanation to this community,
We shall make mistakes but not on purpose. This year all women of the community will work together and feel bound together by a great bond — that of a common interest.”
— April 21, 1949
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Morry Goldberg take pleasure in announcing the forthcoming Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Julie Beth, Friday evening, April 26, at 8:15 p.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the reception following services.
Julie is the granddaughter of Mrs. Esther Goldberg and the late Mr. Mitchel Goldberg and Mrs. Rose Rinksy and the late Mr. Jack Rinksy.
– Dr. and Mrs. Stuart Silverman are happy to announce the forthcoming Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Amy Beth, on Friday, May 3, at 8:15 p.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
Amy is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Hening of Toledo and Mrs. Agnes Silberman and the late Mr. Nat Silverman of Cincinnati.
It would give us great pleasure to have our family and friends worship with us and attend an Oneg Shabbat following the service. No Cards.
Bar Mitzvah
Dr. and Mrs. Eric Kahn are happy to announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Ashley N., at Plum Street Temple, May 4, at 10:45 a.m.
Friends are relatives are invited to join in the service and the Kiddish following the service.
Ashley is the grandson of Mrs. Ethen Kahn of Capetown, South Africa, and the late Dr. Robert Kahn.
— April 18, 1974
25 Years ago
AJC hosts sixth annual Intergroup Seder at Plum Street Temple
The American Jewish Committee Cincinnati chapter hosted the sixth annual Community Intergroup Seder last month at Plum Street Temple. Intergroup committee chairman, Betty Heldman, invited AJC’s friend sin the non-Jewish community. Rabbi Gary P. Zola, executive director for The Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives at Hebrew Union College led the lunchtime event.
The AJC Community Intergroup Seder began in 1994, when 25 people gathered together for a pre-Passover lunch in the conference room of a downtown office building. Since that time, the Seder has continued to grow. Moving to Plum Street Temple made it possible to include an optional tour of the historic sanctuary after the Seder concludes, a feature many church groups find attractive.
— April 22, 1999
10 Years ago
Beth Guttman to be next Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati President
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati announced that Beth Guttman has been elected by the Trustees to serve as the next President of the Board, effective as of the 2014 Foundation Annual Meeting on October 30th. Ms. Guttman will become the Foundation’s seventh President, and will succeed Michael R. Oestreicher, who was elected Chairman of the Board, also effective as of the 2014 Annual Meeting.
The remainder of the Officers slate will be filled by J. David Rosenberg, who was elected Vice President and Chairman of The Investment and Finance Committee; Robert E. Brant, who will serve as Treasurer; and Dr. Jeffrey Zipkin, who was re-elected Secretary of the Board.
— April 17, 2014
