In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Here and there.— It took in New York the united efforts of twelve congregations, meetings, union schemes, officers, committees, and a heap of labor to buy five thousand pounds of matzot for the poor at a price of $450. The mountain labored and a mouse was born. In Cincinnati no great men met, no committees were appointed, no officers elected, no newspaper articles were written, still the two congregations, Benai Israel and Benai Yeshurun gave away about two thousand pounds of matzot to the poor. We have not heard yet of other congregations.
— April 6, 1855
150 Years ago
Ready for Business
Dr. Wise is ready for business, and will be glad to receive his friends again. He is done with the main part of his work, and the remoulding is no difficult task. He is out again in broad daylight. His book will most likely be called “The Cosmic God: Fundamental Philosophy in Popular Lectures.”
It will be out next summer and dedicated to the memory of his deceased wife, whose lingering disease and death was the primary cause of his philosophizing occupation. He will speak next week as follows: Tuesday evening, Cincinnati Standard Lodge, I.O.B.B.: subject, “National Sins”; Thursday evening in the Temple of Washington, D.C., subject “The Union and College”; and Saturday in Baltimore as announced elsewhere.
Foreign Records
– We are glad to learn that Dr. Lasker of Berlin who has been seriously ill is now out of danger.
– Dr. Aub, of Berlin, recently converted four Christians to the Jewish faith. Occurrences of this character are somewhat frequent in Berlin.
— April 2, 1875
125 Years ago
Card of Thanks
The expressions of sympathy with us in our bereavement, received from friends by telegraph or letter, have been so numerous that it has become impossible or us to acknowledge each one separately as it deserves. I would, therefore, on behalf of the family of my father, the late Rabbi Isaac M. Wise, and on my own, take this method of thanking each and every one of those kind hearts who thought of us in our time of trial and were quick to send us words of consolation. We are deeply grateful and thank them again and again.
Leo Wise.
Jottings
– Work on the Jewish Encyclopedia which is to be issued by the Funk & Wagnalls Co. is progressing favorably. The co-operation of many eminent scholars in Europe an din this country has been secured. Numerous articles have been written and the first volume
– We have added to our list of contributors a very talented young woman who will give our readers a letter from New York at very frequent intervals; the first of these appears this week. We are quite sure they will be found interesting.
– President Loubet has pardoned Baron de Christian, who struck him at the Auteuil Races, after in months of imprisonment. The conspiracy of the Royalists and anti-Semites has become contemptible, and the representatives of the Republic need not be afraid to show clemency.
— April 5, 1900
100 Years ago
Jottings
– The Legislature of Ohio has adjourned temporarily without taking definite actin on the Ku Klux Clerical bill to make Bible reading in the public schools of the State compulsory ad to deprive the local school boards of the schools within their respective districts of the right to determine what shall e the curriculum of the public schools. Let us hope that when the Legislature of Ohio meets again on April 16th, when in all probability another attempt will be made to revive this iniquitous bill, better sense will prevail and the members will recognize the fact that they are servants and representatives of the people of the State of Ohio and not of the group of fanatics and the leaders of the Ku Klux Klan who seem to have dominated many of them up to this time.
– The Society for the Advancement of Judaism, one of the many organizations whose purpose it is “to make Judaism function as a vacillation in our every day lives,’ is planning to establish an Arbitration Board to settle disputes of members out of court, in order to reduce the litigation that is clogging up American courts. The proposed Board of Arbitration will be conducted according to the Arbitration law of New York State, which provides that two or more persons can agree in writing to submit any difference or controversy to arbitration, such written agreement to arbitrate being binding and irrevocable. The Arbitration Committee of the Society consists of several prominent manufacturers of New York, who are active in the Society’s work.
– It would be a mistake to take it for granted that the leaders of the Clerical Party are the only ones that are demanding the strictest possible enforcement of the Volstead Act. Bootleggers are equally strong supporters of prohibition and its strict enforcement, and so are a large number of office holders, and police authorities, to the first of whom it is a source of an immense profit from their illegal dealings and to the latter opportunities for unlimited graft. Taking it all in all, prohibition as carried out under the Volstead Act has produced the most widespread corruption and crime. Total abstinence from intoxicating beverages would be an excellent thing, if it could be attained, but so far the efforts in that direction have been unsuccessful, and the effects of the attempted enforcement of total abstinence have been most unfortunate.
— April 2, 1925
75 Years ago
Cincinnati Social and Personal
– President Nelson Glueck of the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion, will speak on “Our America” at the annual initiation dinner of the University of Cincinnati Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, national honorary scholastic society, Tuesday, April 25, at the U.C. Student Union Building.
– The new public high school at Reading Road and Seymour Avenue will be named “Woodward High School.” The present Woodward High School, Woodward and Sycamore Streets, will be renamed.
– Dr. Archie Fine, attending radiologist at Jewish Hospital, has returned from Oak Ridge, Tenn., after completing a course in radio isotope techniques.
B’Nai B’Rith Serves Notice on American Bowling Congress
B’nai B’rith will withdraw from participation in American Bowling Congress tournaments if the ABC fails to eliminated its “Caucasians Only” policy at its Indianapolis convention this year.
The decision not to permit itself or any of its component agonies to participate in an organized activity which maintains an un-American admissions policy, was adopted by B’nai B’rith in a resolution voted at the orders triennial convention in Washington, D.C.
— April 6, 1950
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
Dr. and Mrs. Norman Statman would like your to join them when their daughter, Sharon Lynne, celebrates her Bas Mitzvah Friday evening the 11th of April at 8:15 at Adath Israel Synagogue. Oneg Shabbat following services. Sharon is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Statman and Mrs. Eunice Davis.
Bar Mitzvah
– Our son, Mark Jay, will be Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, April 19th, at 9 o’clock in the morning at Congregation New Hope, 1625 Crest Hill Avenue.
It would give us great pleasure to have our relatives and friends join with us for services and the Kiddish afterwards.
Mark is the grandson of Else Bamberger of Cincinnati and the late Julius Bamberger, and Alfred Schwerin of Cincinnati and the late HEdwig Schwerin.
-Ellen and Eric Bamberger
– 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 Rds.
We cordially invite all our friends and relatives to join us for services and Kiddish following.
Steven is the grandson of 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 3, 1975
25 Years ago
Spring Break Camps at the JCC
Kids work hard during the school year. Spring Break is the time to relax and blow off some tension. It’s good time for kids to enjoy sports, games, and well-deserved social interaction with friends. The Jewish Community Center makes sure that JCC school-age members get this opportune at JCC Spring Camps.
On April 17, 18, and 190, kids in grades K-6 may enjoy a fun trip each day as well as swimming and games at the Center.
JCC Day Camp Director, Noah Morris, has arranged a unique opportunity for the kids to get an inside view of what goes on. The camp day will include hiking as well as an interesting nature program. On April 19, JCC campers can experience a visit to the Amazon, a tour of the inner workings fo the human body, Cincinnati history, prehistoric times, and more without leaving the city! That’s because the JCC Spring Camp on April 19 includes a trip to the Cincinnati Museum Center and Omni Max Theater.
— April 6, 2000
10 Years ago
Chai Tots Students Prepare for Passover
K.The students at Chai Tots Early Childhood Center, a Montessori certified Jewish community school, are learning about and participating in the traditions of Passover by collecting Macaroons for families in need. “This is the second year we’ve partnered with Jewish Family Services to collect food for those in need,” says Rochel Kalmanson, director of the school. “We see this as a wonderful way to teach our students both about the holiday and about Tzedakah [kindness to others].”
Each year, Jewish Family Services collects traditional Passover foods to distribute to needy families in the community. “The Chai Tots students are thrilled to take part in this Mitzvah and to share the gift of freedom with members of the community by collecting and donating macaroons,” said Kalmanson.
AJC holds community intergroup Seder
On Thursday, March 26, 2015, the American Jewish Committee (AJC) celebrated Passover, the festival of freedom, at the 22nd annual Community Intergroup Seder, at the Mayerson JCC in Amberley Village. AJC, dedicated to global Jewish advocacy, hosted more than 140 people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds, as they commemorated the ageless ritual of the Jewish holiday of Passover. Rabbi Matthew Kraus, director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Judaic Studies, University of Cincinnati, officiated at the popular event.
— April 2, 2015
