In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Jews In China
The Israelites came first into the Empire of China under the dynasty of Tcheou, which governed affairs from 1122 to 249 B.C. They fixed their habitations, and permanently settled here during the dynasty of Han, (which commenced in the year 215 B.C., and ceased in A.D. 220), in the reign of Ming-ti, who reigned from A.D. 50 to 75. To certain questions of Father Gaubil (a Jesuit Missionary) they replied that they had settled in China just three years before the destruction of Jerusalem, having emigrated from the land of Si-Yu. The country, Si-Yu, that is, the Western country, is, as far as we can understand, the name which the Persians gave to Persia; and, according to the testimony of Father Domenge, the Jews of China, in his time, about the beginning of the eighteenth century, did understand and speak some Persian words.
About A.D. 73, the Jews in China consisted of some of almost all tribes, and numbered more than seventy sings. A sing is (according to what Father Domenge has learned from the Jews) pe-che-kia-gin, that is, 100 families upwards. The Israelites, then, when they entered China, must have amounted to at least 7,000 families.
— April 6, 1855
150 Years ago
Passover, 5636, A.M.
This Saturday evening the sun of the fourteenth day of Nissan (the first month) disappearing, the Feast of Passover begins, to last seven days: the first and last to be holidays, the intervening five to be half holidays or Chol-Hammoed. This is the feast of unleavened bread, Matzos, the primitive bread, flat and unleavened cakes basked or rather dried in the sun, as used today in some parts of Upper Egypt, called the Lechem Oni, the “Bread of Affliction,” or the bread ate in affliction, or, perhaps, the miserable bread; for the leavened bread certainly marked a progress in the art of preparing food.
To the ancient Hebrews the Passover was of the same signification, which the Fourth of July has to us Americans. It was the memorial feast of independence and liberty. Therefore, toward the close of the second commonwealth, the more the Hebrews lost these precious boons under the Roman sway, the more popular grew the Passover Feast among the multitude.
A Word in Time
Once more, on behalf of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, we address to our friends the solemn words:
“For the sake of my brethren and my friends, let me speak peace to thee.” For the sake of our holy heritage, the Word of G-d, the light and the truth and the happiness of the human family, which Israel has carried so faithfully from land to land, from generation to generation; for which our sires have lived, suffered, bled and died so courageously and nobly; for the sake of our holy Torah, let us speak of peace and union. Let us not pass by your next congregational meeting without bringing up the proposition, to join the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
— April 7, 1876
125 Years ago
For years it has been the laudable custom of colleges and universities to have courses of lectures delivered during the scholastic year by scholars from outside. These lectures are not only a source of inspiration to the students of the institutions, but they bring the colleges into touch with men not directly connected with the academic life of the institution. It gives us great pleasure to note that the Hebrew Union College will this year take a similar step. The acting president of the institution, Prof. M. Mielziner, has invited the Rev. Dr. Emil G. Hirsch of Chicago to address the students of the College in a series of lectures. Dr. Hirsch has taken as his theme the subject, “The Fundamental Concepts of Jewish Theology,” and will begin his course next Monday in the chapel of the college.
The Infamous Father Deckert Dead
According to cable dispatches in the New York papers of Mach 25, the famous Father Deckert has died in Vienna. With him one of the most notorious figures of the anti-Semitic movement passed away. It was he who in 1898 with the aid of one of these converted scamps, usually paraded as rabbis, concocted a ritual murder story which his adviser, Paulus Meyer, claimed to have witnessed. Unfortunately he had overlooked one fact. He counted on the patience of the prosecuting attorney who usually overlooks offenses against the Jews, while he is always on the alert for an unpleasant words about the holy coat Treves. This time, however, the persons named as murderers and the descendants of one who had died meantime, brought a libel suit against Father Deckert, and his partner in the ritual murder manufactory.
— April 11, 1901
100 Years ago
Jottings
– Salt Lake City is shortly to have a Jewish Community Center. A number of leading citizens have obtained an option on the Enos Wall Mansion, which is to be remodeled for the purpose indicated: $50,000 was pledged at a recent meeting towards the consummation of this plan.
– A reproduction of King Solomon’s Temple, which was to have been erected at Philadelphia for the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition, that will mark the 150th anniversary of American independence will not be built, the directors of the Exposition have announced, the time before the opening of the Exposition being too short.
Fraternalism In Religon
Rabbi Samuel S. Cohon of the Hebrew Union College has just competed a series of lectures on Judaism at the Garrett Biblical Institute, which is affiliated with Northwestern University. Rabbi Cohon’s lectures were part of a program of exchange lectureships, which the Garrett Biblical Institute arranged in order that the students at Northwestern might by knowledge of other religions, be brought into better understanding with all faiths.
— April 8, 1926
75 Years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Sam Timmer, of 3492 Dury Avenue, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Mark, Saturday, April 14, at Wise Center.
A reception will be held in his honor at the home of his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Sol Engel, 3492 Dury Avenue, Sunday, April 15, from 2 to 5 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. No cards.
49 Causes Named As Recipients Of Allocations
A goal of $1,800, 518 has been has been set for the 1951 Cincinnati Jewish Welfare Fund campaign, Harold K. Goldstein, general chairman reported.
After a careful study of budgetary requests of local, national and overseas agencies, the Allocations Committee recommended that total to cover the minimum needs of 49 causes. This recommendation was approved by the Jewish Welfare Fund board.
— April 5, 1951
50 years ago
ADL Gratified BY Fifth-Third’s
Benjamin R. Epstein, director of the Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, has informed the Fifth-Third Bank of Cincinnati that the ADL was gratified to learn that the bank has not submitted in any way to the Arab boycott conditions.
The letter, addressed to Bank President William S. Rowe, follows:
“The March 20th Cincinnati Enquirer, containing article with respect to ADL’s release on the Arab boycott, was brought to my attention. It reports that your bank’s spokesman said that the individual in your International Department did not understand the questions put to her on or about February 11 by an ADL staff member and further that she was not authorized to state the bank’s policy on such matters.”
Bar Mitzvah
– We invite our friends to the Bar Mitzvah of our son, Marvin Howard, on Saturday, April 10, 1976. Marvin will be called to the Torah at 9:30 a.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue, Galbraith and Ridge Rd.
Marvin is the grandson of Dr. And Mrs. Morris S. Schulzinger, and the late Mr. and Mrs. Morris Lucas.
Judy and Stan Lucas
– Mr. and Mrs. Jerry R. Sibrel are happy to announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, David, Sat. April 11 at 11 a.m. at Valley Temple, 145 Springfield Pike. Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddush following services. David is the grandson of Mrs. Ann Peller and Mrs. Emma Sibrel.
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry R. Sibrel
— April 8, 1976
10 Years ago
Jewish Family Services presented two workshops on mindfulness practice
“Our mind is like Velcro for bad and Teflon for good, but we can train our minds to be happy,” Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD explained when Jewish Family Service welcomed him to Cincinnati on March 17 & 18 for two days of teaching Mindfulness practice—the technique of focusing awareness on the present moment with acceptance.
— April 7, 2016
5 Years ago
Passover reflections from NCSY teens
An introduction from Debbie Rubinoff
Our Jewish tradition could be compared to a beautiful chain link necklace. Each link adding more precious value to the piece of jewelry. Pesach is the time when we firmly connect the past links to the future links. Each link in the chain adds its unique contribution to the collective beauty of Judaism.
What I find fascinating about this necklace is how few links there are. Between this year 5781 and the year of the Exodus 2448 there are between thirty-six to ninety links.
— April 8, 2021
