In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Louisville, Ky. — We visited last week our brethren of this flourishing city; they greeted us with the utmost kindness and courtesy. At their request we addressed them two evenings in their synagogue, and were pleased to find a large and respectable audience. The Rev. Mr. Gotthelf, their worthy pastor, exercised his influence on behalf of the Israelite, and secured in two days sixty subscribers for our journal. My host, also, Mr. Oberndorfer of the Pearl Street House, successfully endeavored to make our sojourn in Louisville pleasant and comfortable.
— August 18, 1854
150 Years ago
Foreign Record
– About 73,000 Jews are said to reside in Turkey in Europe. We believe the number to be very much greater.
– The Pasha of Egypt has placed himself at the head of the Anti-Cruelty to Animals Association in the East, and has practically exhibited the earnestness of his sympathy by presenting the society with money, by giving them one of his palaces in Grand Cairo as their headquarters, and by issuing orders for the punishment of those who may be guilty of cruelty to animals.
Local and Domestic
Topeka, Kan. — Mr. James Wise, a co-religionist, was brutally murdered last week. The deceased had been playing a game of billiards, during the course of which he quarreled with his opponent. This man, a few hours afterward, entered Mr. Wise’s store, and, in the presence of his wife, and without a word of warning, shot him dead.
— August 21, 1874
125 Years ago
Jottings
– Frederick O. Hermsdorfer of Fort Wayne, Ind., 85 years of age, died at Los Angeles, Cal., of consumption.
– At the big Zionists’ meeting held at Cooper Union, New York City, last week, there was not a single well known personage either on the floor or on the platform.
– At Jersey City, N.J., the cornerstone of a new synagog for Moses Montefiore congregation was laid at Grand and Neward streets, last week, by Mayor Fagan and others.
– Contracts have been awarded for a new synagog for the Adath Israel society of Fall River, to be erected on the east side of Pearl street at a cost of $10,000. The structure will be of Gothic architecture, two stories high and will be built of brick.
– The Jews of Holyoke, Mass., have found it necessary to form an association for mutual protection from the many annoyances and insults of the too fresh Holyoke youth about town.
– A peasant called Makaroff, who alleges that he is the Messiah, has made his appearance in the Russian province of Samara, on the Volga. Makaroff is a middle-aged man, whose features are said to resemble those attributed to Christ by early Byzantine artists. According to Makaroff, Samara and the neighboring provinces are being punished by periodical visitations of pestilence and famine, not as the result of drought, or the scarcity of labor, or any other of the alleged causes, but because of the sins and shortcomings of the people. The new Messiah has selected ten women of his following as his special ministrants. These he calls “the ten wise virgins.” They serve as his messengers and as the exponents among the peasantry of his peculiar views.
— August 24, 1899
100 Years ago
Jottings
– It is beginning to penetrate the inner consciousness of the clergy that while universal education is almost excellent thing for the masses it is not quite so fine for the propagation of dogmatic theology.
– Viewing the matter in a large way it is becoming more and more evident that anything bearing about it the taint of religious or racial intolerance is foredoomed to failure in this country. Henry Ford’s vicious campaign is now in full reaction against its author, so that he has become a figure regarded with mingled pity and contempt, while the Ku Klux, following the exposure of its utterly sordid and hypocritical purposes, is not only on the wane, but is heading for something more than oblivion, for its self constituted chiefs are in more instances than one leading their deluded followers into dangerous places, where they become accountable to the law of the land. That is fatal to any organization.
Noted Zionist’s Son Becomes Catholic
Conversion of Hans Herzl, son of Theodor Herzl, is announced in Vienna.
The New York times published the following cable on the 14th inst.:
“Vienna, Aug. 13 — Much comment is evoked in the Vienna press by the disclosure that Hans Herzl, son of Theodor Herzl, found of the Zionist movement, three weeks ago went over to the Catholic Church.
The twenty-eighth anniversary of Herzl’s death was celebrated last month with an impressive ceremony by Zionist delegations to Vienna from all parts of the world. It was observed at the time that Herzl’s children did not appear at the celebration.”
— August 21, 1924
75 Years ago
Reform’s Plea Heard
London (JTA) — The hope that Israel will “look favorably” on Liberal Judaism and its institutions, especially its schools, was expressed in a resolution adopted at the sixth international conference of the World Union for Progressive Judaism which was presented to Dr. Mordecai Eliash, Israeli Minister to Britain, by a delegation from the Union.
The delegation told the Minster that they were greatly interested in Israel and its cultural and religious development. They added that the hoped that a way would be found to guarantee religious freedom and that conscience of worship would be granted as a right to all shades of Jewish religious opinion. Dr. Eliash received the delegation sympathetically and promised to submit its message to Tel Aviv.
Arabs Welcome Israeli
Jerusalem (JTA) — The Arab population of Nazareth welcomed the Israeli Minister of Education, Zalman Shazar, who are to the city to address a course designed to encourage an interchange of views and experiences between Jewish and Arab teachers in Israel.
— August 25, 1949
50 years ago
Yavneh Day School Classes to Begin With 185 Students
Classes at Yavneh Day School will open Tuesday, Sept. 3, with the most students in its history. The first day hours are 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Yavneh will open with 185 students.
George Lebowitz, educational director, said Yavneh attracts children from all segments in the community.
“It is heartening to see Cincinnati’s Jewish families interested in giving their children the knowledge of, and appreciation for their Jewish heritage in a positive atmosphere of ‘Klal Yisrael’ at Yavneh,” he said.
School facilities at 1636 Summit Road have been dated and remodeled. Yavneh’s library has been redesigned and modernized; the pre-school will have larger quarters; other classrooms have been modified for maximum use of space.
Bar Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Louis Ukelson invite you to attend the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Robert, on Saturday, Aug. 31. Services will be at Golf Manor Synagogue, 6442 Stover Avenue at 9 a.m. A Kiddish luncheon will immediately follow services in the Liebowitz Auditorium.
– Our son, Stephen, will be called to the Torah to participate in services on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 10:30 a.m.
We would be honored to have friends and relatives worship with us and join us for the Kiddish immediately following this happy occasion at Plum Tree Temple.
Isabelle an Alvin Stamler.
– Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Levy announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Bradley Jonathan, on Aug. 31 at Rockdale Temple. Following ceremonies, Kiddish will be served.
Bradley is the grandson of Mrs. Ethen Jane Callner and Mr. and Mrs. Mickey Levy, all of Cincinnati, and great grandson of Mr. E. M. Friedman of Cleveland.
— August 22, 1974
25 Years ago
JCC has new youth program
Holly Brown, the new JCC dance instructor, teaches classical dance to children, ages 3 through 8, with a style that is fun and creative. JCC members may now register for her new Youth Dance Classes being offered this fall at the JCC. The JCC programs include classical ballet and tap, and children are grouped by age and ability levels.
Brown is a professional dance instructor who has owned and taught at her own dance studio in Delhi for seven years. She has extensive training in ballet at the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music and was also on the Dance Team. She has been dancing for 23 years.
— August 26, 1999
10 Years ago
Older adults in Mason sing and dance to support Israel in new music vide0
Residents of Cedar Village Retirement Community in Mason are starring in a new music video that shows them dancing and singing for peace in Israel.
Cedar Village commissioned singer-songwriter Marc Rossio of Columbus to write a song in which the staff and residents could show their support for Israel during these tumultuous times.
Rossio wrote “I Stand for Israel,” a lively song in Hebrew and English with a catchy tune that calls for peace in Israel and compassion for civilians on both sides. “I stand for peace in Israel and all the world,” the song proclaims.
— August 21, 2014
