In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Importance of the Israelite. — Many of the fair sex assured us, that they can not attend to cooking, washing, ironing, knitting, sewing, stitching, and other important ings, before they have to read the Israelite. We understand how to appreciate the importance of this favor, and it will be one of our most pleasant endeavors, to preserve the attachment of our sisters to the Israelite.
We are bound to confess, that the daughters of Zion have been much neglected, by our literati, and if it were not for an occasionally excellent Grace Aguilar, or a kindred spirit, we would say, we had no writers who exerted their energies on behalf of the mothers and daughters of Israel; but we shall never forget to cultivate the friendship of our sisters for the Israelite.
— August 25, 1854
150 Years ago
Items
- The city of Prague has 177,000 inhabitants, and among them 12,000 Hebrews.
- The great synagogue of Bordeaux was burnt down June 28.
Editor’s Note: The Great Synagogue of Bordeaux was built in 1812. It was the first large synagogue built after Napoleon granted freedom of religious practice to France’s Jews. It burned down in 1873 but was rebuilt by 1882. The synagogue again sustained damage during the German occupation of France during WWII. The synagogue was restored by 1956. - The Israelites of Bowling Green, Ky., numbering about forty souls in all, have purchased a lot for the purpose of a burial-ground. The lot adjoins the Protestant and Catholic cemeteries, and is beautifully located. Its cost was $550.
Professor Paine, of the Palestine Exploration Expedition, has already completed a voluminous report on the identification of Nebo and Pisgah, which may be expected by the next mail from Syria. The Palestine Exploration Expedition reports that the triangulation now extends over nearly four hundred square miles, and the detail has been almost completed for the same, together with the hill shading. The elevation about the level of the Dead Sea and hence above the Mediterranean, has been well obtained. The heights of all important points within the present triangulation have been determined by mercurial observations, and those of intermediate ones by the aneroid. Meteorological observations have been taken regularly. The amount of work done already, though insignificant in comparison with what still remains to be accomplished, is an invaluable acquisition to geographical knowledge. They find that maps of this region of country are very untrustworthy.
— August 22, 1873
125 Years ago
Jottings
- The Jews of Muncie, Ind., have raised $125 for the battleship.
- Jewish divine services were held last Friday evening and Saturday morning at the First Presbyterian church, at Saratoga, N.Y., Rabbi Henry Cohen, of Galveston, Texas, officiated.
- The first civil appointment in Cuba was that of postmaster at Santiago. It was conferred upon a coreligionist, Louis Kempner, who has for a number of years been connected with the New York Post office.
Interesting If True
Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 23 — Barnett Pruzan, a well known local commission merchant, is at the head of a movement to arm a Jewish colony in Puerto Rico. “I already have the promise of nearly 50 families to join me,” said he. “These families can raise from $500 to $5,000 each to put into the venture, and if all agree we will form a communistic colony. We hope to leave by January 1.”
— August 25, 1898
100 Years ago
For Once We Agree With Henry Ford.
For once we agree with Henry Ford. The country is not ready for such a President as he would be, Ford admits, and with that there can be no argument.
And unless Henry waits until the hospitals for the insane hold the balance of voting power in this nation, the country will never be.
Just because Henry manufactures the most popular little gas eater that ever hopped a puddle or fractured a driver’s spine is no reason why he would make a desirable ornament for the White House.
We are not yet ready for a Ford design for the government and we doubt very much if even the driver of an unmanageable Lizzy would be versatile enough to meet the various and difficult problems that confront a President. Steering a Ford is one thing. Steering the ship of State is quite another. And Henry’s experience with the Peace Ship is not an encouraging symptom. — Harrisburg (Pa.) Courier.
Jottings
If Henry of Detroit were to become a candidate for the presidency of this land of the tree — to try — some irreverent heckler might ask him if he thought he could pass the literacy test applied to all comers at Ellis Island.
— August 23, 1923
75 Years ago
Public invited to Fete, Supper by Young Israel Set for This Sunday
Young Israel invites all of its friends to attend the fourth annual law fete, on the grounds at 610 Forest Avenue on Sunday, Aug. 22nd, from 2 until 11 p.m. Milchig supper will be served all afternoon, and sandwiches and drinks will be served on the grounds.
There will be fun for all, major prizes, games and fish pond for the children, the committee announced.
Mr. and Mrs. Ben Levinson are officers of the day.
Cincinnati Social and Personal
- Messers. Jules Klein Friedman and Ben I. Friedman, who recently passed the Ohio bar and medical examinations, respectively, are brothers. They are sons of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Friedman.
- Mr. Morris S. Hurwitz, 1026 Burton Avenue, passed the State Board of Accountancy examination and became eligible for license as a certified public accountant.
- Rabbi Alton M. Winters has left Cincinnati for Newark, N.J., to take up his duties as assistant rabbi at B’nai Jeshurun Temple. Mrs. Winters (Jacqueline Harris) and daughter, Devora Lee, will join Rabbi Winters in late September.
— August 19, 1948
50 years ago
Wise Sisterhood Hostess to HUC-JIR Students; Hospitality Project Announced
Wise Temple Sisterhood is initiating a new project.
It has adopted the class entering Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion this fall. The idea is to provide hospitality to the incoming students in September at the homes of various congregants.
This will give the students contact with the community and afford them a better opportunity to become acquitted with congregants.
Bas Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Aronwitz are happy to announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Julie, on Friday, Sept. 7 at 8:15 p.m., at Adath Israel Synagogue.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddish following the services. No invitations will be sent.
Julie is the granddaughter of Mrs. Sylva Aronowitz of Cincinnati and the late Mr. Daniel Aronowitz and the Col. and Mrs. Ed Hope of Knoxville.
Bar Mitzvah
Dr. and Mrs. Sidney Lerner, 1129 Lois Drive, are placed to announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Phillip Jay, Saturday, Sept. 1, at 9 a.m., at Congregation Ohav Shalom, 1834 Section Road.
Phillip is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Lerner and Mr. and Mrs. Rudolph Bernheimer.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddish following services.
— August 23, 1973
25 Years ago
Ohav Shalmon congregants await buildings opening
By Phyllis Singer
Editor
Excitement is mounting for members of Ohav Shalom as opening of the congregation’s new building at 8100 Cornell Road in Symmes Township rapidly approaches.
The first Shabbat services in the building will take place this Friday night and Saturday, and a Torah walk and ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place Sunday, Sept. 13, the week before Rosh Hashanah.
“We’re all very excited and looking forward to [moving in[],” said Michael Smolin, congregation president. “An enormous number of people have contributed time, money, effort and talent to this project.”
“People are very excited” about the opening, Rabbi Arthur Flicker told The American Israelite as we turned the modern 35,000 square-foot building, situated on 3.85 acres just west of Snider Road.
“I like it because it feels Jewish,” Flicker added. “it is beautiful without being gaudy.”
Both the sanctuary and the chapel “bring your attention to the ark (facing east in both areas) and to a sense of unity,” he noted. “They generate a sense of community and shared prayer.
— August 27, 1998
10 Years ago
Jewish Foundation, Mayerson Foundation and JCC partner to strengthen Jewish engagement and programming in our community
The Jewish Foundation of Cincinnati and the Manuel D. and Rhoda Mayerson Foundation announced a groundbreaking new partnership to significantly enhance Jewish engagement and programming capacity at the Mayerson JCC.
With funding provided by both foundations, a new organizational structure will physically embed the Mayerson Foundation program team inside the JCC, and the JCC’s own programming staff will be expanded. Each foundation will invest approximately $1.6 million in staff resources, programming budget and grant dollars over the next three years. As a result, existing JCC staff members will take on new programming roles, Mayerson Foundation staff members will lead or support key JCC initiatives and the signature Mayerson Foundation Jewish engagement programs — including Access, Shalom Family and Fusion Family — will become fully integrated into the JCC over a period of time.
Dara Wood receives the Walter Hattenbach Excellence in Teaching Award at Adath Israel
Adath Israel Congregation is pleased to announce that the congregation’s Education Director, Dara Wood, was recognized as this year’s recipient of the Walter Hattenbach Excellence in Teaching Award. The award was presented during Shabbat services on August 17, 2013. The Hattenbach Award, named in memory of Walter Hattenbach, a past president of Adath Israel, is given each year to a member of their religious school staff who exemplifies a love for teaching and Jewish education. Wood has served on the Board of Directors of Adath Israel, as an officer and as chair of the Religious School Board and Religious Services Committee. She is an excellent role model for her Religious School staff and faculty and inspires commitment, dedication and a passion for teaching children.
— August 22, 2013
