In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
The Jews in Turkey
The number of Jews in the Ottoman empire, the dependencies excepted, is 150,000. More than one-half of them live in the European part of Turkey, and one fourth of their number reside in Constantinople. There are also an inconsiderable number of Caraites in the empire. There are about forty families of them in the capital, they have a synagogue in the adjoining village of Khas-Koei. There are also some Caraites in Baghdad and in Egypt, but their largest number is in Galicia and in the Crimea. The Caraites are not governed by Jewish officers. Their chief officer is called Milleti Pasha.
— December 8, 1854
150 Years ago
Foreign Record
– M. Eugene Manuel, a rising Jewish dramatist, has just complete a drama in three acts for the Theatre Francais, Paris.
– Baron de Rothschild of Paris has “donated” 50,000 francs for distribution in the various channels of charitable relief in that capital.
– A fresh progress in academical domains is reported from Berlin. Dr. Hirsch, Professor of Medicine, has been appointed dean of this faculty for the present year. This is the first instance of its kind in Prussia.
– The death is announced of the learned rabbi, Hirsch Kalischer, at Thorn. This rabbi by his great virtues, his theological works and numerous pamphlets in favor of the colonization of Palestine, was venerated wherever his name was known. Though he had no private fortune, he gratuitously discharged during his forty years the rabbinical functions in his community.
— December 11, 1874
125 Years ago
Jottings
– The Jews of the entire country congratulate their public spirited co-religionists of District No. 2, I.O. B’nai B’rith on the opening of the National Hospital for Consumptives at Denver, last Sunday. May the doors then opened, never be closed again and the institution grow to be one of the largest in the land.
– Rabbi Franklin addressed the Detroit newspapers on December 3rd.
– “Ibid.,” means “the same,” and is used where there are consecutive quotations from the same author. This is an answer to the question of “Constant Reader.”
– The death of Edgar Straus, in his 30th year, in Pasadena, Cal., cut short a promising career, as he had won a considerable reputation at home and abroad as a talented violinist. He was a son of Emaunal Straus of San Fransisco and a cousin of Hon. Oscar S. Straus, the present United States minister to Turkey.
– There are about 200,000 Jewish families in the United States. The American Israelite of Cincinnati or the Chicago Israelite of Chicago is read by at least one-sixth of them. This is the well to do part, the one that has the most money and spends the most.
The average living expenses of these families is not less than $5,000 a year each. This would make a total of $165,000,000 a year. Any one who has a meritorious article to sell can get a share of this amount by advertising in these papers. They cover the entire Jewish field.
— December 14, 1899
100 Years ago
Jottings
– There is a pretty large program proposed by the New York Yeshiva (Isaac Elchanon Theological Seminary), the Orthodox college for imparting higher Jewish learning and educating strictly Orthodox rabbis. The architect’s plans call for a group of five buildings to cost $5,000,000 which the Building Fund Committee is now trying to raise. A picture of the proposed building will be found elsewhere in this issue.
– The split in a Cincinnati Protestant Christian congregation caused by a quarrel as to the propriety of allowing the Ku Klux Klan to use its church as a headquarters and meeting place and other incidents of this nature, go to show that among the members of the various Protestant congregations in Cincinnati and the surrounding towns, there is a considerable number of Ku Klux sympathizers, and even actual members. There would be more members if it were not for the fees demanded. This element, while rather large, is in a minority and will probably grow smaller as time progresses, but it is almost unbelievable that any respectable and law abiding Christian church member should either by reason of membership or sympathy, be a participator in the crimes and offense of so nefarious an organization. However, the evidence is positive, and we are forced to believe that there is a considerable Ku Klux element in the Protestant Christian congregations, not only among the laity, but also among the clergy. This element would form a splendid field for missionary work. Missionaries are much more needed at home than abroad. However, the Rev. O. W. Baylor, former minster of the church, and other representatives of the faction which has withdrawn, deny that the Ku Klux Klan had any part in the controversy, while others claim that it had. There is no denial, however, that there is a large Klan faction of membership, or sympathizers, in the church.
– The first match factory in the Near East is about to be established in Haifa. The sum of 25,000 funds sterling has been invested for the purposes of building and equipping the factory.
— December 11, 1924
75 Years ago
Public is invited to hear Dr. Baeck at HUC tonight
The public is invited to attend the last of three lectures tonight (Thursday, Dec. 15) at 8 p.m., in the Hebrew Union College Chapel by Dr. Leo Baeck.
Dr. Baeck will speak on “Judaism and Ethics — A Common Task.” He is president of the World Union for Progressive Judaism and is regarded by many persons as the world’s greatest living Jew.
Cincinnati Social and Personal
– Mrs. Jacob H. Feibel, her sister, Mrs. Sidney H. Bing, and their cousin, Mrs. Millard F. Shelt, all of the Belvedere, will leave Jan. 12 for an 80-day cruise on the S.S. Caronia of the Cunard White Star Line. They will touch at 26 ports, including cities in South America, Africa, Israel and Europe. They will return on the same steamship and will be home about April 12.
– Mr. Sidney Weil, of 856 Blair Avenue, senior in the College of Law, University of Cincinnati, has won the Otterman Prize and the Henry Morrill Prize, both for the 1949 spring term.
– Dr. Miriam Urban, professor of history, University of Cincinnati, was heard at a convocation for students and faculty of the College of Nursing and Health at 8 p.m., Monday, Dec. 12, at the Nurses’ Residence.
— December 15, 1949
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Irwin A. Becker (Renee Dennis), 10,143 Gladbeck Avenue, Northridge, Calif. and formerly of Cincinnati, announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Cheryl Elyce, on Friday, December 13, 1974 at 8 p.m. at Temple Ramat Zion, 17655 Devonshire Street, Northridge, Calif.
Cheryl is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Dennis of Cincinnati and Mrs. Sydney Becker of Encino, Calif, and the late Mr. Becker.
– Mr. and Mrs. Robert R. Levy announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Wendy Sue, on Saturday, Dec. 14th, at 10:45 a.m., at Temple Sholom.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddish following the service.
Wendy is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Leslie M. Levy of Cincinnati and Mr. and Mrs. Leon Pollack of Sarasota, and the late Mr. Walter Dreifus.
Bar Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Paul Nathan take pleasure in announcing the Bar Mitzvah of their son, David, on Saturday, Dec. 21, at Golf Manor Synagogue.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the kiddish following the services.
– Mr. and Mrs. Jerome S. Teller are pleased to announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Chuck, on Saturday, Dec. 21, at 10:45 a.m., at Plum Street Temple. Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddish and luncheon immediately following the services.
Chuck is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Teller and Mrs. Charles Stahlbarg and the late Charles Stahlbarg.
— December 12, 1974
25 Years ago
Ohav Shalom runners complete Thanksgiving race
Every Tuesday morning, several Ohav Shalom members participate in morning minyan and then share a five to six mile run. While not training for any special race, Oscar Jarnicki, David Goodman, and Rabbi Arthur Flicker enjoy the brisk exercise and the opportunity to schmooze.
On Thanksgiving Day, the three were part of the more than 6,000 local runners and walkers who participated in the 90th annual Thanksgiving Day Race. The race is a 6.2 mile run/walk from Latonia, KY through Covington and Newport into downtown Cincinnati.
“Sometimes you need a little extra incentive to get up early for morning minyan,” noted Jarnicki. “The opportunity to share a run with friends helps get me going on Tuesdays.”
“I really look forward to our Tuesday jaunts,” Goodman added. “It energizes my day religiously and physically and perks up my whole week.
— December 16, 1999
10 Years ago
Harold Grinspoon Foundation honors ‘Create Your Own Legacy’ program with a matching grant
Create Your Jewish Legacy (CYJL), the new community-wide program helping agencies, day schools, and congregations establish long-term sustainability through building endowments, is off to an impressive start. The Harold Grinspoon Foundation has selected Cincinnati as a partner for its new LIFE & LEGACY program, which is investing $20 million to support Jewish communities implementing legacy giving initiatives. This selection comes with a matching grant of $150,000 for each of 2 years; therefore up to $300,000 will be available. Cincinnati is one of only 23 Jewish communities from across North America selected to participate in the program.
Community-minded co-chairs lead Federation’s 2015 Community Campaign
The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati’s 2015 Community Campaign launches this week, with Marty Hiudt and Jay Price as the Campaign Co-Chairs. The Campaign raises money that is then distributed—through a collaborative, volunteer-driven process—to programs that help people in Cincinnati, in Israel, and throughout the world. Hiudt and Price began their terms as Co-Chairs in October.
With many relying on the Campaign for needed funding, Hiudt and Price are leading the charge to raise $5.7 million. They are committed to a successful Campaign.
