In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
A Newspaper Hoax
Many of the daily papers have published an item — on account of its brevity — that the husband of Jenny Lind could not go with his wife to Sweden, on account of his being a Jew. This is a hoax; because the Jews are not only tolerated, but even emancipated in Sweden, and besides which Mr. Goldsmith was frivolous enough to abjure his religion in Boston.
A Novel Method
Somebody, calling himself Judah Elkali of — I don’t know what place — sends forth an address to the Jews, teeming with rabbinical quotations, for the purpose of organizing associations, to rebuild the temple of Jerusalem. But the good man publishes his address in the Meshumodim Chronicle in New York, a paper not read by two dozen Jews on the whole continent. Was Mr. Elkali fooled by some apostate, or is he one of the company of the Chronicle saints? I am afraid this address is intended to swindle some good-natured people out of their dollars and dimes.
— February 23, 1855
150 Years ago
The Debate
The public debate between the Rev. Dr. Sonneschein, of St. Louis, and Mr. Schnetz, of Milwaukee, is a matter of public interest. It has exercised a profound influence on the minds of thousands in Milwaukee, and will influence many more abroad. On our part, it proves that we are able to uphold the standpoints of Judaism, and that we are willing to do it, not only opposite the various religious denominations, but also opposite the various irreligious sects of materialists and Darwinists, to which the latter class we believe Mr. Schnetz belongs. Our colleagues in the East do not trouble themselves about those things, because they are outside of the respective synagogues of each; but in this living West, where all things and persons are alive and at work constantly, here the spirits collide, and whoever cannot defend himself must disappear. We do try to defend ourselves, and carry the war into Egypt. We feel that Rev. Dr. Sonneschein has done a capital piece of work for Judaism, and feel prompted to say so.
Three Hundred Thousand Dollars
To make the Hebrew Union College what it should be, the sum of three hundred thousand dollars is necessary. That amount will provide the institute with a proper college building and library worthy of that name. It will create a sinking fund that will bear a sufficient interest with which to remunerate the services of its distinguished professors. We say distinguished, for it is the intention of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, when the Faculty is finally organized, that it shall be composed of the most eminent talent of both hemispheres; and no man of extraordinary learning and distinction will resign his position and accept one in another institute unless he feels certain that the offered remuneration will be drawn from a permanent fund devoted to that purpose, and, besides that, is satisfied that the institute has not only the financial, but also the moral support of the people at large, who will send their children there to complete their education and look upon that place of learning with veneration and love.
— February 25, 1876
125 Years ago
Jottings
Dr. E.G. Hirsch of Chicago preached a sensational sermon on municipal politics in Sinai Temple last Sunday morning, which has attracted a great deal of attention.
Local
The two Romanian girls, Rose and Mary Rafalowitz, who were found wandering about the streets in a half-starved and frozen condition, without a penny, and temporarily cared for by Dr. Louise H. Landman of W. 9th St., have been taken in charge by the Jewish Associated Charities and will be sent on to their relatives as soon as they can be heard from.
– The pessimistic tone of some rabbis and “rabbi editors” when they have occasion to speak or write of existing conditions in American Judaism is unnecessarily depressing. Never in the history of Judaism has its practical ends been more conscientiously striven for than at the present time. Times change and men with their ideas and customs change with them. We do not do things as our fathers did them, nor is it desirable that we should. The attitude of civilized humanity in its relation to religion has changed greatly during the last fifty years. There is less reliance upon the formulas of creed, but more attention is paid to the ends which religion is intended to subserve. There is less of the blind faith, which only too often verged upon the confines of superstition, and more of the true fruit of the tree of life. If a religion is to be judged by its activities, the Jews of America have good reason to claim that in their way they are doing their duty as it was done by those who preceded them in their way.
— February 28, 1901
100 Years ago
Jottings
– Jazz music played by a dance hall orchestra “went over big” when introduced as a part of the services at the Wilshire Congregational church of Los Angeles, Cal. The pastor, Dr. Frank Dyer, said that he desired to show that much of the current music is easily reconcilable to church attendance.
– The British Royal Astronomical Society’s Gold Medal has been awarded to Professor Albert Einstein in recognition of his theory of relativity. This action of the leading society of its kind in the world should forever put an end to all doubt as to the value and correctness of Professor Einstein’s discovery.
– On Sunday, February 21, several hundred Jewish men and women, representing Zionist organizations and groups from all over the state of Wisconsin, assembled in Milwaukee to confer on their common endeavor to advance the cause of Zionism and to perfect a state-wide Zionist organization for the more efficient administration of the local program of activities.
— February 25, 1926
75 Years ago
Bureau Sets Goal Of “25% Plus” For Welfare Fund
All-out cooperation in the drive to obtain a 25% increase in pledges to the 1951 Cincinnati Jewish Welfare Fund was pledged by the Board of Trustees of the Bureau of Jewish Education Sunday, Feb. 25, at the Bureau.
Following an address by Harold K. Goldstein, general chairman of the JWF campaign, the board unanimously adopted resolutions in which the members pledged themselves to do everything in their power to attain an increase above last year’s giving by Board members representing a sum total increase of 25% or more.
Morton J. Heldman, president, reported that the action was taken “following an inspiring talk by Mr. Goldstein and a realization of the urgency of the great need this year.”
To implement the action, the members decided to take cards of their fellow members to follow through on the pledge contained in the resolutions.
Judge Robert S. Marx Writes of World Tour On SS Stella Polaris
Friends of former Judge Robert S. Marx have received letters from him, telling of his experiences in his world tour aboard the SS Stella Polaris.
Judge Marx was in Tahiti on his birthday Jan. 28. He entertained at dinner at Madame Rivnacs, a French Tahitian eating and dancing place, nine miles from Papeete. It is world famous for entertainment and cuisine.
His trip includes the Samoan Islands, Fiji Islands, Guadalcanal, New Guinea, northern Australia, Indonesia, Bali, Java, Sumatra, Siam, Cylon, India, South Africa, Brazil and Trinidad.
The 130 passengers include the most widely traveled group he has ever met, Judge Marx wrote.
— March 1, 1951
50 years ago
Brandeis To Present “Fine Art of Batik” Program March 1st
The artist, a native Cincinnatian who studied at the Art Museum and Art Academy, UC and Edgecliff, attended the Tyler School of Fine Art, Temple University, Philadelphia and received her BS in Art Education from New York University.
She was taught art for 10 years and also worked with the elderly in craft programs.
Penina Frankel has received numerous honors and distinctions, including cash awards and scholarships.
Bar Mitzvah
– Our son, Charles Steven, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, March 6 at 9 a.m. at the Adath Israel Synagogue 3201 E. Galbraith Rd.
You are cordially invited to worship and rejoice with us on this happy occasion and join us for Kiddush following the service. Charles is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Shapiro and Mrs. Charles Sewell and the late Charles Sewell of Nashville.
Phyllis and Martin Sewell.
– Mr. and Mrs. Mark L. Stern proudly announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son Joseph Lawrence on Saturday, March 13th at 10:45 a.m. at Rockdale Temple. Friends and relatives are invited to join them for services and the Kiddush following the occasion.
No cards.
— February 26, 1976
10 Years ago
Jewish Family Service hosts Dr. Ronald D. Siegel for two presentations on Mindfulness
Mindfulness — focusing awareness on the present moment with acceptance — will be the topic of two presentations when Jewish Family Service hosts author and Harvard professor Ronald D. Siegel, PsyD. One is free of charge for the community; the other is a professional development workshop offering 6 Continuing Education units in a variety of disciplines.
— February 25, 2016
5 Years ago
Wise Travels Without Baggage presents new tour on itinerary
In December, over one hundred Isaac M. Wise Temple congregants took a trip to Barcelona, Spain without ever leaving their home. On January 24, over a hundred fifty experienced the Russian cities of St. Petersburg and Moscow, and a week later over a hundred sixty armchair tourists jetted off to Italy to wander Venice, Pitigliano and Rome. With the assistance of Wise Temple’s Adult Learning program and very knowledgable and well-traveled tour educators, participants satisfied their wanderlust and thirst for historical knowledge of Jewish people halfway across the world. Berlin is next on the itinerary.
— February 25, 2021
