In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
– Rev. Dr. Hershiemer’s Bible. — The Doctor has requested us to inform his friends in this country that his Bible can be obtained for five dollars. Parties desirous of obtaining a copy may send their direction to the office of the Israelite. As to those to whom the work is not known, we have merely to say that it contains the Hebrew text and one of the best and most accurate German translations, by the Doctor, of the whole Bible.
– Since Laborde opened up the lost wonders of Petra, its stones have cried aloud, and many a verse of Jehovah’s word stands graven there with a pen of iron in the rock forever. Skepticism was wont to sneer and ask, where is Nineveh, that great city of three days’ journey? But since Botta and Layard have shown its sixty miles of enclosing wall, skepticism sneers no longer.
Editor’s note: Botta, a French archaeologist, and Layard, a British archaeologist, explored Iraq with the hope of finding the ancient city of Nineveh. Botta ended up excavating Dur-Sharrukin, another Assyrian city about 15 miles away from Nineveh. About five years later, Layard would begin excavating Nineveh, shipping its large bas-reliefs to the British Museum, where many of them still stand today.
— February 9, 1855
150 Years ago
Foreign Record
– Dr. S. Senior Coronel, of Leeuwarden, has been appointed secretary to the Medical Council of the Provinces of Friesland and Groningen, with the approval of the King of Holland.
– Among the candidates in the November examination, held in Paris, for the diploma of school mistress, 29 Jewish aspirants competed. 21 were admitted to an oral examination, of whom 18 definitely passed.
– The Baroness Mayer de Rothschild, who recently stayed a few days in the Port of Genoa on board her yacht Czarina, presented a donation of 300 lire to the home for poor children in that town, and 200 lire to be distributed amongst the Jewish poor.
– We hear from Bologna that the building of the New Synagogue in that town is progressing very favorably. It was anticipated that the commencement of this year would witness its consecration. Baron G. Rothschild, who lately passed through this town, contributed 300 lire towards the building fund.
— February 5, 1875
125 Years ago
Jottings
– In Italy, Signor Luzzatti, the ex-Minister, has been elected president of the General Association of the Press, by an overwhelming majority.
– Among a shipload of refugees from the Transvaal that arrived in London, February 2d, on the transport “Cheshire,” there were 350 Jews. The Jewish Board of Guardians cared for them.
– The Montreal Jewish Times calls attention to the staunch loyalty of the Russian Jews of Canada, and contrasts it with the bigotry and disloyalty of a large section of the French Canadian catholics.
– After an existence of nearly twenty-three years the Jewish Progress of San Francisco has suspended publication. The Jewish community of San Francisco will not, however, be left without journalistic representation, as there are still three Jewish papers being published there.
– Dr. Richard Leuschner, the leading physician of Mt. Clemens, Mich., the famous health resort, has returned from a somewhat unique tour in Europe. Dr. Leuschner went abroad to obtain further knowledge in mineral water medication. With this end in view he visited fifteen different resorts and baths in various parts of the continent and expresses himself as highly pleased with the scientific results of his investigations. Dr. Leuschner is known to very many of our readers all over the country who have been benefited by his ministrations and the Mt. Clemens baths.
— February 8, 1900
100 Years ago
Jottings
– Cantor Rosenblatt, of New York City, established a new record for Chasanim when he filed a petition in voluntary bankruptcy in the Federal court, giving his liabilities at $191,719 and his assets at $32,859. It has always been supposed that a Chasan was fortunate if he succeeded in getting an income large enough to support himself and his family decently. Rosenblatt had proved an exception, although whatever advantages he had apparently did not do him much good.
– The recent death of former Mayor Frederick S. Spiegel at Cincinnati recalls a unique incident in the history of that city, namely that at a mayoralty election a number of years ago, the Republican and Democratic nominees were both Jews, namely, the Republican candidate was Julius Fleischman, who was elected, and the Democratic candidate was Alfred M. Cohen. If, therefore, there was anyone who did not want to vote for a Jew, he could either vote for the Socialist candidate or not vote at all.
– February is a notable month for the American people. February 12th is the birthday of Abraham Lincoln and has been made a national holiday, which, however, is not very generally observed; in fact, outside of newspaper editorials and reference to it in sermons, not very much attention is paid to it. Then on the 14th comes St. Valentine’s Day, which so far as the public attention goes, is far from what it used to be. Valentines are still sent largely from bashful admirers to the beloved, but outside of that there is little observance. Then on the 22nd comes the anniversary of George Washington’s birth, which also fails to create any very great excitement. Apparently the American people are not very strongly given to hero worship. The places of Washington and Lincoln in history are secure. Their services, which are inestimable, will never be forgotten and their memories are sacred, but the American people are not given to making a holy day of the birthday of an individual, though the memories of both men will be kept green as long as the nation will stand, which in all human probability will be forever.
— February 5, 1925
75 Years ago
President of AJC Assails Policy of U.S. On Nazis
United States authorities in Germany can still save Germany for control by liberals and from chauvinism and anti-Semitism, Rabbi Irving Miller, new national president of the American Jewish Congress, told the press here Tuesday, Jan 31.
To date the de-nazification program in west Germany is a failure and “anti-Semitism is worse than under Hitler,” he said.
But he added that “we have retained many control which we could still use to bring to the fore liberal elements whom we have suppressed.”
He sharply criticized the British for resuming arms shipments to Arab nations.
With regard to the AJC campaign for civil rights legislation, Rabbi Miller observed that “you can’t legislate away prejudice but you can legislate away discrimination — the effect of prejudice — and pledge for everyone a fair opportunity for education, housing and employment.”
Harold K. Goldstein, Cincinnati AJC president, presided at the luncheon Jan. 31 at the Cincinnati club in honor of Rabbi Miller.
Cincinnati Social and Personal
– Mrs. Edward Wertheimer, Sr., celebrated her 70th birthday on Friday, Feb. 3.
– Miss Helen Martin, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Chester Martin, has been elected vice president of the Junior class at Vassar.
– Mr. and Mrs. Clarence Mills have sailed on the SS Britannic for a winter cruise to the Mediterranean.
– Mr. Hugo Ernst is a newly elected member of the Heart Council, Public Heath Federation. Dr. Bernard Schwartz is medical director of the Cincinnati Health Department’s Heart Clinics.
— February 9, 1950
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Our son, Howard Paul, will be Bar Mitzvah on Saturday morning, Feb. 15th, 1975, at 9 a.m., at Congregation B’nai T’zedek at the Jewish Community Center.
It would give us great pleasure to have all our relatives and friends join us for services and Kiddish afterwards.
Howard is the grandson of Mrs. Annette Cohan and the late Mr. Benjamin M. Cohan and the late Mr. and Mrs. Morris Shokler.
-Gerry Ann and Bob Shokler
Famed HUC-JIR Archaeologist To Speak Here Wednesday Night
Dr. Avraham Biran, director of the Nelson Glueck School of Biblical Archaeology of the HUC-JIR in Jerusalem, will discuss the recent archaeological discoveries in Israel Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 11:40 a.m. in the Hebert R. Bloch auditorium of HUC-JIR.
Dr. Biran will show color slides taken at various excavation sites including new discoveries at a 50-acre site at Tel Dan. Last summer the HUC-JIR summer field and study programs assisted in uncovering the oldest discovered fountain house, used about 2,000 years ago by the Romans and first ever unearthed in Irael.
— February 6, 1975
25 Years ago
Cedar Village Hosts F.U.N.
For Yavneh Day School seventh graders F.U.N. spells “Fun United.” The class visits Cedar Village Retirement Community each month to have fun with the residents.
Last December the students enjoyed hand-dipping Hanukkah candles with their new resident friends.
One resident commented, “When the kids come, I forget about my troubles and smile.”
“The concept of providing opportunities for close and continuing contact with children where ongoing-relationships are formed is an Eden Alternative Principle. The process is what really counts,” explained Louis Kramer, director of recreation at Cedar Village.
— February 10, 2000
10 Years ago
Cedar Village welcomes their newest staff member
By Beth Kotzin
Assistant Editor
Toby, an English Cream Golden Retriever, is Cedar Village’s new facility dog, taking over for Gates, who passed away a short time ago. According to owner and Cedar Village’s Director of Rehabilitation Debi Tyler, Toby has “big paws to fill.”
At 14 weeks old, Toby has already been on the job for a month and the reaction has been phenomenal. “He makes the residents laugh,” said Tyler, “and distracts them from not feeling well.” Tyler gets enormous satisfaction seeing these reactions that Toby elicits. In fact, one resident even wrote a poem about him.
A facility dog is not like a therapy dog. Therapy dogs are trained to help those with vision or hearing issues, or to help detect medical problems. A facility dog is there to provide an extra level of interaction and support for the residents.
— February 5, 2015
