In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
CINCINNATI — At a regular meeting of the Board of Trustees and Sub-trustees of K.K. Benai Yeshurun, held Saturday evening last, the proposition of putting an organ in the Synagogue, and making alterations in the interior of the building for the purpose of preparing a place for the choir and organ, and to increase the number of seats — was adopted without one dissenting voice. We understand that a committee has been appointed to prepare the necessary plan and to raise the fund. The matter will be laid before the general meeting with the best prospects that it will meet with no opposition whatsoever.
— December 29, 1854
150 Years ago
The Close Of The Year
The year 1875 closes today and with it also this volume of the AMERICAN ISRAELITE. It has been a year of storms and inundations, and many a husbandman has been disappointed in his expectations of a remunerative harvest. Bankruptcy in finical circles has marked the nerves of the moneyed men, commerce has been prostrated in consequence thereof, factories were closed, work was suspended and the West is overrun now by “tramps”—persons unused to agricultural labor now thrown out of employment, without means and without the skill whereby to gain any. Whether our political leaders will learn a lesson from the facts before us, whether they will be impressed with the truism, that a high protective tariff, securing the monopoly to some few persons, degrades the laboring class to helpless and unskilled factory hands, rendering them unfit to earn a livelihood outside of the factory and reducing them to a dependency as bad as slavery, remains to be seen. As a usual thing, our politicians are not very fast in profiting by experience. The woes, however, of a large number of people thrown upon the mercy of the community are before us, and charitable people can but feel commiseration, and seek to help where help is so much required.
Local and Domestic
– In the Benai Yeshurun Temple, this evening at 7 o’clock, in place of the usual lecture, Dr. Wise will deliver “The First Centennial Oration.” The house is open to the public. Seats are free.
– Friday next, Dr. Wise preaches a dedication sermon in Fort Wayne, Ind.; also Saturday in the new temple there, and Sunday evening, by invitation, in the Unitarian Church. He will lecture Monday at Bay City. Mich.; Wednesday at Lima, OH.—to be back in time on Friday.
— December 31, 1875
125 Years ago
– Thoughtful and patriotic Americans and Englishmen are desirous that the two nations shall remain friendly, and both seem willing to make such honorable concessions as will continue to their print cordial relations. It is nothing less than a crime to stir up bad blood between the two. Both have everything to gain by amicable relations, and it is impossible to see what good either can derive through antagonism. This, of course, is not only true of these two countries alone. If the various great nations of the world could be made to understand that commercial harmony and co-operation are sure to lead to the economic benefit of all, there would be some chance of realizing the peace on earth heard in theory and so little seen in practice.
– The successful abduction of Mr. Cudahy’s son has given rise in many quarters to the demand that crimes of that character be punished more severely than is now permitted by existing laws. It is even suggested that the death penalty is none too severe, and it is not improbable that in some states it may be adopted. Public sentiment will undoubtedly sustain the most rigorous measures that can be adopted against the stealing of children for the purpose of pecuniary ransom. Experience, however, shows that American juries are loath to inflict capital punishment, and, in order to avoid it, they frequently allow criminals to escape entirely, because there is no choice between death and no punishment at all. If there was any certainty that political or other influence cannot be depended upon in most instances to make life or prolonged sentences ineffective, they would be much more certain to act as deterrents than capital punishment, which in all likelihood will never be enforced.
— January 4, 1901
100 Years ago
Jottings
– Now the Jewish students have invaded football and are winning even more than their proportionate share in this field of college athletics, are they going to Judaize even the “pig skin?”—American Jewish World.
– Henry Ford believes that Jews are behind Europe’s ills, according to the Washington D.C. correspondent of the Berliner Tageblatt. This newspaper had its representative at the American capital interview the Detroit financier and publishes the result apologetically, explaining that it does so because it is “likely to afford amusement in these embarrassed times.”
– A German engineer, Jens Juergens, has made the wonderful discovery that Moses was a great chemist and invented dynamite, nitroglycerin and other explosives and by means of them worked his alleged miracles. Mr. Juergens has written a book on the subject, in which he sets forth arguments that prove his contention to his own satisfaction, but it is not at all likely to convince anyone else.
— December 31, 1925
75 Years ago
Sponsors Named For Welcome To Rabbi Maimon
Jewish communal leaders of Dayton and Columbus, Ohio, and Indianapolis will be among those who will help to welcome Rabbi Judah Leib HaCohen Maimon, minister of Religions, in the Israeli cabinet, when he visits Cincinnati Sunday, Feb. 4, according to George Rosen, chairman, and Joseph Cohen, co-chairman of the committee on arrangements for the dinner in his honor.
The dinner at the Hotel Sheraton is being sponsored by the Cincinnati chapter of Mizrachi, religious Zionist organization of America.
Rabbi Maimon, in an address he will deliver at the dinner, will seek to clarify such issues as Christian-Muslim-Jewish relations and freedom of religion in Israel.
Bar Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. M. Joseph Lisner announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Donald, Saturday, Jan. 13, at the Louis Feinberg Synagogue.
A reception will be held in his honor Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Louis Feinberg Synagogue, from 7 to 11 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. No cards.
– Dr. And Mrs. Albert Baden, of 1124 Fenmore Drive, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Richard, Saturday, Jan. 13, at Beth Am Institute.
A reception will be held in his honor Sunday, Jan. 14, at the Crest Hills Country Club, from 8 to 11 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited. No cards.
– Mr. and Mrs. Louis Carl announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Donald, Saturday morning, Jan. 13, at the Ohav Shalom Synagogue, 425 Forest Avenue.
A reception will be held in his honor Sunday, Jan. 14, from 7 to 11 p.m., at the family’s residence, 3947 Warwick Avenue.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited. No cards.
– Mr. and Mrs. Louis Rinsky announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Alan Hersh, on Saturday morning Jan. 13, at the North Avondale Synagogue, 3870 Reading Road.
A reception will be held in his honor at the residence, 791 Clinton Springs Avenue, Sunday, Jan. 14, from 7 to 11 p.m. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. No cards.
— January 4, 1951
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Seymour L. Cohen are proud to announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of her son, Daniel Adam Schwartz, on Saturday, Jan. 3, at 10:45 a.m.
Daniel is the son of Dr. Enrique Schwartz and the Grandson of Dr. and Mrs. Abraham Schwartz, of Mexico City, and Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Epstein of Mt. Vernon, N.Y.
Friends and relatives are invited to join them on this happy occasion and to be with them for Kiddush immediately following service.
— January 1, 1976
25 Years ago
Fifth Third sponsors JNF concert
Jewish National Fund will honor Cincinnati Mayor Charlie Luken with a concert Saturday, Jan. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Fifth Third Bank is the presenting sponsor of the event, which will feature a performance by David “Du Du” Fisher. A dessert reception following the concert, sponsored by Gary and Gail Schottenstein, will offer sponsors at the “friend” level and above an opportunity to meet with Fisher and Luken.
— December 28, 2000
10 Years ago
Jewish Federation hires new Associate Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council
The Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), a program of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati, has named Debra Pinger as Associate Director. Pinger will support the Council in all aspects of its work as the public affairs arm of the Cincinnati Jewish Community.
— December 31, 2015
