In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
New York. — The Rev. Dr. Lilienthal has suffered for some time from inflammation of the eyes, but is recovering now. We are informed that the doctor is preparing for publication a great work. There can be nothing more welcome to us than good English books on Jewish subjects; for our English-Jewish literature is miserably poor. Let first our German rabbis here be well versed in the English, and this deficiency will rapidly vanish.
— January 12, 1855
150 Years ago
Items
– Nothing so humanizes the soul as sympathy. Nothing so thorough proves the man as his sympathizing with an alleviating the miseries of his fellow-creatures.
– A comic opera in three acts, entitled “La Belle Parfumeuse,” words by Messieurs Cremieux and Blum, and music by M. Offenbach, has been successfully produced at the Renaissance, Paris.
– The art of music, whose power has been acknowledged by the most profound thinkers of all ages, is of later growth than her sisters, Poetry, Sculpture, and Painting; and its means of communicating ideas are also less positive and direct; but the principles which govern its manifestations are strictly analogous, and we recognize in its very vague the yearning after the infinite, that feeling of ineffable loveliness, which, defying, by the electrical rapidity of its action upon the mind, the slow deductions of reason and all powers of analysis, approaches the divine in its bright mystery and inexplicable influences upon our sentiments and emotions.
— January 9, 1874
125 Years ago
Literary
To write an article for maids and mothers, and then to make it so interesting that it will rivet the attention of the fathers of maids and husbands of wives, is a guarantee of very wide reading. Professor Thurston Peck, of Columbia University, has succeeded in doing this in a paper which he devotes to women in the January Cosmopolitan. Professor Peck has a keenly analytical mind, and he weighs the pros and cons very carefully. His conclusions are tender and compassionate, but nevertheless very emphatic. It is a valuable contribution to “New Woman” literature.
Editor’s Note: The “New Woman” was a feminist thought movement that developed in the late 19th century. The movement sought to encourage independence in women, primarily in intellectual spheres. However, the notion also included the idea that women wanted independence in their manner of dress and in the ability to do certain activities, such as bicycling. The author Henry James is one of the writers who made popular the term “New Woman,” and represented the ideals of the movement in his works “Daisy Miller.”
Jottings
– The Israelites of Bucharest in Roumania formed a gymnasia college of their own, and opened its new building in November last. The state closed its schools to young Israel.
– The orthodox Rabbinical Seminary in Berlin celebrated its twenty-fifth birthday on the 27th and 28th of December. Its founder and director, Rev. Dr. Hildersheimer, is still at the head thereof. Some of its graduates have reached this country, and fill respectable positions.
– The Superior Court appointed as Dr. Wise’s successor in the University Board, the attorney-at-law, Max B. May, grandson of his predecessor. Mr. May being a B.A. graduate of this university and an M.A. from Harvard University and its department of law, the Board certainly loses nothing by this change.
– The Fort Wayne “Gazette” says that Rabbi Frederick Cohen, of that city, has received a call from the congregation in Omaha, and declined the same.
– The instrument which Edouard Remenyi, the famous violinist, was playing when he fell dead on the stage was a Stradivarius known as “the Titan.” He had refused many offers of large sums for it. Sol Marcosson, the young Louisville virtuoso, has just purchased it for $4,000.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Remenyi died while giving a concert in San Francisco. Sol Marcosson, born in 1869, was a violinist from Cleveland. When the price Mr. Marcosson paid for Mr. Remenyi’s violin is adjusted for inflation, it comes to about $148,000 dollars.
— January 12, 1899
100 Years ago
Pogrom Leader Executed
Moscow, December 26, (Jewish Telegraphic Agency). — The bandit leader Kuprenko, operating under General Petlura, has paid with his life for the many lies he has been guilty of snuffing out during the pogrom wave in the Ukraine. Kuprenko was tried by the District court sitting at Kiev and he was sentenced to death for the shooting of a Jewish family in a village in Kiev district. Witnesses described the terrible pogrom scenes, under Kuprenko’s participation and orders. The death sentence was executed by a firing party.
Jews to Finance University.
Vienna, (JTA). — Siegmun Bosel, a Viennese Jewish financier, has undertaken to cover the running cost of the Vienna University, following an appeal by Chancellor Seipel. Dr. Doeller, President of the University, ordered all faculties to prepare budgets to be submitted to Mr. Bosel. Mr. Bosel, a young man of thirty, has amassed a huge fortune during the last few years, and is today considered the richest man in Austria. He is sometimes called the Austrian Stinnes. The Viennese papers declare it peculiar that a Jew should support a University where German students try to expel their Jewish colleges. A semi-official statement declared that there is no danger of any further anti-Semitic excesses. It is estimated that the cost to Mr. Bosel of maintaining the university will be in the neighborhood of $2,500,000.
Editor’s Note: Mr. Bosel’s stewardship of Vienna University would cost him over $46 million today.
— January 10, 1924
75 Years ago
HUC Affiliate Given New York Charter
The Board of Regents of the University of the State of New York has granted a charter to the Hebrew Union School of Education and Sacred Music, Dr. Abraham N. Franzblau, dean of the school, announces. The new institution was formerly known as the Hebrew Union school of Jewish Education and the Hebrew Union School of Jewish Sacred Music. It is sponsored by the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, in cooperation with the Union of American Hebrew Congregations.
U.S. Seeks to Reduce British-Israel Tension in Downing of Planes
The United States government sought this week, in conversations with Israeli officials, to reduce tension caused by the shooting down of five British planes last week-end by Israeli forces.
The British rushed naval forces to the Mediterranean area but London reports indicated that British feeling was abating.
An Israeli spokesman charged that Britain was conducting a “vindictive campaign” against Israel over the loss of the planes. Israel declined to accept blame for the incident.
Peace negotiations for Palestinian peace were to begin Wednesday, Jan. 12th, between Israeli and Arab representatives under United Nations auspices, with Dr. Ralph Bunche, UN mediator, in charge on the Island of Rhodes.
Cincinnati Social and Personal
Mr. Maurice Mandell, bass, pupil of Dimtri Onefrie, and Mr. Ward Swingle of Mobile, Ala., pianist, pupil of Karin Dayas, will present a joint recital at the Cincinnati Conservatory Concert Hall, Oak Street and Burnet Avenue, Monday, Jan. 17th, at 8:15 p.m. Miss Linka Wellbaum will be accompanist. The public is invited to this free recital.
Mr. Mandell is a son of Mr. and Mrs. Julius Mandell of 630 Rockdale Avenue.
— January 13, 1949
50 years ago
Social News
– Miss Peggy Ann Markstein graduated Dec. 20 from Sarah Lawrence College. She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John L. Markstein.
– Mr. and Mrs. Robert A. Fischbach (Jane Pressman) 145 Fleming Road, announce the arrival of a son, Scott Jason.
The infant has a brother, Andrew Harrison.
The grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Albert Pressman of this city and Mrs. Harry Fischbach and the late Harry Fischbach of Great Neck, N.Y.
Bar Mitzvah
My son, Kenneth Louis, will read from the Torah and chant the Haftorah in honor of his Bar Mitzvah, Saturday, Jan. 12, 1974, at 9:30 in the morning, at the Northern Hills Synagogue, 715 Fleming Road.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddush luncheon following the services.
Kenneth is the son of the late Dr. Jules I. Weiss. He is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. John Weiss of Hollywood, Fla, and Mr. and Mrs. Barney Walker of Freehold, N.J. He is the great grandson of Mrs. Fannie Breger of New York City.
-Sue Weiss
— January 10, 1974
25 Years ago
Ohav Shalom to install Malowitz
Congregation Ohav Shalom will install Jule Malowitz as synagogue president at a dinner on Jan. 24. The installation will be the first one to take place at the synagogue’s new Cornell Road location.
Malowitz, a third-generation member of Ohav Shalom, has specific goals to accomplish during his term: “Since the shul relocated to its present Sycamore Township location, we have increased membership by 70 families. I plan to work with our active Membership Committee to continue this exciting growth pattern while maintaining the haimshe warmth that is part of the Ohav Shalom family.”
‘Introduction to Judaism offered’
“Introduction to Judaism” course for adults will be offered at the Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion beginning Wednesday, Feb. 10. There will be 14 evening sessions that will take place in the Bloch Auditorium from 7:15 – 10 p.m.
Rabbi Gary P. Zola, executive director of the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and assistant professor of the American Jewish experience will teach the course.
— January 14, 1999
10 Years ago
Camp at the J and Camp Livingston team up for ‘The Reunion 2014’
Summer seems like such a distant memory! Is your child going through camp withdrawal? Know the warning signs: 1.) She says she was just “holding those lanyards for a friend!”; 2.) He breaks out into song after meals for no good reason; 3.) She has taken to hoarding bottles of sunscreen and bug spray under her bed; 4.) He hangs his wet bath towels on a rope outside his bedroom window; 5.) You find bits of grass and dirt in her shoes from secret brushes with nature.
Luckily campers don’t have to go cold turkey any longer when Camp at the J and Camp Livingston partner up to present: The Reunion 2014 on Sunday, January 19 from 3-6pm at the Mayerson JCC! This FREE event is open to everyone who attended at least one session of Camp at the J and/or Camp Livingston during the summer of 2013, as well as potential campers and their families who want to learn more about one or both of the camps.
“I can’t wait for all the campers and staff to come together from across the region,” says Aaron Slovin, Acting Camp Livingston Director. “This is a rare opportunity for them to see more of their camp friends in one place during any time outside of the summer,” he adds. “This is likely going to be the biggest Cincinnati camp reunion ever!”
— January 9, 2014
