In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Justice and Religion
In a land where freedom of conscience and toleration of principles are the grand bulwarks of the community, it is scarcely fair to make any mention or comment on the fact of such principles being carried out; but nevertheless when we find men high in a judicial capacity, whose station in society, and whose position before the people render their actions amenable to public opinion, giving a consideration, in matters of import, to the religious opinions of individuals, we hold it incumbent on the journalist whose province is to mark the progress of age, as well as he would condemn any infringement of the republican institutions of the country to render due praise where praise is due. With such ideas prevalent in our mind, we cannot refrain from noticing the following fact, as highly commendatory of the high sense of justice that has ever characterized the general proceedings of the Hon. Judge Storer.
— January 26, 1855
150 Years ago
The Cincinnati Southern Railroad
Among the modern enterprises which distinguishes our age of advancement might be classed the building of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad under the direct auspices of this city, whose citizens voted the expenditure of ten millions of dollars for that purpose. It is an enterprise worthy of our time and worthy of the thrift of our citizens, who are determined to supply this great community with the missing link of direct southeastern connection, opening for our wares a ready market in the great states of Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Florida and the Island of Cuba, which for the want of this railroad were heretofore hermetically sealed to us. Since the building of our road began, the state of North Carolina set its convicts to work in order to complete a link of sixty miles of railroad between Wilmington, North Carolina and Knoxville, Tenn.
The American Israelite Predicted It
We hereby place it on record that the building of the Cincinnati Southern Railroad, and making its terminus in Millcreek bottom, will so vastly improve that, and its adjoining territory, which now consists of a waste bottom and steep hills — entered upon the tax duplicate as of nominal value, and in its dreadful condition threatening the health and well-being of the city besides, will, within ten years after the completion of the Souther Railroad, so vastly increase in value, that from the rise of that value of that property alone, we will be enabled to pay the tax caused by the building of our Southern Railroad.
— January 28, 1876
125 Years ago
Jottings
– At the recent meeting of the Toledo, Ohio, board of the Council of Jewish Women, a paper on “The Child of Today,” by Mrs. I. Hubert attracted much attention because of its beautiful thoughts and practical suggestions.
– It is said that there is a legend in the English royal family that it is a branch of the House of David. The story is a long and curious one, and of course without authentication; yet it will repay the trouble of those who care to look it up.
– Among the delegates to the Cincinnati convention of U.A.H.C. were several gentlemen who are very prominent in the councils of the B’nai B’rith order. This may be taken as a most significant event. It apparently means cordial co-operation between these two bodies, which can be productive only of good, and that in a very great degree.
— January 24, 1901
100 Years ago
Jottings
– Congressman Jacobstein of Rochester, N.Y., and some other Jewish congressmen are endeavoring to obtain the necessary national legislation for liberalizing the Immigration Law. Their project is that the present quota regulations, which admit only the parents, husbands and children up to the age of twenty-one of citizens, should extend the privilege to relatives of those who are not full-fledged citizens.
– At Assen, Holland, a local Christian pastor has been summoned to appear before the General Synod of the Dutch Reform Church to answer to a charge of heresy. The Christian pastor had the audacity to express disbelief of the serpent having spoken in the garden of Eden to Eve about eating the apple. It is said that the religious world of Holland is greatly excited over the case.
Ford Loses New Move In Suit For Libel
A motion by counsel for Henry Ford to strike out of the complaint of Herman Bernstein, who is suing Mr. Ford for $200,000 for libel, several quotations from The Dearborn Independent, which were alleged to libel the Jews, was denied yesterday by Federal Judge A.N. Hand. The motion was made on the ground that a member of a class cannot sue for libelous attack upon the class if he is not personally referred to, or special damage claimed.
The decision related only to the first cause of action, but the quotations were allowed to remain in the second cause of action, in which the plaintiff alleged libel and injury to himself through Mr. Ford’s having caused to be printed in The Independent a state to the fact that most of the matter contained in the alleged interviews had been called to his attention by the plaintiff.
— January 28, 1926
75 Years ago
Jobs Begin at 60, Thanks to Efforts Of Vocational Service, Federation
If you’re more than 60 years of age and looking for a job, your chances today are believed better than ever before, due to the joint efforts of the Federation of Jewish Agencies and the Jewish Vocational Service.
JVS is attempting to find gainful employment for older persons and the physically handicapped as part of the Federation’s program to meet the problems of the aged and chronically ill.
George Newburger, the executive director of the JVS, reports more than a dozen persons have been placed in jobs through JVS, which is supported by the Jewish Welfare Fund. The oldest of these 12 job-seekers is 72 and the average age is 63.
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Irving Troy, of 3588 Van Antwerp Place, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Gerald, at the Ohav Shalom synagogue, 425 Forest Avenue, Saturday, Feb. 10.
A reception will be held in his honor Sunday, Feb. 11, at Ohav Shalom Synagogue, from 7:30 to 11:00 p.m. Relatives and friends are invited.
— February 1, 1951
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Our son Franklin Brent will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah on Sat. Feb. 7th at 9 a.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue.
Frank is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Fred Beller of Zanesville, Oh. and the late Mr. and Mrs. Albert Segal. He is the great grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Poley.
We cordially invite you to worship and rejoice with us on this happy occasion and join us for Kiddush following the services.
Bas Mitzvah
We are very pleased to announce the Bas Mitzvah of our daughter, Lisa Jennifer Borden, at Temple Shalom, February 14th at 10:45 a.m.
She is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Berman and Mrs. Sam Borden and the late Mr. Sam Borden. A kiddush will follow the ceremony. No cards.
Mrs. Joseph Glasser
Mr. Bernard Borden
UN Palestinian Resolution Is Vetoed by U.S.
UNITED NATIONS, NY — the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution Monday, Jan. 26, that favored creation of a Palestinian state and called for an Israeli withdrawal from all occupied Arab territory.
The veto was the 13th cast by America and the fourth dealing with the Middle East. U.S. Ambassador Daniel P. Moynihan argued that the resolution would undermine Mideast peace efforts.
The vote in the 15-member council was 9-1 with three abstentions and China and Libya not participating.
— January 29, 1976
10 Years ago
Hebrew Union College — Jewish Institute of Religion seeks to expand volunteer programs
The historic Cincinnati campus of Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR) is home to three extraordinary cultural and educational institutions: the Klau Library, the Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish Archives and the Skirball Museum. Additionally, the Scheuer Chapel, housed in the oldest building on the campus, has its own story to tell.
— January 28, 2016
5 Years ago
A celebration of life: Oscar Jarnicki
Oscar lived his life by the lyrics of Jon Bon Jovi’s song “IT’S MY LIFE.”
The lyrics go as follows: “IT’S MY LIFE, and it’s now or never, I ain’t gonna live forever, I just want to live while I’m alive, IT’S MY LIFE my heart is like an open highway, “I did it my way” I just want to live while I’m alive…”
Oscar was a life-long resident of Cincinnati and the child of Holocaust survivors (the late Ike and Rebecca [nee Berliner] Jarnicki).
— January 28, 2021
