In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Jewish Hospital of New York
The opening ceremonies of this admirable institution, of which we gave a notice in our last issue, passed off to the satisfaction of all concerned. The banquet was a very brilliant affair, and we are informed that donations amounting to $7000 were collected on the occasion. Several very eloquent speeches were made by both Christian and Jewish gentlemen, which we regret our want of space precludes us from giving.
— June 8, 1855
150 Years ago
Items
– The habit of accurate and of systematic thought is invaluable. We believe it to be one of the elements vital to success, for all action has its initiative in the brain.
– The editor of the Mason County (Va.) Journal got converted in Chicago, and got drunk in Cincinnati; and how plaintively inquires, “Which is the worst — Cincinnati whisky or Chicago religion?”
– An inquiring man thrust his finger into a horse’s mouth to see how many teeth he had. The horse closed his mouth to see how many fingers the man had. The curiosity of each was fully satisfied.
– There is nothing which contributes more to the sweetness of life than friendship; there is nothing which disturbs our repose more than friends, if we have not the discernment to chose them well.
– The world uses 250,000,000 pounds of tea and 718,000,000 pounds of coffee every year. China furnishes early all the tea, and Brazil more than half the coffee.
Corner-Stone Laying
The Editor of the Israelite has gone to Fort Wayne, Ind., to deliver the oration at the laying of the corner-stone of the new temple, to be erected there. He will be back in the city Wednesday morning next.
Cincinnati. — The Temple Benai Yeshurun, corner Eight and Plum, is closed to be frescoed. It will take about three months to finish the work. Mr. Thien has taken the contract, and promises an elegant piece of work.
— June 5, 1874
125 Years ago
Of Course It Is
The emperor of Russia is in favor of peace, and demonstrates his sincerity by issuing an order expelling the Jews from St. Petersburg. That is his way of maintaining peace and doing away with the necessity for a standing army. All this talk of universal peace and the disarming of nations is as nonsensical as the emperor’s treatment of the Jews is inhuman. — Sandusky, O., Register.
Jottings
– The publishers of the American Israelite desire to engage the services of a lady as a traveling subscription solicitor. They will pay a salary and expenses, and in addition will also pay a liberal commission if earned. The position is permanent and can be made a good one by an ambitious woman.
– The Israelite has adopted a new rule. Hereafter whenever a correspondent wants to criticize the public acts of an individual or of the governing body of any Jewish institution, he will be required to sign his name and address to the letter in which this is done, and, if the communication is published, it will be with the signature appended. Our friends are requested to take notice of this and govern themselves accordingly.
— June 8, 1899
100 Years ago
Noah Lived 64,800 Years
Philadelphia (JTA) — The discovery of a four-sided prism in the Sumerian language, giving a list of the kings and rulers in Babylonia since their creation to the time of Hammurabi, was commented upon by Dr. Howard Chiera, Professor of Assyriology at the University of Pennsylvania, in a paper which he read at the Crozer Theological Seminary here. The tablet covers a period of 241,200 years preceding the flood, and Noah, according to the tablet, lived 64,800 years, making the 969 years of Methuselah pale into insignificance. Dr. Chiera explains the longevity of Noah by the fact that the Babylonians and Hebrews were without historical records and in order to fill up the gaps in their data stretched the lives of their kings and patriarchs as many thousands of years as necessary.
Editor’s Note: The prism discussed here is likely the Weld-Blundell Prism, uncovered in 1922 in modern Iraq by Herbert Weld Blundell. The prism itself does not reference Noah, though scholars at this time extrapolated the data in the prism and applied it to the story of Noah in the Hebrew Bible. The prism is now known as The Sumerian King List, and list cities and rules in Sumer and the surrounding area. It is considered a mostly mythological text, as it gives some rulers impossibly long reigns. However, the Sumerian King List is useful in that it shows us the shared mythology of a flood narrative that was used, reused, and recycled throughout the ancient Middle East.
Jottings
– The rapid growth of Los Angeles Cal. Jewry is evidenced by there being fifty confirmands this year at B’nai B’rith Temple, of which Edgar F. Mognin (H.U.C. 1914) is Rabbi.
– At the Congress of Soviets which is being held now in Moscow, Stalin, one of the triumvirate at the head of the government of Soviet Russia, reported concerning the membership of the Communist Party of Russia. According to his figures, the party has a total membership of 900,000 of which 45,000 are Jews.
– The United Hebrew Congregation of St. Louis, which recently purchased a beautiful site for a new temple, is not having clear sailing. The obstacle is that the residents of the surrounding sections are circling and signing a petition of protest against the erection of the projected structure. As reported, the objection is directed not against the erection of a synagog on the site, which is permitted there, but to the so-called “dance hall” adjust to the temple. There appears to be no religious principle involved.
— June 5, 1924
75 Years ago
HUC To Ordain 11, JIR 8 As Reform Rabbis
In Cincinnati, the Hebrew Union College will award the Master of Hebrew Letters degree to 11 men and will ordain them as rabbis at its sixty-fifth ordination service Saturday, June 11, at 10:15 a.m., in Rockdale Avenue Temple.
On Sunday afternoon, in New York, the Jewish Institute of Religion will award the degree of Master of Hebrew Literature to eight men and will ordain them. The Institue will hold a memorial service for Rabbi Wise in conjunction with tis commencement exercises.
Dr. Nelson Glueck, president of the HUC-JIR since the consolidation of the two seminaries last fall, will confer the degrees at both campuses. He will also confer the degree of Doctor of Hebrew Letters on two men who have completed advanced work at the College in Cincinnati.
Cincinnati Social and Personal
– Dr. Claudia Renate Simon, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Leopold Simon, Wyoming, Ohio, graduated form the College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, on Friday, June 3.
– Miss Betty Jean Kirschner, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Kirschner, who has been working and continuing her studies in New York, will be home this weekend to visit the rest of the month with her parents. She will be happy to see her relatives and friends.
— June 9, 1949
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
– Lois and Herbert E. Ostrov are pleased to announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter Hilary Marcy on Friday evening, June 14, at 8:15 p.m., at the Valley Temple, 145 Springfield Pike, Wyoming.
Hilary is the granddaughter of Blanche and Albert J. Rindsberg and the late Henry Levy; and the late Bessie and Louis Ostrov.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited tow orship with the family and attend the one shabbat following the service. No cards.
– Mr. and Mrs. Harry H Hachen Jr. are pleased to announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Susan Lynn, on Saturday, June 8th, at 10:45 a.m. at Temple Sholom, 3100 Longmeadow Lane.
Rabbi David. S. Hachen, Susan’s Uncle, will co-officiate with Rabbi Donald M. Splansky.
Susan is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Howard M. Ronsheim and the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Hachen.
Relatives and friends are coridally invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddish immediately following the service.
Bar Mitzvah
– Our son, Mark Jacob, will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah, Saturday, June 15, 1974, at 9 a.m., at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads, Kiddish following.
An open house in Mark’s honor will be held Saturday at 9 p.m. at home, 1539 Shenandoah Avenue. We wish all our family and friends to share this simcha with us. No cards.
Mark is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Saul Kirschner and Mr. and Mrs. Arthur W. Negin of Mansfield, Ohio.
Leonard and Lani Kirschner
– Mr. and Mrs. Rolf Schickler announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Mark Corey, Saturday, June 15th, at 10:45 a.m., at Rockdale Temple.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddush following services. No cards..
Mark is the grandson of Mrs. Max Schickler and the late Mr. Schickler and the late Mr. and Mrs. Charles Chudnof.
— June 6, 1974
25 Years ago
Students receive OTSA honors
Four students of the Regional Institute for Torah and Secular Studies received recognition for achievement in the Ohio Test of Scholastic Achievement.
According to Rabbi Nechemiah Kibel, dean of RITSS, the test is a competition that identifies the very best students in all academic areas throughout the state of Ohio.
Eeta Berger ranked 2nd in the district, 10th in the state, and 9th in any district in the state for first-year Chemistry.
Shayna Weinstein placed 19th in the district for first-year Algebra.
Aviva Auerbach placed 10th in the district and received an Honorable Mention in the state for English 12.
Leah Berlove placed 8th in the district for first-year Spanish.
— June 10, 1999
10 Years ago
Legacy Flame dedicated at Mayerson JCC
The Jewish Federation of Cincinnati dedicated The Legacy Flame: Sustaining our Future during the annual Moss Society reception Sunday at the Mayerson JCC. The sculpture is a living, pubic tribute to thank donors who have made a legacy gift commitment to a local Jewish agency, organization or congregation, and to inspire future generations to follow in their footsteps.
More than 180 people attended the event, including Honorary Chair Mrs. Frances Schloss, sculpture artist Brian Russell, and his Cincinnati art representative Marta Hewett. Vice President of Planned Giving and Endowments Bob Brant dedicated The Legacy Flame with Rabbi Lewis Kamrass, who led the gathering with the Shehecheyanu, a Jewish prayer said in thankfulness for new and unusual experiences.
— June 5, 2014
