In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Russian Despotism
In Russia every thing is despotic, even the education of youth. No Jew, at least, unless he belongs to a guild (class), can send his children to a gymnasium (grammar school); he is obliged to send them to the rabbinical school. The reader can form an idea of the importance of this school, when we tell him no other language but Russian is taught there, nor any history but that of the empire. They teach there besides a little of the Talmud and Hebrew. It is supported by the “light tax.” The following is an explanation of this tax: it is supposed that every Jew lights twelve candles in his house on the eve of the Sabbath and holidays, and he pays a Kopek for each of them, which is, annually, 29 francs 76 cents. The officials are very active in collecting this tax, and in their zeal ruin many an innocent person. Very often the master of the house is at work, the mistress at needle-work at a window looking into the street, and the children enjoying their innocent games. All at once the wife utters a cry; she has seen the functionary employed to collect the “light tax” coming.
— May 11, 1855
150 Years ago
Varieties
Secretary Bristow is the coming man of the Republican party, because he caught the thieves, and unless a party turn up free of thieves, bummers and camp-followers, he is the coming man.
Sunday In The Centennial Exhibition
And so it has been denied by the Commissioners that the World’s Exposition at Philadelphia should be closed every Sunday, because certain sects in this country want it so. In the Centennial year of the Grand Republic, all the people interested in the World’s Exposition will be forced to shut up, be they Turks, Japanese, Jews or infidels, they must keep their Sundays in Philadelphia, go to church and be good Protestant Christians, by order of the Commissioners. We invite everybody from every country to come to us to expose and be exposed, to see and to bee seen, provided he keeps the Sunday in the Quaker style; somewhat like that fellow who invited all his friends to dinner, provided each of them swallow a few shoe nails before each meal.
— May 12, 1876
125 Years ago
– One of the most luminous and suggestive addresses that we have read in many a day is that delivered by Prof. S. Schechter at the annual meeting of and distribution of prizes and certificates at Jews’ College, London. The learned professor, so well known through his studies on Rabbinic Theology, took as the subject of his address, “The Ideal of a Jewish Theological Seminary.” He set forth the claims of scholarship on the leaders of the Jewish community. He urged the need of continual devotion to study and showed that life-long teachers must be life-long learners.
– Who can read the harrowing tale recounted in Dreyfus’s own words as set forth in the book “Five Years of My Life” without a contracting of the heart-strings? As one reads further and further along in the painful diary, the wonder continues to grow how the harried sufferer was able to endure and survive the indignities to which he was subjected. Even the physical hardships appear more than human flesh can withstand but these, with all their acuteness, pale before the mental anguish which finds expression in cries of despair wrung from the very depths of a tortured soul. The impression of the man’s innocence and superiority made by the perusal of the letters to his wife published several years ago under the title “Letters of an Innocent Man” is but strengthened and weighted by this last document of dreadful tragedy.
— May 16, 1901
100 Years ago
Jottings
– A young English rabbi, one who is highly recommended, desires to come to the United States. He is willing to take a position as a teacher in a Sabbath school, or a school for instruction in religion and Hebraica. His address will be furnished if asked for, at this office.
– The wives of naturalized American citizens who were married before September 22, 1922, are now allowed to enter the United States in full enjoyment of their former matrimonial citizenship, it has been announced by the Department of States.
— May 13, 1926
75 Years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Robert Greenfield, of 3964 Dickinson Avenue, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Sheldon, Saturday, May 12, at Louis Feinberg Synagogue.
A reception will be held in his honor Sunday, May 13, from 8 to 11 p.m. at Feinberg Synagogue Center. Relatives and friends are invited. No cards.
Third Anniversary Of New State Will Be Celebrated
Abba Eban, Israeli ambassador to the United States and former representative of Israel in the United Nations, will be the guest of honor and principal speaker at a celebration Sunday, May 13, at 8 p.m., at Wise Center, in honor of the third anniversary of Israel’s independence.
The rally is being sponsored by the Cincinnati “Bonds for Israel” Committee, of which Sol Luckman is chairman.
— May 10, 1951
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
– Tulane and Jack Chartock would be pleased to have their family and friends worship with them at services Shabbat morning, Saturday, May 22 at 9 a.m.
Their son, Michael, will be called to the Torah on his Bar Mitzvah at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
Kiddush will follow services.
Michael is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jack Itkoff and Mrs. Herman Chartock and the late Herman Chartock.
– Mr. and Mrs. Gene I. Mesh proudly announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their youngest son, Lawrence Ira on Saturday, May 15, at 9 a.m. at Adath Israel Synagogue.
All of our relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and attend the Kiddush following the services. A reception in Larry’s honor will be held at 8380 Crestdale Court that evening at 8. No cards.
Larry is the grandson of Mrs. Lucille Schwartz and nephew of Mr. Philip Fogel.
He is the grandson of the late Charles and Lilian Mesh and Sidney Schwartz.
Bas Mitzvah
Mrs. Sharyn Feldstein and Julie Ann Murry, family of Melonie Feldstein, cordially invite you to our daughter’s and sister’s Bas Mitzvah on Sunday, May 16 at 2 p.m., at Agudas Israel (Golf Manor) Synagogue, 6442 Stover Avenue.
Melonie is the daughter of the late Arthur M. Feldstein. She is a granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jerome Gabel of Portsmouth, Ohio, and Mrs. Syd Feldstein of Brooklyn, N.Y. and the late Murry Feldstein. She is a great granddaughter of Mrs. Sarah Gordon of Portsmouth.
Following services we cordially invite you to join us in a reception in Melonie’s honor.
No cards.
— May 13, 1976
10 Years ago
AJC hosts 23rd annual Intergroup Community Seder
The American Jewish Committee (AJC) hosted its 23rd annual Community Intergroup Seder on Tuesday, April 19. Over 150 guests attended the Seder at the Mayerson JCC. The celebration of the ageless ritual of the Jewish holiday of Passover, the Festival of Freedom, was attended by participants from varied religious and ethnic backgrounds. Dozens of church groups, public officials, dignitaries, government leaders and students from parochial high schools and colleges attended.
Hi-tech success in Israel with a Cincinnati connection
Northern Hills Synagogue-Congregation B’nai Avraham is continuing its popular “Living Room Learning” series, with Ziv Riezman, US CEO of CEMax speaking on “Hi-Tech Success in Israel with a Cincinnati Connection” on May 15th at 7:30 p.m.
— May 12, 2016
5 Years ago
Golf Manor Synagogue’s Sefer Torahs: Old and new
The year 2021 marks 120 years for Golf Manor Synagogue (GMS). To celebrate this auspicious anniversary, Golf Manor Synagogue is embarking on a Sefer Torah Campaign.
Golf Manor Synagogue’s Sefer Torah Campaign is unlike any other. Many congregations will commission the writing of a brand-new Torah to join their collection. GMS is combining the writing of a new Torah with a restoration of their current Torahs.
Cincinnati re-opening: Adath Israel announces in-person services
Adath Israel Congregation has announced a pilot program of three in-person Shabbat morning services on May 15, 22 and 29. This is a milestone in the re-opening of Cincinnati synagogues and the return to practices approaching pre-Pandemic customs in response to rising rates of vaccination within the local Jewish community.
All the Orthodox shuls in Cincinnati have been holding services indoors and in person for months.
— May 13, 2021
