In the Beginning: 1855
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Letter-Box of the Israelite
We beg our correspondents to remember the words of Polonius, who says that “Brevity is the should of wit, and tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes.” So we say to them, let your communications be concise, and to the point, our space is valuable and we wish to oblige all our friends.
— May 18, 1855
150 Years ago
Local and Domestic
– Information Wanted. — Chas. Wise, formerly of Natchez, Miss., any one knowing at present whereabouts of said Chas. Wise will confer a favor by addressing with information X.X., Israelite office.
– Dallas, Texas. — Nineteen ladies of this city collected the first funds to build a synagogue. They arranged a public supper, invited their friends, and collected of them about $400, which was given to the young congregation, who went to work to build a synagogue, at an expense of about $7,000, to be finished and dedicated early this fall. Good for the ladies of Dallas.
– One of the most peculiar, and personally most gratifying, events of last week was the introduction of the Minhag America in the Bethel Congregation of Albany, N.Y., where in the year 1850 the reformatory tendencies were so thoroughly condemned. So the spirit of the Hebrew people in this country has changed, so the old standpoint has been completely revolutionized. We send our thanks to the Bethel Congregation for this unmistakeable token of thorough conciliation and renewed friendship.
Items
The next sermon of the course (German) in the Temple, corner of Eighth and Plum Streets, on the Women of the Bible, will be tomorrow, on Hannah, the mother of the prophet.
— May 14, 1875
125 Years ago
Jottings
– We shall begin to publish next week the translation of the reminiscences of Dr. Wise, which we announced several weeks ago. These reminiscences will prove, we have no doubt, very interesting reading to the many friends and admirers of the great rabbi, who filled the largest place in American Jewish life.
– Mr. Max Elbe of Niagara Falls sends us $2 for the suffering Jews of India.
– Temple B’ne Jeshurun of Milwaukee, is to be remodeled so as to resembled the great Jewish temple at Berlin.
– Jacob Lipman, who was one of the first graduates of the Jewish Agricultural School at Woodbine, N.J., has been appointed New York State Chemist to be located at Cornell University.
– Rabbi George Solomon of Vicksburg, Miss., canvassed Memphis, Tenn., for the Wise Memorial Fund of the Hebrew Union College and obtained subscriptions amounting to over $2,000. He will shortly visit Monroe and Shreveport, La.
– At a banquet given Mr. Bryan ate the Lakeside Jewish Club of Chicago, Rabbi Emil G. Hirsch made a vehement attack on the colonial policy of the administration, declaring: “We want no American colonies; we want expansion along the line of statehood.” Dr. Hirsch paid a thrilling tribute to American manhood and patriotism, but in withering language repudiated “the patriotism that wraps itself in self-assured virtue and violates national pledges and plain duty.” Dr. Hirsch was one of the McKinley Illinois state presidential electors.
— May 17, 1900
100 Years ago
Jottings
– At the instigation of a number of wiseacres, Protestant clericals, and Ku Klux, several states have passed or are passing bills prohibiting the teaching of the theory of evolution in any school supported in whole, or in part, from the State taxes. Announcement has now been made that the next efforts of these wiseacres will be in the direction of getting various States, notably Tennessee, to adopt a bill prohibiting the teaching of the laws of gravitation.
– It is strain that some denominations that can raise millions for missing find it impossible to secure for their charities anything like the full measure of support to which they are entitled. The purchase of salvation is deemed of more importance than the free-will gift.
– What was probably the largest gift ever received by a Jewish organization was that given in New York recently by Frederick Brown. Mr. Brown donated $1,000,000 to the Federation for the support of Jewish Philanthropic Societies of New York. The donation was made in the form of a trust fund to yield an annual $50,000. Mr. Brown announced that, beginning with the current year and until his death, he would give annually to the federation $50,000 additional. As stated before, this is probably the largest single gift ever given to a Jewish organization of any kind.
– At Mezokovesd, Austria, the women had succumbed to modern influences, and had discarded their native costume, which is considered very beautiful, and were adopting the Parisian style of gowns, etc. The Jesuit priests of the town preached to the women how unreasonable and immoral it was to make such sacrifices for dress adornment, the modern garments being very expensive. Their appeals were heeded. Recently there was a procession of practically the entire population of the city to the market place where a solemn vow was taken to conserve Christian morals in dressing. Then, under the supervision of the fire brigade, a bonfire was made of the extravagant and scandal giving garments.
— May 14, 1925
75 Years ago
American Institute of Architects Honors A. Lincoln Fechheimer
A. Lincoln Fechheimer, Cincinnati architect, has been elected a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects. Mr. Fechheimer is a graduate of Columbia University and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Buildings designed and created by his former firm, Fechheimer & Ihorst, include Hebrew Union College buildings, Wise Center, Wilson Memorial Hall at University of Cincinnati, Reptile Building at Cincinnati Zoo, Ault Park Shelter Building, Schmidt Building.
Mr. Fechheimer is a brother of Mrs. Irwin M. Krohn, Sr, and Mrs. Walter H. Stix. He resides with Dr. And Mrs. Stix at 2359 Park Avenue.
British Scholar Dies Shortly Before Award of Degree by HUC-JIR
Dr. Lazarus Goldschmidt, Jewish scholar renowned for his translation of the Talmud into German, passed away in London Tuesday, April 18, at the age of 79.
He had been notified some weeks previously that the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City would award him the honorary degree of doctor of Hebrew Literature “in absentia” June 1, according to the London Jewish Chronicle.
— May 18, 1950
50 years ago
Bas Mitzvah
– Mr. and Mrs. Louis Lessure are pleased to announce the Bas Mitzvah of their daughter, Miriam.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to worship with the family at Adath Israel on Friday evening, May 23, at 8, and join in the Kiddish following the service.
Miriam is the granddaughter ion the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lessure of Cincinnati and the granddaughter of Mrs. Jacob Dreyer and the late Mr. Dreyer of Saginaw, Mich.
– Our daughter, Beth Lynn, will celebrate her Bas Mitzvah on Friday, May 23, at 8:30 p.m., at Ohav Shalom Synagogue, 1834 Section Road, Roselawn.
We cordially invite our friends and relatives to worship with us and join us at a reception at the Synagogue immediately following the Services.
Beth is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Gorssman and Mrs. Rose Polasky, and the late Mr. Ben Polasky.
No cards are being sent for this joyous occasion.
Saul and Joan Polasky.
Bar Mitzvah
– Dr. and Mrs. Edward Desatnik are happy to announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Brian Alan, on Saturday, May 24th, at 10:45 a.m., at the Isaac M. Wise Temple, Eighth and Plum Streets.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and join them for the Kiddish following the services.
Brian is the grandson of Mrs. Anna Desatnik and the late Mr. Max Desatnik of Cleveland, and Dr. and Mrs. Philip Katz of North Miami, Fla., and the great grandson of Mr. Julius Katz of Cleveland.
– Dr. and Mrs. Herbert Kraus announce the forthcoming Bar Mitzvah of their son, Larence Jay, on Saturday, May 24th, at 9 a.m., at Adath Israel Synagogue, Ridge and Galbraith Roads.
Relatives and friends are cordially invited to worship with the family and to attend the Kiddish following services.
Larence is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kessel and Mr. and Mrs. David Kraus of Cincinnati.
– Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel I. Marks, and Steven and Phyllis Marks, 2186 Bluegrass Lane, announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son and brother, Kenneth Alan, Saturday, May 24, at 9 a.m., at Congregation Ohav Shalom. Kenneth is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Hoodin, Cincinnati, and Mrs. Elizabeth Marks of Philadelphia, and the late Mr. Gustave Marks.
— May 15, 1975
25 Years ago
CHDS ‘Matan Torah’ ceremony
Recently, Cincinnati Hebrew Day School hosted its annual “Matan Torah” ceremony, which is a special program in which the first graders traditionally receive their first clue of the chumash. Each child is given a Hebrew volume of the Book of B’reishit (Genesis), which he or she will use for Chumash class at the school until the class finishes, in the third grade, the in-depth study of B’reishit.
The first grades made almost immediate use of their new “chumashim,” by studying from them on the very next day the story of the creation of the world.
— May 18, 2000
10 Years ago
Cedar Village Holds Eighteenth Annual Meeting
By Robert Reiner
Local Events Editor
The Cedar Village Retirement Community and Cedar Village Foundation recently held their 18th Annual Meeting. They are celebrating their “Chai” (18th) anniversary since the historic merger of the Orthodox Jewish Home and Glen Manor (Reform). The first new patient so the merged facility moved in March 16, 1998. The original two facilities cared for only nursing home patients. The new Cedar Village provides the latest in care for senior citizens. No longer a merged pair of nursing homes serving the Jewish community, it has become a modern retirement community providing the full spectrum of are for senior citizens of all faiths.
Linton Sharpnack, Interim CEO and President, mentioned several highlights for he past year, such as the Cedar Village Prom. Steward Bromberg talked about upcoming Chai Anniversary events, and both Barb Reed and Louise Roselle spoke highly of their boards and the hard work they put in.
— May 14, 2015
