In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Our Election
Being led by the maxim, that the Israelite exists for the benefit of the community, and not for the purpose of being an instrument of its editor or any other person; we have not only abstained carefully from writing on our own private or public affairs, but we even yielded frequently the editorial columns to those who we considered better informed on the subject on which an article was sent us, than ourselves.
But for this time we must make some remarks on a circumstance on which we are deeply concerned. If the reader will be kind enough to hear us, it will be found that it is a matter of public interest.
On November 5th Isaac M. Wise was elected by the vote of about one hundred and thirty members, rabbi, preacher and superintendent of the school of K.K. Benai Israel of this city. We had warm, and, we believe, honest and pious opponents in this congregation when six months ago we came to this city. It cannot be denied that we had for years warm and true-hearted friends in this community, but our opponents formed a vast majority. We may confess without fear of contradiction, that we in the discharge of our duties used no policy whatever, for the furtherance of our personal position.
—November 17, 1854
150 Years ago
Hannah’s Prayer and Vow
Among the many illustrious passages that the Bible contains, the prayer of Hannah, her vow and its fulfillment, must be considered as one of the most brilliant that piety, faith and the true devotion has ever created.
It is a soul-touching scene to behold the devoted wife, whose love is not blessed with the fruits of love, going to the house of the Lord and there intensely praying that she may become a mother, and vowing that if it be a male child she will devote him to the service of the Lord all the days of his life. And Hannah’s petition was graciously received before the Throne of Grace, for she became the mother of Samuel; and we can well imagine the joy of Hannah and the love she felt for her darling son.
Local and Domestic
The next presidential campaign will be highly interesting. The candidates will, most likely be Thurman and Grant. The Republicans must have Grant at the head of their ticket to expect success; and the Democrats must seek refuge behind Senator Thurman’s national reputation as a statesman and an honest politician. The only Republican who can carry New York is President Grant; and the only Democrat who can carry Ohio is Senator Thurman.
– Vice-president Wilson was very sick. He ate too much in New York, they say. A vice-president ought to know when he is done. Mr. (Henry) Wilson never did.
—November 19, 1875
125 Years ago
Death of Mrs. Babette Simon
In the passing of Mrs. Babette Pritz Simon, widow of the late Ezekiel Simon, Cincinnati Jewry has lost a figure that has been notable for over half a Century. Mrs. Simon was born in Demmelsdorf, Bavaria, May 12, 1820, and was married in Cincinnati in November, 1849. Having no children of her own, and her husband being possessed of ample means, she devoted her entire life to caring for young relatives, many of whom she reared to honorable man and womanhood, and helped to success in life, and in addition her benefactions to the poor were limited only by the means at her disposal. She gave not only money, but personal service, friendly counsel and loving sympathy to all that needed it within her reach, until the name of Babette Simon became a synonym for active charity.
Thanksgiving Service
Services will be held Thursday morning next, Thanksgiving day, at the Mound Street Temple at 10:15 o’clock. Dr. Phillipson will preach the sermon. A fine musical program has been arranged. The members of all the sister congregations in the city are cordially invited to participate in the service.
The Charm of Strauss Music
The testimony of a competent and conscientious critic is always worth while considering, when attainable before any public performance. The sum of critical estimate upon the performances of Eduard Strauss and his famous orchestra of Vienna thus far in his tour of this country, is vastly commendatory. Herr Strauss has a brilliant career and has been a brilliant mind much favored by royalty, and four years ago played several times at Windsor Castle.
—November 22, 1900
100 Years ago
Jottings
– The Associated Press reports that the University of Pennsylvania Museum Expedition has discovered the House of Ashtaroth where Philistines hung King Saul’s armor after victory.
– There is a movement on foot in Hungary to abbreviate the numerous clauses that is, the law limiting the number of Jewish students to be admitted to the Hungarian universities. The question will be brought up in the next meeting of the House of Deputies. A similar resolution was presented in previous years and defeated.
Wide Interest In Steiger Trial
Lemberg, (JTA)—Liberal public opinion in Poland has been greatly alarmed as a result of the new turn in the trial of Stansilaw Steiger, the Jewish student accused of having thrown the bomb at the president of the Polish Republic during his visit to Lemberg, Sept. 5, 1925.
After a number of witnesses had testified to Steiger’s innocence, a serious situation arose with the appearance on the witness stand of Miss Victoria Loedel, a Polish girl brought from Vienna for the purpose of testifying in the Steiger trial.
—November 19, 1925
75 Years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Comins, 1415 Lakeland Avenue, announce the bar mitzvah of their son, Charles Harvey, on Saturday morning, Nov. 25, at Beth Am. A reception will be held in his honor Sunday, Nov. 26, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Beth Am Building, Reading Road and Elizabeth Place. Relatives and friends are cordially invited. No cards.
Bearcat Coach To Speak at Award Night
Sid Gillman, popular University of Cincinnati Head Football Coach, will be principal speaker at the Jewish Community Center “Annual Award Night,” Tuesday, Dec. 5, 8 p.m.
Individual trophies will be presented to the Castelli Pilots, winners of the American Division, and to the Zimov’s Wasps, National Division champs.
Jerry Friedlander’s Bearcats will receive the trophies awarded for the championship playoff series of the Sunday Morning League.
Jewish War Veterans, winners of the J.C. Senior Fast Pitch League will also receive individual trophies.
Display Honors Eminent Jews
In honor of Jewish Book Month, Nov. 3 to Dec. 3, there is an interesting display of biographies and autobiographies of great and famous Jews, in the Lester Jaffe Display Case in the Lobby of the Jewish Community Center.
Included are works on and about Emma Lazarus, Bruno Walter, the Marx Brothers and Alfred Einstein and many others. The exhibit was compiled with the cooperation of Mr. Hebert Zafren, director of the Hebrew Union College Library. All books in the display are loaned from the H.U.C. collection.
—November 23, 1950
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
– Anita and Mike Meiberg of Suffield, Conn., announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son, Daniel Jay, on Nov. 29, in Springfield, Mass. Danny is the grandson of Mrs. Minnie Cohen of Roselawn, Mr. Robert Cohen of Franklin, Ohio and Me. And Mrs. Gustav Meiberg of Elmhurst.
– Our son, Albert Richard will be called to the Torah on the occasion of his Bar Mitzvah on Saturday, the twenty-second of November at ten forty-five in the morning.
We cordially invite you to worship and rejoice with us on this happy occasion at Temple Sholom, 3100 Longmeadow Lane
Kitty and Alan Kohn
Albert is the grandson of Mrs. Ben Kohn and the late Mr. Ben Kohn and the late Mr. and Mrs. Harry H. Hachen.
Cincinnatians’ Mission to Capital Is a Rewarding Day for Members; 22% Increase in Pledges Reported
Cincinnati Jewish leadership, in an intense, exhilarating, exhausting, emotion-packed Mission to Washington, Nov. 11, spent a 15-hour day in the capital participating in “shuttle diplomacy” and briefings.
The 67 members of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati were headed by Mrs. I Mark Zeligs, Federation president, and Morris G. Levine, 1976 Jewish Welfare Campaign chairman.
Briefings on congressional intentions, senatorial decisions, State Department affairs, needs of Israel and the infamous U.N. declaration on Zionism-Racism, were compressed into a day.
—November 20, 1975
25 Years ago
Levine is Cedar Village’s first Hall of Famer
Al Levine, who has lived at Cedar Village since 1997, was the first inductee in the campus’s Greater Cincinnati Jewish Senior Hall of Fame. Levine, 101, was honored at a dinner Oct. 29. Cedar Village plans to hold these awards dinner annually.
As master of ceremonies Jerry Teller noted, Levine was honored because “He is an inspiration to us all. At 101 he has aged gracefully and with dignity.”
HUC-JIR anniversary dinner to honor Teller, Cody
Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion’s Cincinnati Associates Corporate Council will host a tribute dinner Dec. 3 at the Hyatt Regency Grand Ballroom, commemorating the College-Institute’s 125th anniversary and recognizing Jerome S. Teller and Thomas G. Cody for their contributions to the community.
—November 16, 2000
10 Years ago
Wise Temple shares food and good health during the Thanksgiving season
On Wednesday, November 25, Wise Temple members will help to nurture body, mind and spirit by serving Thanksgiving dinner to those in need in the Over-the-Rhine community. Project leader Anne Safdi will head up about 25 Wise Temple volunteers at the St. Francis Seraph Soup Kitchen, whose mission is to provide everyone the benefits of good health, prosperity and well-being and to contribute positively to the neighborhood.
—November 19, 2015
