In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
Day of Atonement
When the sun will set, Sunday evening next, bid his farewell to this sublunar world, Israel in all parts of the globe begins the celebration of the Day of Atonement, continuing it till stars become visible in the horizon, on Monday evening. The whole day and part of the previous evening is spent in the synagogue, occupied with fasting, praying, singing and preaching. Every Jew who has not entirely deserted the sacred standard of Israel, hastens this day to meet with his brethren before the Lord, and the most avaricious suspend all worldly business this day, to devote it to the sublime purpose of reconciliation of our conscience and our recollections. It is a pleasing idea to think, this day I pray, and the millions of Israel pray with me to the same Father in heaven and the same end.
— September 29, 1854
150 Years ago
Local and Domestic
“The Franklin,” a social club of Philadelphia, recently divided $600 among the local charitable institutions.
Converts to Judaism
During the last two consecutive Saturdays the synagogue of Memphis, Tenn. has been the scene of two conversions. On the 18th of September, Mrs. A Peterson, and on the 25th, Miss Lucy Franklin, publicly renounced Christianity and embraced Judaism, the first mentioned lady was raised in the Catholic faith, and the latter was an Episcopalian.
City Items
The Cincinnati University was opened on Monday last.
— October 1, 1875
125 Years ago
Literary
In sharp contradiction to Rev. C.W. Currler’s advocacy of immediate independence for Cuba, in the October Forum, in an article in the same issue, pleading for the annexation of the island, by a prominent Cuban, whose name is withheld. He shows the heterogeneous composition of the population, considers the disasters that have attended the careers of the South American Latin republics, and declares that Cuba’s best hopes lie under the folds of the Stars and Stripes.
– Israel Zangwill explains his undefined attitude towards Zionism by saying that “Judaism must be de-nationalized or re-nationalized.” This like a great many smart epigrams has more sound than sense. Judaism was de-nationalized about 1,870 years ago. It is a world’s religion and those who seek to make it tribal once more are its enemies.
Yom Kippur Words
Rabbi I. L. Leucht, New Orleans
“The great benefit to be derived from the celebration of these scared days is to admonish us and to point to the ideal of man, as we have called the image of God in our two previous discourses. God stamped upon the heart man love of duty, duty of love to wife and child, the reverence of father and mother, the love of neighbor and country, the love of truth and honesty, the inclination to subdue the indwelling passion. But in the turmoil of our daily struggles and desires, in the excessive requirements of life, in the exactions of competition and dark constellations on the firmaments of commerce, where is the man who ideal was not dimmed or darkened or disappeared behind the clouds of human selfishness and human avarice?
— October 4, 1900
100 Years ago
The Polish-Jewish “Treaty”
The Polish government is reported to have made what may be termed a “Treaty of Peace” with its three million Jewish citizens, by which it agrees to discontinue all forms of official persecution and to give to its Jewish citizens equal civil and economic and religious rights with all other Polish citizens. News dispatches intimate that this new policy is not dictated by mere humanitarian motives, but rather by the dire necessity of saving the nation’s credit with foreign financiers. In other words the Polish officials have finally come to the conclusion that it does not PAY to subject one-tenth of its population to a state of official degradation.
— October 1, 1925
75 Years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Z. Braverman, 2280 Rosedale Avenue, Golf Manor, announce the bar mitzvah of their son, Julius Harold, on Saturday morning, Oct. 7, at the Forest Avenue Synagouge.
A reception for relatives and friends will be held on Sunday, Oct. 8, from 7 to 11 p.m. at the Forest Avenue Synagogue Annex, 3550 Washington Avenue. No cards.
Gold Star Mothers to Convene in Cincinnati Soon
The Hamilton County Chapter of the American Gold Star Mothers, Inc., will be hostess to the organization’s Department of Ohio convention, at the Hotel Sheraton-Gibson.
On Tuesday, Oct. 10, the first business session will be held, followed by the presidents’ luncheon at 12 noon. At the reception at 7:30 p.m. husbands all be welcome.
Bar Mitzvah
Dr. And Mrs. J.E. Levin, of 4523 Bristol Lane, announce the forthcoming bar mitzvah of their son, Joseph M., Saturday morning, Oct. 7, at the Louis Feinberg Synagog.
A reception will be held in his honor the same evening, Saturday, Oct. 7, from 8 to 11 p.m.
— October 5, 1950
50 years ago
Bar Mitzvah
Mr. and Mrs. Buddy Drizin announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son Marc Jeffrey, Saturday, Oct. 18 at 10:45 a.m., at Temple Sholom, 3100 Longmeadow Road.
Friends and relatives are cordially invited to attend services and Kiddush following.
Bas Mitzvah
We cordially invite all our friends and relatives to share in the Bas Mitzvah our Daughter, Risa, on Friday, Oct. 10, at 8:30 p.m., at Ohav Shalom Synagogue. We would be honored to have you worship with us on this happy occasion and join us for the Oneg Shabbat following the service.
AJC demands names of U.S. Boycott firms in Arabia
The American Jewish Congress has filed suit under the Freedom of Information Act to require the Department of Commerce to make public the names of American companies involved in the Arab boycott of Jewish business interest or companies that trade with Israel.
Secretary of Commerce Rogers C.B. Morton and Rauer H. Meyer, director of the Department’s Office of Export Administration, were named as defendants in papers filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.
The American Jewish Congress actions seeks an injunction to bar the Federal officials from withholding their files on U.S. firms that are asked to comply with The Arab boycott. The suit also asks for a declaratory judgment “that such withholding is not authorized by law.”
— October 9, 1975
25 Years ago
Hope Taft visits Cedar Village
She has attended over 600 public events during the last year and a half, received invitations to 1,400 events, given numerous TV, radio and newspaper interview and even has her own website. Is she Britney Spears or Jennifer Lopez? As members of Wise Temple Sisterhood and residents of Cedar Village found on September 20, the woman in question is Ohio’s First Lady, Hope Taft.
Speaking at the joint request of the Wise Temple Sisterhood of Cedar Village, Hope Taft’s presentation was part of the on-going mission to bring residents of Cedar Village together with Cincinnati area community, according to Sisterhood President Karen Sim.
“So many, many people have asked me, ‘What’s it like to be First Lady?’” Taft explained. Soft spoken but with an engaging smile, Taft used her remarks to answer that question.
Bat Mitzvah
Saturday, Oct. 7: Bat Mitzvah of Jaclyn Nussbaum, 10:45 a.m., Plum Street Temple.
— October 5, 2000
10 Years ago
Mentalist Sidney Friedman to headline Cedar Village Gala on October 11
Mentalist and entertainer Sidney Friedman, also known as “mentalist to the stars,” will be the featured entertainment at Cedar Village’s Chai Anniversary Gala, honoring Paul Heiman, on October 11, 2015.
Friedman, a combination of futurist, mentalist, intuitive mind expert, musician and “mathemagician” provides a “mind power show” that’s praised as the top brand of corporate event and holiday part entertainment. Featured on the Today show and The View, Friedman has been written about in Forbes Magazine, lauded by Fortune 100 companies and been highly desired by celebrities; his show is an exciting experience of inspirational ESP, telepathy, mind games, audience involvement and his exclusive “Music Mind Reading.” This entails Friedman sensing what song melody you are thinking of, and then playing it on the piano right on the spot.
Cantor to help usher in season at Valley
On September 9, Cincinnati’s Jewish community leaders welcomed Howard Beigelman to Cincinnati for his first visit in his new role as Director of Ohio Jewish Communities. OJC represents the Federations, partner agencies, and congregations on domestic and international issues in Columbus and Washington. It was created by the eight Jewish Federations in Ohio. OJC secures funds, educates, and maintains relationships with government officials to encourage sound public policy. Beigelman came to Cincinnati to meet the leaders of the Jewish community organization and to learn about the issues most pressing to Cincinnati’s Jewish community.
— October 1, 2015
