In the Beginning: 1854
Each week The American Israelite will print an item from the first years.
HOLY LAND, — We are credibly informed that Mr. Kursheedt, one of the executors of the will of the late Judah Touro, has paid over to Sir Moses Montefiore, the £12,000 bequeathed by the deceased philanthropist to the Jews in the Holy Land. We are further informed that these funds will be employed in the foundation of a hospital. We also learn that industrial schools for adults are about to be formed in Jerusalem.
— September 22, 1854
150 Years ago
Liberty and Popular Education
GENTLEMEN: Education is the defense of nations. The truth of this sentence has been proved by the result of our own unhappy, fratricidal war; it has been still more strikingly verified by the late Franco-German war. The school is the best armory; the drill of the mind is the best discipline; the educated soldier, who is used to think for himself, is the best warrior; and as the mind is superior to matter, so is thought in the rank of an army better than mere numerical strength and undaunted bravery.
Hence, instead of building costly armories and supporting large standing armies, it is our rule on this virgin soil of human liberty, to erect any number of school-houses, and to enlist, instruct, and drill any number of our American youth. This is our pride, our true national glory; this is, as the Bible says, our wisdom and understanding in the eyes of the nations.
Local and Domestic
- TITUSVILLE, PA. — The Congregation “B’nai Gemiluth Chesed,” dedicated their new temple on Martin Street, on September 5th, in the presence of a large concourse. The usual dedicatory ritual was followed, the sermon being delivered by Rev. Dr. Eger.
- CORRECTION. — Mr. Samuel Lowenstein, whom we reported as having lost his life during the disastrous Portland conflagration, informs us that we were misinformed. Mr. Lowenstein was severely injured, but not killed, and is at present at the sea-side recuperating his health.
— September 19, 1873
125 Years ago
Jottings
- On behalf of our staff, as well as on our own account, we desire to thank the many kind friends who sent us greetings and kind wishes on the Rosh Hashanah. May all the good they ask for us, be also granted even in greater measure to them and their families, and may heaven’s choicest blessings be showered upon them all.
- Rabbi Joseph Stolz of Isaiah temple has been appointed a member of the committee on Thanksgiving services at the Peace Jubilee to be held in Chicago next month.
- The Minneapolis Journal falls into the error of speaking of the Russian Menonites as Jews. The fact is that they are a Christian sect very much like quakers in their beliefs.
- The reform congregation of Atlanta, Ga., finds that its place of worship is altogether too small for its needs and is considering the advisability of erecting a handsome new temple.
— September 22, 1898
100 Years ago
Jottings
- Valparaiso University is not to be taken over by the Ku Klux Klan after all, it appears, on account of technicalities in the charter and deeds of the university. It is to be congratulated.
Editor’s Note: During this period, Valparaiso University was $375,000 in debt (equivalent to just over 6.7 million USD today). Horace Evans, university president at the time, considered selling the school to the Klan in order to save the institution. Fortunately, Valparaiso faculty staunchly opposed the sale, and numerous national newspapers condemned the possible “Klan University,” leading Evans to call off the sale. A group of Lutheran organizations came together and eventually purchased the school and converted it to a Lutheran institution in January of 1926. - According to the latest report of the Alexandria Jewish Community, there are about 26,000 Jews in the ancient Egyptian town. During 1922 there were 153 births, 244 marriages, and 384 deaths.
- According to the census of 1920, the Jewish population of Holland is just under 106,000, Amsterdam showing the largest proportion of this with a Jewish population of 63,784. Rotterdam follows next with a Jewish population of 10,911. Then comes The Hague (6845), Gronnigen (2369) and Utrecht (1067). It is estimated that the present population of Holland is about seven million.
- John McGraw’s quest for a Jewish baseball champion for the “Giants” seems to have ended, at least for the time being. McGraw has secured Moses Solomon, a 20-year-old player who, he believes, may become a second Babe Ruth. McGraw stated recently that he would be willing to pay $100,000 for a promising Jewish baseball player, believing that an ambitions Jewish player would well repay the huge investment. Solomon has embellished a fine record in the Minors League, having secured 48 home-runs this season.
Editor’s Note: Solomon, nicknamed “The Rabbi of Swat” (a play on Ruth’s “Sultan of Swat”) was briefly a resident of Columbus, Ohio, where he played baseball and football. He actually hit 49 home-runs in the 1923 Minor League season, breaking the old record of 45 set in 1895. He played one season with the Giants. During his debut game he scored the game-winning run. Sadly, Solomon’s field skills were not as good as those he displayed at bat, and he spent much of the season on the bench. He eventually returned to the Minor Leagues, playing for the Toledo Mudhens, as well as a few other teams. He died of heart failure in 1966 in Miami, where he was working as a building contractor.
— September 20, 1923
75 Years ago
Great Strides in Israel Apparent,
Says Dr. Wohl On Return to Cincinnati
“In the State of Israel, the general suspicion is confirmed that everyone there is on the giving and not on the reciting end,” Dr. Samuel Wohl of Wise Temple said upon his recent return from a three-month tour of Israel, Belgium, France, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Switzerland, and the American zones in Austria and Germany.
“The transformation of the people in Israel can be seen in their eyes and in their actions,” Dr. Wohl added. “Everyone wants 10 more persons to come into that country.
“Israel’s government is considered able and excellent by all parties in the coalition government and there is a marked unity of purpose.
“The struggle now is for the liquidation of the nightmare of Europe, and now in Arab lands where Jews are considered hostages.
“More than 70,000 persons entered Israel this year up to Sept. 1st and the rate will increase. The country’s absorptive capacity is excellent and there is work for everyone.”
David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s premier, is to that country “what Winston Churchill was to Great Britain in the latter’s great crisis,” Dr. Wohl said.
Cincinnati Social and Personal
Pfc. George J. Kaufman, son of Mr. and Mrs. William Kaufman, 3543 Wilson Avenue, has returned to Cincinnati after serving 18 months in the U.S. army, 12 months of which were spent in Japan. Mr. Kaufman plans on attending the Liberal Arts College of the University of Cincinnati in February.
— September 23, 1948
50 years ago
Yavneh Announces 2 Additions to Its Faculty
George Lebovitz, educational director, has announced two faculty appointments to the Yavneh Day School staff.
Mrs. Jack Sussman teaches kindergarten and elementary art classes. Mrs. Donald Harris is preschool teacher.
Mrs. Harris taught for 13 years on the staff of the Jewish community pre-school. Prior to that she was among the founders of Wise Temple Nursery school.
Mrs. Harris has a bachelor’s degree in education and has taught for 10 years in Cincinnati public schools. The Harrises are widely known in the Jewish community. Donald Harris is District director of B’nai B’rith. They have three children.
Mrs. Sussman taught kindergarten in Deer Park School district.
When the school levy failed in there a few years ago, she and two other teachers set up a private kindergarten at the request of parents in the area.
Mrs. Sussman has her bachelor’s degree from Adelphi University in New York. She is married and has two children.
Social News
Peter Schreiber, a June graduate of Woodward High School, has been named a recipient of the $1000 a year Kinniard Scholarship. He is a freshman at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio.
Scott Schreiber, Peter’s older brother, was awarded the Kinniard Scholarship on his graduation from Woodward in June 1971, again in 1972 and now in his third year at Miami was awarded the scholarship again for 1973.
Scott and Peter are the sons of Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Schreiber of Golf Manor.
The Kinniard Scholarship is awarded for high scholastic achievement.
— September 20, 1973
25 Years ago
AJC to honor David Lazarus for community service
The American Jewish Committee Cincinnati Chapter will present its 1998 Community Service Award to David Lazarus at a reception Wednesday, Oct. 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Losantiville Country Club. Keynote speaker will be Bruce Ramer, national president of the American Jewish Committee.
“We selected David for this honor because of his outstanding commitment to strengthening so many institutions. His devoted service, to Jewish agencies and to nonprofit in general, is an admirable model,” noted Dr. Bernard Hertzman, AJC Cincinnati Chapter president.
Chesley hosts president at fund-raising luncheon
By Phyllis Singer
Editor
For the second time in six months, Jewish community leader and national Democratic majority supported Stanley Chesley hosted President Clinton at a fund-raising event at his home.
On Sept. 17, Chesley held a luncheon at his Amberley Village home for the president and 45 other guests to raise funds for the national Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
— September 24, 1998
10 Years ago
Rockdale’s Opening Day
On Sunday, Sept. 8, Rockdale Temple’s Kehal Kodesh School enjoyed the beautiful weather as they held their opening day at Montgomery Park. The program started off with an innovative, exciting, camp-like experience as the students, teachers and parents gathered to sing and learn. Following the song session, Sigma Faye Coran, Senior Rabbi at Rockdale Temple, led the community in a Taschlich service. She asked students to reflect on something they didn’t do as well last year in Religious School as they would have liked and that they could improve upon this year.
Following Taschlich, students were divided by age to participate in activities geared around the three pillars of the schools’ new Chai curriculum: Torah, Avodah (service), and G’milut Chasadim (acts of lovingkindness).
— September 19, 2013
