From the Pages

150 Years Ago

The March to Imperialism

Judge Busteed, of the United States District Court for Alabama, speaks of the citizens of the United States as “subjects of the national government,” and, in a letter to the Montgomery Advertiser, maintains that the expression is a correct one. In this new political era no doubt it is. The Radical government has always treated the people of the United States as subjects — not citizens; and when a judge of the United States voluntarily comes forward and gravely maintains that the people, who make the government and laws, are subjects, not citizens, we may well commence to reflect upon the wonderful change we have recently undergone. The very question — whether the people of the United States are citizens or subjects — is the great issue in the coming election, and now let the freemen of this country go to work and determine it for themselves. 

Jottings

Much has been said and written about the highly beneficial uses of having the mind always occupied, and the excellent results that ensue therefrom have been depicted in the very brightest hues. Poets and philosophers without number, have made the heroism of doing one’s allotted work well their theme, but if any one has yet sung of the beauty of laziness, or preached the Gospel of indolence, I should like to know it. That there is beauty in laziness, especially during these days of incandescence — all ye swelling city sinners have long ago discovered, and therefore you’ll doubtless agree with me when I say that it is the easiest thing possible to find people who are always anxiously active, and that the qualities of mind and body necessary to enable one to thoroughly enjoy doing nothing are rare indeed.  

— July 5, 1872 

125 Years Ago

A Jewish Lady Lawyer in New Zealand

Miss Ethel Rebecca Benjamin, LL.B., having passed her final examination about six months ago, has been admitted by Mr. Justice Williams as a barrister and solicitor of the Supreme Court of New Zealand. The two branches of the legal profession are there amalgamated; here the working of the foregoing announcement. Miss Benjamin has the distinction of being the first lady admitted to practice in the Colonial Courts. She is a daughter of Mr. Henry Benjamin of Dunedin, and a young lady of about 25 years of age and the eldest of a family of eleven or twelve children. Through her own ability and perseverance — for the family are not wealthy — she has attained the unique position she now holds. Some of Miss Benjamins’ brothers are also gifted, and are studying with the view to adopting a professional career. Her admission as a lawyer has given great satisfaction in Jewish circles. 

Jottings 

 -At Little Rock, Ark., Victor H. Roos of Waco, Tex., became a convert to Judaism. Mr. Roos was a Lutheran. The ceremony took place at the temple, Rabbi Charles Rubenstein officiating. The form followed was that sanctioned by the Central Conference of American Rabbis. 

-At Chicago last week the Jewish ladies gave a lawn fete to raise money for a rather unusual purpose, i.e., that of providing a resident superintendence in the poorest district, that on the West Side, who shall make the poverty of his district a study and suggest methods for its alleviation. He is also to conduct a kind of clearing house by which the associated charities can accomplish better work. Enough was raised for at least one year and as soon as a proper man can be found the experiment will be tried.

— July 8, 1897

100 Years Ago

Let There Be No Division

We have enough divisions in American jewry without creating any more. There seems a likelihood of a bitter controversy developing as the outcome of the establishment of Rabbi Stephen Wise’s Institute in New York. One can already see signs of feeling that bode no good for Judaism and especially congregational life. Of one thing we are sure, and that is Dr. Wise is going through with his plans to open his institute. He leaves next week for Europe to obtain members of the faculty. He is already collecting funds for the purpose and we understand that substantial contributions have been received. The Union of American Hebrew Congregations and the Hebrew Union College will have nothing to do with the proposed institute in New York. The Cincinnati authorities believe that the cause of Jewish education is well taken care of by their institution and if branches are needed or if the college requires enlargement to accommodate an increasing enrollment they feel amply able to take care of the situation. Dr. Wise wanted to co-operate with the college and to work in harmony with it. He may have made demands that seemed unreasonable, but it seems that for the welfare of the cause that some sort of working arrangement should have been devised. As it is now there is sure to be a sharp division. Some will align themselves with the group and some with the other. Support that has been heretofore extended  to the college in Cincinnati may now in some cases be diverted to the New York institute. There will be a feeling of rivalry developed that cannot be beneficial.

Editor’s Note: Rabbi Stephen Wise would indeed open the New York institute, which was called the Jewish Institute of Religion. Budgetary concerns for the Institute would eventually drive Wise to accept a merger between HUC and the JIR. The two schools would officially be merged in 1950, though negotiations began two years before that. The merger would lead to the opening of a second HUC campus in New York. 

Jottings 

-A fire did severe damage to the Brothers of Abraham Synagog in Brooklyn last week. 

-A monument to the memory of Josef Israels, Holland's great Jewish painter, was recently unveiled at Croningen, the artist’s birthplace. Members of the Government and many well-known figures of the artistic world were present at the ceremony.

-A half-million-dollar community center to house Jewish activities, including a Talmud Torah, is to be built at Eleventh and Vine Streets, Milwaukee, Wis. 

— July 6, 1922

75 Years Ago

J.D.C. to Expand Reconstruction Program

NEW YORK (WNS) - Formation of a new committee on reconstruction, to advise the Joint Distribution Committee on actives designed to help Europe’s Jewish survivors leave the relief rolls and achieve self-support, was announced here by Edward M. M. Warbug, Chairman of the J.D.C., the major American agency aiding Jewish survivors overseas. 

Cincinnati Social and Personal

-Attorney Edwin P. Drury announces his return to the practice of law, with offices at 606 Fountain Square Bldg. 

Recently returned from overseas, Mr. Drury was attached to Military Government Headquarters in Germany as counsel on the staff of the Legal Adviser to the Military Governor. 

-Mr. and Mrs. J. M. Kaiserman, Asheville, Ohio, announce the forthcoming marriage of their daughter, Alice, 3373 Reading Road, to Mr. Herschel M. Frank, son of Mrs. Lena Frank of Cincinnati, on Sunday, August 10th. 

-Mr. Harry Franklin, Mitchell Avenue, announces the engagement of his son, Lewis, formerly of Cincinnati and now of Los Angeles, Cal., to Miss Miriam Abrams of that city. Both are expected to arrive in Cincinnati for a short visit. 

— July 3, 1947

50 Years Ago

Worldwide Sale of Israel Bonds Hits $2 Billion

The $2 billion mark in the worldwide sale of Israel Bonds was reached during June, it was announced by Gene I. Mesh, chairman of the Cincinnati Committee, State of Israel Bonds. 

“Cincinnatians, through their purchases of Bonds over the past 21 years, can share in the pride of this accomplishment,” Mr. Mesh said. 

Celebrations of the $2 billion day are being planned on the national and local levels and a special observance of the event will also be held in Israel. 

Presents Painting to U.S. Embassy 

Mrs. Roland (Pearl) Schwartz, Cincinnati artist, recently presented a painting to the permanent collection of the U.S. Embassy in Rome. It is “In Days of Yore.”

The painting will be displayed in the Embassy originally known as the Palace of the first Queen of Italy, Margharita di Savoia. The Palace Buildings and Gardens date back to 34 B.C., during the reign of Julius Caesar. 

Births

Jewish Hospital Births include:

-Mr. and Mrs. Alva Lawrence Karovsky (Linda Lee Feebeck) announced the birth of a daughter, Ann Elizabeth (Hanna Elisheva), June 24.

Grandparents are Mr. Nathan Karovsky and the late Mrs. Ann Karovsky. The great grandmother is Mrs. Sarah Malin, all of Cincinnati. 

-Mr. and Mrs. Ivan Jerrard Silverman (Karen Leopold) announced the birth of a son, Douglas Richard, June 17. The infant has a sister, Elisa Jo. 

Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Silverman of Cincinnati and Mr. Harold Leopold of Miami Beach and Mrs. Sonia Leopold of Cleveland. The great grandfather is Mr. Ben Rogat of Cleveland. 

— July 6, 1972

25 Years Ago

Star Wars collectibles on Hillel’s auction block

“May the Force be with You!” as you bid on a collection of Star Wars items in Cincinnati. Dozens of mint condition Star Wars collectibles will be at the Annual Hillel Auction Extravaganza Sunday, July 20 from 5:30-9 p.m. at Mayerson Hall, Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion.

Hillel’s Vice President Stephen Lerner says, “This is one of the most exiting Auction Extravaganzas ever! There is tremendous variety in the items to be auctioned, ranging from antique Judaica to the latest of electronic gadgets.”

American Israelite gets first place AJPA award

The American Israelite won a Simon Rockower Award for Excellence in Jewish Journalism in the American Jewish Press Association’s 1996 competition. 

There were more than 600 entries in this year's competition. 

The Israelite previously won awards in the 1992, 1993 and 1994 Rockower competition. 

— July, 10 1997

10 Years Ago

Jewish Vocational Service Realigns

On July 1, some exciting changes will happen at Jewish Vocational Service (JVS) that will allow the organization to better focus its resources on helping members of the Jewish community move out of unemployment and achieve their career goals. 

The newly renamed JVS Career Services will concentrate its resources on expanding the programs currently offered through the Cincinnati Career Network, as well as maintaining the Hilb scholarship. Jewish Federation of Cincinnati President Andy Berger said, “JVS Career Services will be well positioned to play a key role in helping our Jewish community meet the career and business opportunity goals of Cincinnati 2020.” 

Cincinnati 2020 is a long-term strategic plan to transform Cincinnati into a model Jewish community.

Camp at the J Gives Kids Special Summer Camp Activities 

Camp at the J is off to an outstanding start this summer, with lots of great activities still ahead. Thanks to some generous donations, the Mayerson JCC is able to offer campers of all ages a broad range of special experiences this summer. For example, the kids enjoyed an amazing presentation by Cincinnati Museum Center’s Bat Program on Wheels, as well as a memorable visit by Drake Planetarium staff and their “magical world of stars” inside a giant inflatable dome. 

— July 5, 2012