From the Pages

JEWISH BICENTENNIAL

Each week The American Israelite will print one milestone related to the history of the Cincinnati Jewish community over the last 200 years, provided by the Jewish Cincinnati Bicentennial. Each milestone weaves Jewish history within the greater context of our community’s development, and our country at large.

 1947 | Jacob Rader Marcus establishes the American Jewish Archives on the campus of Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. 

Learn even more about the history of Jewish Cincinnati at  https://www.jewishcincy200.org/historical-milestones

This Jewish Bicentennial ad is sponsored by The American Israelite

150 YEARS AGO

Varieties 

The state university of California has added a teacher of Hebrew to its Faculty. 

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In Warsaw, the Russian Government finally went so far as to appoint two Jewish lawyers as attorneys to the second instance court, which is one of the miracles of the century. 

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Professor Dr. Groetz, returning from Palestine, shows in a pamphlet that the Holy Land now counts about 16,000 Jews, most all poor, who do no work, live on alms, marry under the age of 18 - nay - 16 - and divide the alms unequally. All old complaints. He says that schools, asylums and hospitals, under European directors, are the things needed, nothing else will save them. 

Eden Park Elevator 

The Park Commissions are out for proposals to finish the stone entrance of Eden Park. We are of opinion that the stone entrance is not with what it has already cost and that more money should not be expended upon it at present. It may be all very well to lay out money for a park, but it is not clear that large sums of should be invested in obstructions to the entrance upon and enjoyment of it. 

Let the entrance stand, and turn your attention to getting up an elevator to carry the Fulton poor into the park at a cent a  piece, and return, if that will pay expenses. As it stands, the access to the Eden Park for half a mile near the dresses population is practically cut off by the steep cliff bank, which can only be overcome by the speeded modern invention of the elevator. A Fulton elevator would do immense credit to the Park Commissioners and to the city, but that would be nothing to its value to the universal crowd of poor people, mainly women and children and old persons, who are now shut up on small hot rooms, night as well as day. If they could get into the Park, it would gladden and prolong their lives, and perhaps justify the great expense of these choices luxuries of the poor -- green grass, fresh air, and the open sky. 

Less entrance, and even smaller music with the elevator would be better. The Commissioners may rest assured that they can not have an elevator going up a moment too soon. 

—August 2, 1872

125 YEARS AGO

Off for Klondyke 

Worcester, Mass, July 30 — Thirty four Hebrews have started from Boston en route for the gold fields of Alaska, leaving behind them families, houses and lands. It is their intention to make the journey, after leaving New York, on foot, and they will pay for the subsistence by plying their special trades and peddling. Their leader and President is Charles L. Wise. Mr. Wise said that the party were all aware of the dangers and perils of the trip, but were willing to face anything. 

Early Jewish Settlements in America

When Jews enjoyed practically no civil rights in England, and were scarcely any better off in France, in the last century, the American colonists, both the English on the Atlantic coast and the French on the Gulf of Mexico, welcomed them cordially and gave them a safe and happy home. This accounts for the large Jewish immigration in the last century that is, large in proportion to the population. It was composed of Hebrews from England, France, and especially from Spain and Portugal. 

These are the Jews who established the old Portuguese burying ground in New York City, and raised synagogs in differed cities in that period. Upon the breaking out of the revolution nine tenths were strongly in favor of the colonial cause, a larger percentage than existed among the colonists of English blood. 

They fought with great heroism in the revolutionary war, and all contributed generously to the “Continental Money Chest.” They were respected and loved by Washington and the founders of the republic. One of the most beautiful letters written by George Washington was to some Jewish merchants upon this very topic. They fought in the wars of 1812-1846, and in the late civil war toucans of them were arrayed on either side of that great struggle. 

Jottings

 Mrs. Jennie Greenwald was shot and fatally wounded by her husband, Joseph Greenwald, at Evanston, a superb of Salt Lake City, Utah. She was a divorced woman when Greenwald married her and both parties were of questionable reputation. 

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The project of building a new synagogue this year has been dropped but he Jewish people of Goshen. They were not able to raise the required amount of money and postponed the matter until a more favorable time. It will probably be taken up next spring. 

— August 5, 1897

100 YEARS AGO

May Import Palestine Wine 

Washington, July 27 (JTA) — The importation of wine form Palestine for sacramental purposes will be permitted under regulations issued by the Secretary of the Treasury today, defining the scope of the Willis-Campbell law passed by Congress last Fall, prohibiting the further importation of wine into the United States. Special exemption in favor of Palestine wine provides for the submission of affidavits by Rabbis with proper authority setting forth that there is an insufficient supply of Palestine wine. Importation will be permitted in quantities sufficient to meet the needs of American Jews. The exemption was granted upon representations of the Carmel Wine Co., the largest importers of Palestine Wine, assisted by the Union of Orthodox Rabbis. One of the grounds of the appeal was that prohibition on the import of wine from Palestine would cut off one of Palestine’s chief markets of vineyard exports. IN their efforts, the Carmel Company and the Rabbis were opposed by the anti-Saloon League and other prohibition organizations. The decision is said to mean much for the Palestine wine industry and a victory for the Orthodox Rabbis who succeeded in obtaining recognition of the special needs of Palestine wine which is preferred by many Orthodox Jews. 

Jottings 

The report of the New York Naturalization Bureau shows that of 150,000 new citizens made last year over one-third of the total were Jews. 

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The exact date of the Exodus, according to the famous German astronomer and Egyptologist, Dr. Edward Mahler, was March 27, in the year 1335 B.C.E.

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A mob of pogromists in Russia was held spellbound by the Jewish melodies sung by a Jewish Cantor who found the mob at a railroad station. The cantor's voice saved the Jewish population of the town. 

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The United States Post Office Department has officially thanked Henry Druckman, of Brooklyn, the letter carrier who last month caught in his mail sack a baby who was falling from a window he was passing.

— August 3, 1922

75 YEARS AGO

Release of Capt. Marks Urged by Zionist Group and Women’s Federation 

Several Cincinnati Jewish organizations have sent appeals to officials, urging release of  Captain Bernard Marks, of Cincinnati. 

British officials in Palestine are holding Capt. Marks, 25. He was the pilot  of the President Warfield, apprehended hear Haifa, with some 4,500 Jewish refugees aboard, after a struggle with British warships. 

Cincinnati organizations which have appealed for U.S. aid in obtaining Capt. Marks’ freedom include: 

Federation of Jewish Women’s Organizations

Cincinnati Zionist Council. 

The Cincinnati Jewish Community Council, the official spokesman of the Jews in Cincinnati, has taken no action and has not bee requested to take action by anyone interested, Council headquarters said this week. 

Editor’s note: As mentioned in our last week’s issue, Captain Marks, a Cincinnatian, was the first mate of the Exodus 1947 who was held hostage after the vessel was detained by British forces. He was held in a prison camp for three months before being deported back to the United States.

Births

Mr. and Mrs. Max Arons (Lilian Glazer) 960 Carpenter Street, Columbus, Ohio, announce the birth of a daughter, Linda Sharon, Monday, July 28th. The maternal grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Glazer, 308 Forest Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio.

— July 31, 1947

50 YEARS AGO

Nixon and Golda Meir Talk via Satellite Communication System

Jerusalem (JTA) — President Nixon and Premier Golda Meir exchanged warm words via telephone satellite communications. 

The occasion was Israel's link-up with the world-wide satellite communications system that will permit direct phone dialing overseas and all Israelis to view live television shows from abroad. 

The conversation, while ceremonial, was nevertheless as restatement of U.S. support for Israel.

Bar Mitzvah

Mr. and Mrs. Larry Max, of St. Louis, announce the Bar Mitzvah of their son. Randall M., Saturday, August 5, at Traditional Congregation of Creve Coeur. 

Randy is the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Samuel I. Comins and Mrs. Mollie Max, and the great-grandson of Mrs. Rose Camins. 

Births

Mr. and Mrs. Avery Klein (Maureen Cummins), 3386 Chalfant, Shaker Heights, Ohio, announce the birth of a son, Joshua Alex, Tuesday, July 18, at Mt. Sinai Hospital, Cleveland. 

The infant has a brother, Dustin Scott. 

Grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. Norman Cumins of Cincinnati and Mr. and Mrs. Austin Klein of Shaker Heights. The great grandmother is Mrs. Fannie Becker of Cincinnati. 

—August 3, 1972

25 YEARS AGO

Springer to be guest auctioneer at Valley fund-raiser

The Valley Temple will hold their Gala Auction IV at the Temple on Sunday, Sept. 14th at 6 p.m. The guest auctioneer for this fund-raising event will be Jerry Springer. It will be a casual evening that includes a light dinner, music, and the chance to bid on items in both the silent and main auctions.

Two installed as Adath Israel Sisterhood presidents 

At a recent sisterhood meeting, Robyn Gold and Susan Sultanik were installed as co-presidents  of the Adath Israel Sisterhood. 

Rabbi Irvin Wise, who conducted the installation, spoke about the important of the Sisterhood and the many accomplishments that have been made over the past years and the impact it has had on Adath Israel Congregation, the local community and the Conservative movement. 

Birthday

COME TO OUR SIMCHA! We invite all our friends to join us at 8:15 p.m. at Temple Sholom Friday night services on August 22. Be with us as our daughter, Jessica, is blessed in honor of her 13th birthday. We look forward to seeing you. 

—Tobe and Steve Snow

— August 7, 1997

10 YEARS AGO

Northern Hills introduces new Lev Shalem Mahzor 

Northern Hills Synagogue — Congregation B’nai Avraham has adopted the new High Holiday prayerbook developed by the Conservative movement, Mahzor Lev Shalem, and will begin using it at High Holy Day services this year. The mahzor, published by the Rabbinical Assembly in 2010, brings Conservative liturgy up to date, including references to the matriarchs alongside the patriarchs as an integral feature of the text, and expressing a contemporary Conservative Jewish religious sensibility. The mahzor features a new English translation, new readings in English and in Hebrew, and considerable explanatory material in the margins of the mahzor. The congregation solicited donations to pay for a complete set of the mahzorim, and the effort was quickly oversubscribed. 

Cedar Village 13th annual golf classic, come for the golf, stay for the brisket 

The Cedar Village Golf Classic has become famous for its kosher brisket dinner. According to Sally Korkin, executive director, Cedar Village Foundation, “Our dinner crowd keeps growing—we even have non-golfers who come out just for the brisket.” 

—August 2, 2012