USA > Ohio > Hamilton County > Cincinnati > Cincinnati, the Queen City, 1788-1912, Volume II > Part 5
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At first the women were seated in the gallery of the temple and other strictly orthodox customs were followed, but the spirit of progress as expounded by Dr. Wise entered into the services, and by degrees many of the more important reforms were introduced. In June, 1872, the organ was heard for the first time in the temple, and the choir was composed of fifty children, under the direction of Wm. Eckert. This children's choir was at once followed by the Sabbath school. From that time forward congregation Ahabeth Achim continued in a course midway between Reform and Orthodox, until it was merged with Sherith Israel into the new congregation.
Among the rabbis who officiated at various times were such well known names as Goldammer, Illiowitzi, Eppstein, Rosenstein, Mandel, Zirndorf and Deutsch.
The members of Ahabeth Achim began moving away from the West End years ago, and as was the case with Sherith Israel it became apparent that neither organization would exist by itself. This led to the consolidation.
K. K. SHERITH ISRAEL.
Congregation Sherith Israel was organized September 3, 1855, in Gerson's hotel, then on Walnut street, between Fourth and Fifth streets. Following is a list of the original members :
The officers were: President, Leopold Melius ; vice president, P. Bamberger ; treasurer, M. Weiler ; secretary, Nathan Moses; warden, Hyman Moses. Mem- bers, Cerf Lehman, L. Uhlfelder, S. Statthagen, Jonas Hirsh, A. Wertheimer, Jacob I. Samuels, Eph Levy, Henry Hart, Bernard Michael, A. Klein, Wolf Lublin, Jos. Steinauer, Simon Flohr, Isaac Cohen, Gabriel Beitman, Levy Spel- man, Hess Kaufman, Simon Weiler, Solomon Loewenthal, Mayer Hoffman, Eph. Bloch, Simon Cohen, Sam Bruel, Nathan Malzer, Hyman Moses, Leopold Melius, Michael Daniels, Nathan Moses, Gerson Landsberg, Philip Bamberger, Michael Weiler, P. Potsdam, M. A. Cohen, Lipman Marks, Simon Bamberger, Isaac Jacobs, Nathan Bing, Jacob Hirschberg, M. Isaacs, Felix Hirsch, H. Bloch, Alex. Straus, Dr. J. Mayer, Jacob Hilp, M. Bloom, Jos. Goldberg, S. Bing, Wolf
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Gerson, Moses Hirsch, Solomon Wechsler, H. Hess, M. A. Wartcki, Joseph Holzman.
On January 13, 1856, the hall at the corner of Seventh and Walnut streets was leased for four years at an annual rental of $400 per annum, and on Febru- ary 29th it was duly consecrated as a synagog. M. Lasker was at this time elected cantor of the congregation.
Almost immediately plans were made for a proper place of worship, but it was not until September, 1860, that the new synagog on Lodge street, between Sixth and Seventh, was dedicated.
September 3, 1865, Dr. Illoway was elected rabbi for a term of five years, and continued in that capacity until his death, caused by an accident to the buggy in which he was driving to his home.
On December 2, 1882, the building in Lodge street was sold for $13,500, and on April 15, 1883, the lot on the corner of Richmond and Mound streets was purchased, and on March 27, 1885, the handsome new temple of stone was dedicated.
In the same year Dr. David Davidson, of the Hebrew Union college, was elected rabbi, and on April 27, 1890, Dr. Grodsky was elected cantor. The latter holds the same position in the consolidated congregations.
On April 12, 1905, the Richmond street temple was sold to congregation Ohave Sholem (Orthodox).
AHABETH ACHIM-SH'RITH ISRAEL.
For a long time the question of consolidation had been debated by both con- gregations, but the real fusion did not take place until May, 1906. The new congregation, which bears the name of both its constituents, is worshiping tem- porarily under the ministration of Rabbi Jacob Mielziner, son of the late lamented Dr. M. Mielziner.
Property for a new temple has been purchased at the corner of Reading road and Ridgeway avenue, Avondale. The lot is 100 by 240 feet deep, and a very handsome structure is to be erected. The plans are now under considera- tion. At present the congregation numbers 160 members, but that number will be increased to 200 as soon as the new temple is completed.
The value of the congregational property is between $60,000 and $70,000, and the annual expenditure is about $5,000 at present. Since the consolidation the new congregation has two cemeteries, as detailed elsewhere.
CONGREGATION OHAVE SHOLEM.
Congregation Ohave Sholem was founded in 1882 at the old Spencer House on Broadway, with a membership of twenty. B. Davidove was the first president. The congregation remained at the Spencer House for one year, and then rented a little room on Sycamore street. After three years the membership band increased to twenty-five and better quarters were secured on Fourth street. The congrega- tion at this time had three scrolls of the law. In three years more the Fourth street room proved too small for the growing membership and a hall was secured
.
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on George street, between Central avenue and John. The organization now numbered thirty members and had five Torahs, so they felt able to incur in- creased expenses. The congregation remained here four years and then moved to 615 West Court street. Here they remained seven years and purchased the property they occupied for $9,000. The membership was now sixty, and in four years more it had grown to ninety. At this time the synagog on the corner of Richmond and Mound streets, the present home of the congregation, was purchased from Congregation Sherith Israel for $25,000. The congregation now numbers one hundred and thirty members, has twelve scrolls and owns both its present synagog and the property it formerly occupied on Court street. The annual expenditures of the congregation are $2,500.
The officiating rabbi is Rev. S. Lipshitz, who is very popular with his people. The congregation has a cemetery on Price Hill.
CONGREGATION ANSHE POLAND.
Congregation Anshe Poland was organized about 1894 by E. Augustus, Abr. Berg and A. Gold, the latter now dead. The first place of worship was in a hall on Central avenue. After three years the building on Elm street, near Findlay, was rented and four years ago the property was purchased for $5,500, and is now the permanent home of the congregation.
The building is moderately large and of good appearance, but the congrega- tion, composed of but twenty-two members, finds it difficult to keep the organiza- tion going and quite unable to make any improvements.
The congregation uses the Kenyon avenue congregation's cemetery.
SMALLER CONGREGATIONS.
There are several congregations in what may be called the transition period, passing from an indefinite organization to something like a promising association like the ones described above. Among them are :
Jad Charuzim (Austrian-Hungarian), Clinton street ; Agudas Achim, Apple and Vandalia streets; Anshe Chesed, George street.
In addition there are a number of scattered societies that make it a practice to get together around the Holy day and use temporary places of worship.
CONGREGATION BETH HAMEDRASH HAGODOL.
Congregation Beth Hamedrash Hagodol (Orthodox) was founded August, 1886, and its first place of worship was in an upper floor on Fifth street, between Plum and Central avenue.
The original founders were Dan and Max Bloch, and the first officers were: President, J. M. Berman, and vice president, J. Levy. The original quarters were occupied for nine years, and in January, 1895, the Protestant church at 718 Ken- yon avenue was purchased and remodeled in the same year at a cost of $8,500. Since 1895 the congregation has been in the new Temple, with Rabbi J. G. Lesser as its spiritual leader. Beginning with twelve or fifteen members, the congrega-
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tion has grown in the ten years since its foundation to a membership of one hun- dred and fifty, with an annual expenditure of $3,500.
The cantor is Mr. Funk, whose salary is $1,000 per annum.
In connection with the synagog there are several Chevras (societies for study), as follows: Chevra Mishna, Chevra Hisdom (Ethics), Chevra Mikra.
There are daily sessions in the synagogue in addition to the three services held daily in the vestry, which is open all day. Each Chevra has its own library. The congregation owns twelve Toras (scrolls of the law), four of which are in daily use, and have been decorated with silver crown and plates by Chevra Mikra at a cost of $400.
The congregation has its cemetery on Price Hill.
CONGREGATION ADATH ISRAEL.
About sixty years ago, somewhere around 1846, a number of German Polish Jews united to establish the Adath Israel Congregation, known today even as the "Polish Shule." Among the founders were Harris, M. Haas, Newman, the Tuch brothers and other well-known Cincinnati Jewish names. Their first place of worship was in Lodge street, near Seventh and Walnut, in the same vicinity where all the earlier places of worship were. That section of the city was the Jewish quarter as near as there ever was one in this city.
Something like twenty years ago Nathan Feld, H. Franklin, S. L. Mode, Philip Dene, F. Soloshin, Martha Cohen, I. Hirshberg and a few others, with more progressive ideas, secured temporary quarters at Seventh and Cutter streets, but could not retain the hall for some reason, and after two months held services in the house of Nathan Feld. Eight years later a fund was secured by subscrip- tion, donation and in other ways for the purpose of building a synagog. The residence property on the corner of Ninth and Cutter streets was purchased and converted into the present temple at a cost of $15,000.
At present the congregation has eighty-five members and is in the most flour- ishing period of its existence. The old debt is almost paid, and the congregation has a beautiful cemetery, all paid for, on Price Hill. It was this cemetery, in- deed, which kept the congregation together until the present time, when the young men are joining and following in the footsteps of their fathers.
There is in addition the Ladies' Benevolent Society of Adath Israel Congre- gation, which works for the good of the organization. The dues are $3 per an- num for each member, and the society has other sources of income, all of which is devoted to the congregation.
For many years Rabbi Kuttner was at the head of the congregation, and following him came Dr. Berg. Some ten years ago Rev. Joseph Magrill was chosen rabbi and cantor, which offices he still fills in a most acceptable manner.
BETH T'VILLAH-(HOUSE OF PURIFICATION).
The two Orthodox congregations, Beth Tefilla and Beth Hamedrash Hagodol, have united, to establish a Beth T'villah, a house of purification for women. The original intention was to have such an institution only, but the younger men be-
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came interested in the matter and the first plans were changed to permit of a bathing establishment for both sexes as well. A long lease has been secured on a plot of ground on Mound street, between Eighth and Ninth streets, and a suit- able building is now in the course of construction. The structure will be modern in every respect, and the bathing facilities and appliances of the most approved kind.
SABBATH SCHOOLS.
TALMUD YELODIM INSTITUTE.
At a general meeting of the Congregation Bene Yeshurun, held on December 26, 1848, forever to be considered among the most memorable meetings of the numerous history-making ones of that congregation, the late Henry Mack advo- cated the establishment of a school where the ordinary subjects might be pur- sued and religious subjects taught as well, and a committee was appointed to draft a plan. At the end of January, 1849, this committee reported a plan which provided that each member of the congregation pay two dollars per annum; tuition for the children of members twelve dollars a year, non-members sixteen dollars, indigent members six dollars, and indigent outsiders free. The school was, therefore, to be general in its scope, and it is worthy of note that inability to pay the tuition fee should not bar the children of indigent non-members from receiving the benefits of the school. The report further set forth that two teach- ers were to be appointed, one for English and one for Hebrew and German branches, the school to be located in the vestry rooms of the synagogue and to be under the immediate control of a separate board. On February 7 the report, slightly amended, was adopted, and, on the 14th, the board organized as follows: President, J. H. Heinsheimer; secretary, Louis Goldsmith; treasurer, Simon Shohl; trustees, Dr. A. Bettmann, Henry Mack, Nathan Bing and L. H. Wisebart.
Owing to the prevalence of cholera this school, from which sprang the Tal- mud Yelodim Institute (now the Plum Street Temple Sabbath school), did not open until April 13, 1849. The English department was in charge of Mr. Long, who received $400 a year, and the Hebrew and German department under the care of Mr. Freund, who received $450 annually. The school continued in the vestry rooms of the Lodge street synagog until 1856, when it removed into its own three-story brick building, on the adjoining lot, which had been erected out of the $5,000 bequeathed for the purpose by the generous Judah Touro, of New Orleans, who doubtless had been influenced in favor of the school by the noted rabbi, the late Dr. J. K. Gutheim, then in New Orleans, and later the most promi- nent rabbi in the entire south.
The school was chartered in 1851 under the name, The Talmud Yelodim In- stitute, and remained a day school, with five or six classes, until 1868, at which time the excellent public school system made the institute unnecessary and im- practicable by attracting the children away from the old school. An attempt had been made to preserve the school by a union of the congregations, but it had outlived its usefulness, and in 1868 it became the Sabbath school for the Bene Yeshurun Congregation, although it still retains its separate organization.
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The institution continued to increase and expand as a Sabbath school, but as most of the members of the two congregations had moved to the hilltops, it was deemed feasible some eight years ago to open a joint Sabbath school on the hill, and the building on June street was rented for the purpose.
Three years ago Congregation Bene Yeshurun erected the splendid structure on Reading road, Avondale, at a cost of $35,000, and established therein its Sab- bath school. In addition to the eight class rooms, there is an auditorium, with a seating capacity of five hundred, also used for Friday evening lectures and services ; a directors' room, janitor's quarters and other departments.
The fine organ in the auditorium is the gift of Mrs. A. J. Friedlander, in mem- ory of her husband, who for thirty years was the honored president of Talmud Yelodim Institute.
BENE ISRAEL SABBATH SCHOOL.
The new Harvey Avenue Temple has an addition in the rear for the accom- modation of the Sabbath school constructed for the purpose. There are en- trances from the main building, as well as from the exterior, and in addition to the six class rooms there is a large auditorium, with a seating capacity of four hundred. Rev. Dr. David Philipson is superintendent, and is assisted by ten teachers.
The average number of pupils is three hundred and fifty. In addition to the Sabbath school in the temple the congregation maintains another in the Pulte Medical College building, on the corner of Seventh and Mound streets, down town.
COUNCIL OF JEWISH WOMEN.
The force of example would naturally compel any organization in Cincinnati to be systematic, progressive and effective. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that the Cincinnati section of the Council of Jewish Women is a success. Not only is it great in numbers, counting nearly seven hundred and fifty members, but it is great in its aims and achievements.
Once each month, from October to May, there is a meeting, at which is pre- sented a valuable paper or address, prepared for the occasion by some one com- petent to speak authoritatively on the subject chosen.
CLUBS.
PHOENIX CLUB.
The Phoenix, the oldest and most prominent Jewish club in Cincinnati, and probably in the entire west, was organized in May, 1856, as a "German Organiza- tion of Jewish Men," and the by-laws provided that all proceedings, records and entertainments be in the German language, a rule that was observed up to a very few years ago. The first clubrooms were in the Fischer block, on Walnut street, between Sixth and Seventh streets.
Of the original members, forty-three in number, Bernhard Bettman is the only survivor still belonging to the club. Some of the charter members are still living, but have either moved away or withdrawn from the organization years ago.
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For two years the club remained in its original quarters, and then moved into National Hall, the building which the Lyric theatre now occupies. Several years later the club moved into the Elsas block, opposite the present home of the club, but only remained a short time, because the building was to be torn down and re- placed by a more pretentious one. The next move was to the corner of Court street and Central avenue, where the club remained for twenty years, until its splendid new home, on the corner of Ninth and Race streets, had been completed, eleven years ago. The present building is a spacious, convenient and handsome structure, and the interior arrangements are sumptuous and highly artistic. The great banquet hall has been the scene of many notable affairs, and its walls have reechoed with the voices of some of the greatest men of both hemispheres. This building is now the home of the Business Men's Club, by lease. The Phoenix Club anticipates a new home, soon to be built.
The first officers of the club were as follows: President, Leopold Pappen- heimer ; vice president, Bernhard Bettmann; secretary, H. Myers ; treasurer, A. Fatman.
CINCINNATI CLUB.
The Cincinnati Club was founded December 12, 1889, and incorporated the following May, for social and literary purposes. It is the only Jewish club on the hilltops, and its first permanent home was in the beautiful building which the club erected and now occupies. It was dedicated on April 19, 1894.
FREE LOAN SOCIETY.
The Gemilath Chesed Society was founded in 1891 by A. Isaac, M. Miller, S. Tennenbaum, and associates interested in helping Jewish immigrants attain to self-help. These men subscribed $500 with which to begin the work. Their ^ object was to lend deserving people enough money to start them in business without charging any interest whatsoever, and without pauperizing them by necessitating their appeal to regular charity organizations. Under ordinary con- ditions loans were not to exceed fifty dollars, and were to be paid back in weekly installments of from one dollar to five dollars. In order not to impair the capital of the organization, collaterals or security were demanded from borrowers. The business of the organization was transacted in such a way that only the secretary and treasurer knew who the borrowers were. As no salaries were paid to the officers, the expenses were merely nominal.
At present the capital amounts to something over $2,500, and this is loaned out and taken in about four times in the course of a year, in from three hundred to three hundred and fifty loans.
In the fifteen years of its existence, although the society has always been liberal in making loans, less than one hundred dollars has been lost.
UNITED JEWISH CHARITIES.
To alleviate immediate want, poverty and suffering called into existence the various charity and relief societies ; to PREVENT these evils and effectually and sys-
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tematically guard against their reappearance, by removing the cause, is the basis of federated charity work. With this for the main point, reinforced by a score of scarcely less important considerations, the United Jewish Charities of Cincin- nati was organized ten years ago, April 14, 1896.
The scope of this remarkable institution can best be comprehended by a glance at its nine constituent members :
The Hebrew General Relief Association.
ยท The Jewish Ladies' Sewing Society.
The Ladies' Society for the Relief of the Sick Poor.
The Jewish Foster Home.
The Jewish Kitchen Garden Association.
The Kindergarten Association.
The Plum Street Temple Industrial School.
The Industrial School for Boys.
The Jewish Settlement.
FOSTER HOME.
Fourteen years ago the Foster Home was founded to care for Jewish chil- dren deprived for the time being of a mother's care by sickness, desertion or misfortune, in a Jewish home.
During last year the average for day and night care was twenty-seven chil- dren each week; for day care alone, seven children each week.
KITCHEN GARDEN.
The work of the past year has been carried on, along the same lines as be- fore, with only such changes as seemed expedient for its furtherance and the wel- fare of the school.
In addition to the various classes in sewing, millinery, cooking, dining and bedroom work, and stenography, we have added to our curriculum a class in "First Aid to the Injured." The object of this class is primarily to prepare the girls for any emergency that may arise in the home, before medical attention can be secured ; also to impress upon the mind of the child the importance of clean- liness, proper ventilation, and general sanitary conditions.
As substitute for work done at the old Sabbath school at Mound Street Tem- ple, classes have been formed under the guidance of several of the students of Hebrew Union College. The Kitchen Garden children are not compelled to take this course. Most, though, have voluntarily joined these classes. The enroll- ment numbers 185, with an average attendance of one hundred and sixty-three.
There are two cutting classes on Sunday morning, instead of one, as for- merly, and the graduates of the future will have learned, not only the art of cut- ting, but fitting.
KINDERGARTEN.
It is most significant of the interest of the Jewish parents in their children, and of their appreciation of the advantages offered them, that the attendance in the Kindergartens is larger than that of other kindergartens in the city.
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In the Jewish Kindergartens, which deal almost entirely with foreign chil- dren, the work of Americanizing, the most important of all work, is begun. The results are apparent in the awakened interest of the children, their contentment and happiness, their skill, their love for flowers and animals, and the pride in their personal appearance. It is now seldom necessary to give a bath at Kinder- garten.
PLUM STREET TEMPLE INDUSTRIAL SCHOOL.
There was an attendance of 260 pupils daily, from 9 to 12 a. m. Girls under ten years of age were sent to other vacation schools.
THE JEWISH HOSPITAL.
The Jewish Hospital Association is one of the pioneer charities of the city, dating from the middle of the last century, probably 1849.
At the outset its scope was limited to a very small field, but it has grown steadily to its present great proportions. Today it is one of the finest institutions of its kind in the country, and has a national reputation for efficiency. It was one of the first institutions to educate trained nurses, and in that branch is one of the most important and thorough in the land.
For some reason, psychological or otherwise, Cincinnati has always had an international reputation for thoroughly efficient and eminently scientific physi- cians and surgeons. That there should be hospitals in keeping with the reputation of its medical men is a natural consequence, the more so that these leading prac- titioner's are represented in the clinics and on the medical staff of every institu- tion, especially the Jewish Hospital.
Something like forty years ago the Hospital Association secured a building on Third and Baum streets, then far out on the hills, which served for a hospital and also a Home for the Aged and Infirm Jews. From the time of the opening of the Home until the hospital had a building of its own, a floor of the Home was devoted to hospital use. Previous to that time the Home had been for many years enjoying the hospitality of the hospital.
The first building, which was occupied in 1890, was the original structure of the magnificent group which the seven buildings of the hospital make. And the end is not yet, for the demand for more room is growing with the increase of population and the flood of emigration. There are other reasons why the ca- pacity of the hospital has been increased and why it will continue to be increased almost indefinitely. The federating of the Jewish Charities has resulted in a ma- terially increased number of patients being sent to the hospital. Formally many persons, either beyond the reach of the charities or at that time not considered proper subjects, found their way to the public and other hospitals. Now they are all sent to the Jewish hospital.
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