PAGE FOURTEEN THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE 41= = 0112101==10=011=01301==•0=0 O O Style THE PERIODS OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY Material ALF a century or more ago, historians treated their field of knowledge as though it were subdivided into well-marked and distinct divisions of time. Ar- bitrary dates, referring to important events in the history of mankind, such, for example, as the fall of Con- stantinople to the Turks or the dis• covery of America by Christopher Columbus, were selected to set off one period from another. Thus, general history was subdivided into its an- cient, medieval and modern periods, 0 and each of these was quite different from the others. Within recent years scholars and students of history have conic to 'recognize a different principle. His- tory dealing as it does with the steady land undiminished life of man, it is quite unfair and altogether impossi- ble to subdivide it into well-defined periods of development. The periods overlap and none of them is to be sharply and definitely differentiated from the others. Yet, for purposes of convenient treatment, the older method of the division of history into periods is not without its uses. It offers a writer a welcome opportunity to concen- trate his attention on certain distinct phases of his subject. For, while the one period is not to be sundered from all the others, nevertheless in it cer- tain characteristic features predom- inate. These give it a certain form and content. Applying the foregoing observa- tions and conclusions to- the field of American Jewish history, we find that this may not be sharply subdivided into its Spanish, German and Polish periods. The Spanish. German and Polish periods were those which older writers set tip to mark the limits of their subject within distinct times. True, in the earliest times the Span- ish and Portuguese Jews predominat- ed among the Jews of this country. Later on, and especially around the middle of the nineteenth century, the Jews of German origin assumed the hegemony here of their co-religion- ists. In the latest, the modern period of American Jewish history, the su- O Workmanship O a O a O 1 0 i 1 O 0 These are three cardinal principles interwoven into Friedenberg's line of Living Room Furniture. The price puts them within the reach of the multi- tude. "Quality Without Extravagance" EDENB ER ns r Makes Satisfied Customers O FURNITURE HOUSE 913 Hastings St. Melrose 5509 01=0=30=01:=101:101=101210 prernacy has passed to the Polish, and this truth is borne in upon us plete the cycle of American Jewish and Russian, and East European Jews. But we shall find that these when we find the representatives of life on all sides. The Jews of East- one section of the House of Israel ern European origin have markedly periods overlap one with and into the deepened our culture and have con- among the followers of the other. other, and only convenience of treat- Still, we repeat, for the sake of tributed great and lasting benefits to ment invests this method of division convenience of treatment, it is proper every phase of American Jewish life. with a certain sanction. for us to divide American Jewish Here, in the city of New York, we We referred above to the overlap- history into three distinct periods, now have the greatest Jewish com- ping of one period into the other. A bearing the foregoing features in munity in all the lands and the years word or two of explanation is requi- mind. The first is the Spanish period, of the Diaspora and the student of site. Among the earliest Spanish and the second the German, the third and Jewish life finds lucre all the various Portuguese Jews of this hemisphere last the Russian. All these different representatives of all the Jew ries ever an occasional German Jew was to be Jews have contributed worthy and known to history. Pursuing our tra- found. Concrete instances are to lasting memorials to the upbuilding ditional lines of activity the last few hand. The first Jewish settlers at of Israel's name and prestige in this decades have enabled the Jews of the New Amsterdam, now New York, country. United States to weld themselves to- reached the locality in the autumn of During the Spanish period we saw gether into a complete and organized 1554. One of them was Asser Levy the beginnings of congregational life community, with none of the features von Swellem, so called because of laid here. At one time, towards the of a healthy and appropriate com- his having been born at Schwelm, in end of thedIploeenth century, the munal and congregational lige neg- Westphalia, Germany; the others only existi synagogy s 0 were the lected. were all Spanish and Portuguese' Such, then, are the earmarks of c congregates of New- Jews by origin and descent. Similar pelit, New York, Philadelp . Rich- the three periods of American Jew ish conditions obtained with the period mond, Charleston and Savannah. As historical development. There is an when the German Jews here wielded a result of the existence of a well- orderly progression, an interesting, their supremacy; occasionally we ordered congregational life, com- steady development front the earliest meet with Jews of East European munal institutions and activities took times to the present day. No means origin among the predominant Ger- root and representatives of our com- exist, and none should exist, whereby mans. Again, concrete instances re- munities bore their due part in the one of these periods is to be set oil inforce our argument. Ilayn Salomon, general work of the land. The early and sundered from the others. One the patriot financier of the American Jews took a proud and patriotic in- naturally and logically dovetails into Revolution, arrived in this country in terest in the development of this new the other. Yet, from the predom- 1772, his birthplace in Poland justi- country and participated in an im- inant characteristics evinced in each fying its in regarding hint as a true portant manner in the commercial of the three periods, the historian Polish Jew among the then predom- and general affairs of their homes. is able to treat them by and large inantly Sephardic community. And The German period beheld a note- as has been indicated and, besides, throughout the eighteenth century, worthy and important increase in our is enabled to refer back to their well- the Sephardic community was mate- congregational and communal facili- defined origins certain prominent and rially recruited by German Jews, and ties and, at the same time, in the re- useful features of American Jewish the Sephardic synagogues beheld the lations of Jews to the other inhabi- life. Such, in fine, represents the latter zealous upholders of their tants of this land. With the growth usefulness of treating history by ritual and worship. in our numbers here, we intensified periods. These accredited historical Towards the middle of the nine- our participation in the general methods may be correctly applied to teenth century, at a time when the American development at the same the view of American Jewish history, influx of German and Austrian Jews time that we deepened our usefulness with a satisfactory reaction not only into this country was literally enor- in and for our own community. Dur- upon the theme itself but also upon mousRussian Jews began to come ing this period the lines of American the minds of its students. here in numbers. A substantial group Jewish activity ran in the charitable of them organized at New York in and theological grooves. Then, for the early 'fifties of the nineteenth the first time there grew up on this century the first Russian-American soil a distinct and well-marked form Jewish congregation. Again, almost of religious development, known as in our day, when the vast majority Reform Judaism, which had its origin of Jewish immigrants to these shores in what had been accomplished on hails from the lands situated in the this head in Germany. Philanthropic- NEW YORK—The two hundredth East of Europe, fairly large num-, ally, too, American Jews attained to anniversay of the birth of the Gaon, hers of Levantine Jews are arriving a wider outlook. They even began Rabbi Elijah Wilna, takes place on here. The co-religionists front Tur- to lay the keel of the good ship, or- Passover of this year. key in. Europe and Asia and front the ganization, on nationwide lines for The Faculty of the Jewish Theo- isles of the Eastern Mediterranean the benefit of the Jewry of the en- logical Seminary of America have and its offshoot, the Aegean, are re- tire world. Naturally, they main- decided to celebrate this event by garded as Sephardic Jews. Whether tained their reputation for abiding by holding a public meeting at the Sem- they are such in fact or only by law and for disinterested patriotism, inary building on Sunday, April 11, adoption, the circumstance remains and made notable contributions to at 8:30 Li. in. that among the many Polish, Rus- general endeavors for the good of the On this occasion Doctor Louis sian and Roumanian Jews are to be country. Ginsberg, l'rofessor of Talmud, will discovered these descendants of the Finally, with the modern period we deliver a lecture on the Gaon, and first Sephardim. Thus the cycle of have reached a point in our develop- Doctor Alexander Marx, the Librar- Jewry in the Diaspora is here com- ment where the number of Jews in ian of the Seminary, will prepare an plete once more, All Jews are the United States has become suf- exhibition of the works of the Gaon, brethren, regardless of their origins, ficiently large to enable us to con-and works relating to him • N. Y. Seminary Celebrates 200th Anniversary of Birth of Gaon, Rabbi Elijah Wilna NO FURNITURE STORE SELLS AT COST It's Not Reasonable—Not Logical GOOD FURNITURE IS SCARCE--- Man y ' ■ R?:1 1 HIGH PRICES The Middleman must make his profit. How are you going to beat it?—that's where we come in. Unusual and unnatural market conditions have inspired us to enter into the Manufacturing and Selling of Overstuffed Parlor Furniture Direct to the Consumer at Real-Honest-Factory Prices. GUARANTEED SAVING 25% TO 50% UNDER RETAIL PRICE Milk Would Be Cheap a 30c Per Quart Milk today is the cheapest food we have. It would be cheap at 30 cents per quart. A quart of milk is equal in food value to three-quarters of a pound of the best steak you can • buy. YOU know what such steak costs. It is true that milk costs more today than it did a few years ago (is there anything that doesn't?) and Into r.re a few of the reasons: Mohairs Davenports Velours Davenports formerly $405.00, now formerly $275.00, now $285.00 $215.00 Chair or Rocker Chair or Rocker formerly $265.00, now formerly $195.00, now $175.00 $135.00 Tapestries Davenports, formerly $215.00, now Dec. 1911 *L. Bran, per ton $24.90 Cottonseed meal, ton ...:11.30 Corn, per bushel .111 Oats, per bushel .41 Hay, per ton 10.10 Labor, with hoard 30.10 Labor, without board 40 10 Dee. 1919 $45.50 SO.S11 1.20 .6• 17.40 55.65 72.00 It is impossible to produce and distribute milk as cheaply as when the costs of everything were lower. Hut the price of milk has not begun to increase as much as has everything else, including all other foods. Cook with Rosebud milk. Cook vegetables in Rosebud whole milk and you will gain 50% of food value. Cook cereals in skim milk and you -411 have practically the equivalent of meat. Give the children plenty of pure, wholesome Rosebud Milk to drink. Give them bread-and-milk. Milk helps keep those cheeks rosy, those eyes bright and laughing— by mak- ing good blood and a healthy digestion with proper nod rish- ment Rosebud Perfectly Pasteurized Melrose „.., $160.00 $105.00 Chair or Rocker, formerly $145.00, now Milk Special Designs in Pattern or Structure Made to Your Order at No Additional Cost Reupholstering and Remodeling Dept. is always ready to render the same prompt service and sat- isfaction upon which the foundation of our reputation has been laid. A call brings our representative to your door with complete line of samples and such suggestions as will be of interest and benefit to you. SLIP-COVER DEPARTMENT Announces the arrival of its Spring Line of Slip-Cover Material—an elaborate as- sortment of Cretonnes, Linens and Damasks in various grades and exclusive patterns and designs. 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