Tif cRerRorr,/Ewun Omar ICLE

September 10, 1937

and THE LEGAL CHRONICLE.

THE FIRST GUGGENHEIM

A Buyer's Market

Supposing such a thing as "a
buyers' market" in the Life In-
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HARRY IIIMELSTEIN

1512 UNION GUARDIAN BLDG.

Detroit, Mich.

,

..GREAT-WEST LIFE

A

1•••• OP

CR COMPANY

10a • WIMNIP•li

and bring to light evidence of
Jewish
ta tleite in this forgotten Jew-
ish
Ajuvanam's days became num- (CONCLUDED from EDITORIAL PAGE)
(CONCLUDED from EDITORIAL PAGE)
Short as was the Guggenheim's bered in the time of the Great Jacobs of New York to the
stay in Roxborough, it made its Moguls, when the wave of Mo-
jesting, "That'll be a jolly house- impression. "They were quite an hammedan prince, the Zamorin, Jewish Agency Executive Com-
hold," said more than one, Even excitable family," said the land- ruled since the 14th century, was mittee, is not without humor.
old friends were surprised at the ' lord's wife. And how could there a neighbor of Cochin. According
new assurance and gayety of the fail to be excitement, with seven to tradition, a fratricidal quarrel Mrs. Jacobs, first woman ever
to have achieved that place.
business-like young fellow.
boys in the house and the Euro- broke out among Joseph Rabban's
As profits from his stove polish pean background of self-expres- successors, and one of them en- and ranked by Zionists as one
piled up, Meyer Guggenheim tried sion instead of Anglo-Saxon stiff- listed the help of the Zamorin. of the outstanding Americans
his hand at other businesses. Once ness? Bright, friendly, young Dan The downfall of Ajuvanam and in the movement to rebuild
he started a tailor shop, and once won the landlady's heart. And the migration of the Jews to
he had a grocery store. But such their teacher, Miss Thomas, many Cochin, which had in the mean- Palestine, was elected on the
shops required a great deal of his years later, in writing the history time become an important port, non-Zionist ticket.
time and had a small turnover. of the Roxborough elementary dates from then. Cochin's oldest
Of commanding stature and
It was when he joined hands with school, the oldest in the %ownship, synagogue was built At 1344, But
friends in downtown Philadelphia did nt fail to mention that "the another two centuries were to attractive appearance —s o f t,
In a partnership wholesaling copper kings once studied there." pass before Ajuvanam was com- white hair lending delicate
household products that he began
Meyer, constantly seeking new pletely destroyed and the last charm to the deep impressive
to make real money. The family lines of profit and new outlets for prince of the line of Joseph Rab- voice which throughout the
moved into a bigger house. It was his energy, became a merchant of ban—according to tradition the
needed. Every two years Barbara spices. Besides his redoubtable 72nd successor of the first Jewish country has recruited thousands
to the Zionist cause, Mrs. Ja-
gave birth to a son, first Isaac in coffee essence he dealt in peppers, ruler—had to flee,
1854, then Daniel, Murry, and condiments, and strange products
In 1500 a European fleet ap- cobs' interest in the Palestine
Solomon.
brought over to Philadelphia on peared on the coast of India for homeland began early in her
Meyer's peculiar gift was his swift clipper ships from Amster- the first time when the Portu- youth, having been among the
combination of caution and bold- dam, whither they had come from guese under Cabral arrived, Vas-
co da Game, who circumnavigated first and the youngest of the
ness. The panic of 1867 failed to the East Indies.
shake him, and his business
In those days most families the globe, found a trading post at original lladassah group, which
marched up Spward a war-time carefully saved pieces of fat and Cochin in 1601 when he reached was an outgrowth of the
climax in 186. Barbara and the when a mess was accumulated India. Ile brought back with him "Daughter of Zion."
boys saw little of him as he darted boiled their own soap, for which to Europe a Jewish pilot—later
Early in 1914 when Mr. and
about Philadelphia's commission lye was an essential ingredient. known as Gaspard ds Gama, the
district, buying and selling for his The Pennsylvania Salt Company explorer's ward. In 1506 the In- Mrs. Jacobs sailed for Palestine
partnership and speculating him- had a monopoly in lye. Meyer's dian Jews were able to buy He- on their wedding trip, the young
self in foedstyffs needed for the roving eye picked up an option brew books printed in Europe for
Army of the Potomac.
from England on a caustic alkali, the first time, for Francis Pin- bride's parting words to Miss
much cheaper than the lye being heiro, a court official, brought an Szold were: "When I return I
A Fighter for the U. 3. A.
Particularly in demand was his sold, and needing only melting to entire case to India and loot from will throw myself heart and
coffee essence, a flavor apparently equal it. He imported it and the Portuguese synagogues which soul into the work of mobiliz-
had been destroyed during the In-
to be found only on the Guggen- packed it in small convenient quisition.
And in 1513 the gover- ing the Jewish women of Amer-
heim shelves, It was ideal for the packages, Unable to stop the sale
nor
of Albuquerque informed the ica Intp Zionism."
army: a litle essence, some hot of the Guggenheim product, the
Portuguese
government that an
water, and the elixir of life was Pennsylvania Salt Company
And this she did. When the
ready. Meyer used chicory and the bought out his lye business even- important influx of Portuguese war broke out, and its din of
and
Spanish
Jews was noticeable
poorer grades of coffee beans, sup- t ually at a fine profit. Meyer in India. "May
I exterminate terror echoed throughout the
perintending the roasting, grind- c huckled as his bank balance them all when I run
across them?" world, she travelled over a wide
ing, boiling, and bottling. What grew. The family's surplus was the philanthropic grandee
inquired
first
recorded
publicly
in
1867,
the stuff lacked in fine aroma it
radius of territory, speaking to
of
his
government.
more than made up in strength. when Meyer became a regular five
individuals and small and large
When
the
Portuguese
invaders
dollar
member
of
the
Jewish
Fos-
Many an officer and private re-
joined forces with the Zamorin, groups of women, imbuing them
joiced in the stimilationof Guggen- ter Home Society,
Ajuvanam's
position
became
un-
with
the ideal of Zionism. It
heim's essence, and the money
"Ach, son, son," Father Simon
rolled in.
used to say, "It's hard to believe tenable. The Inquisition w a s was she who supervised the
brought
to
the
Malabar
Coast
in
Barbara sighed when she you came here without a penny."
raising of money to further the
thought of her youngest and The old man's rugged face looked 1560. Five years later a combined
favorite brother Benjamin Myers, beautiful tranquil when they laid army of the Portuguese and the health work already begun in
who rushed off to fight for the him away in Frankfort cemetery Zamorin attacked Granganere and Palestine; who met with the 0
the entire area, slaying all the in- leading American Zionists, then
Union when scarcely turned 20. in 1869.
Philadelphia was not far from the
Two years later Meyer moved habitants and razing every build- in Washington, to lay plans for
lines. By that time the Guggen- his family still further uptown to ing. Thus the Jewish state of Jos-
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
an active American Zionist 2
heims had servants for their 1430' North 17th Street, where eph Rebhan ceased to exist.
1317 GRISWOLD BLDG.
CASIUse 33311
Whatever happened there and movement when Great Brit- 3
growing family, so she was not Rose, first called Rosetta, was
completely house-bound. But on born. A true measure of Meyer's how it happened, we do not know. ain's Palestine mandate was be-
those rare occasions when she did progress was that the doctor, a But it is certain that the final ing discussed; through whose 0 I 2 3 4 6 6 7 8 9 0 I 2 3 4 6 7 8 9 0 I 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
go out it was no pleasure to see new one as usual, spelled his name conquest and dsetruction of the
the well-formed young men, hol- right on the birth certificate this Jewish state was so catastrophic tireless efforts was created the
low-faced from suffering, who time, whereas previous doctors an event that the Jews of India nucleus of what is today a
A HAPPY NEW YEAR
stumped about on crutches, or, had been content to approximate compared it to the destruction of complete network of medical
still worse, to happen on the un- with "Guggenheimer" and "Gou- the Temple in Jerusalem. To thia
We Wish For Every One of You ...
and
public
health
institutions
day
the
place
is
shunned
by
Jews.
loading of a dozen stretchers at genheim." Next year the family
GOOD HEALTH,
one of the emergency hospitals.
moved a block nearer Broad Street. If a Jew finds himself anywhere in Palestine.
HAPPINESS,
Myer 's business throve, and one Even here, however, on spacious near the site of Ajuvanam at meal
Still in her twenties she oc-
PROSPERITY!
of his steadiest customers was tree-lined Sixteenth, the division time, he will not eat.
cupied
the
chair
of
vice-presi-
The destruction of Ajuvanam
Charles Graham, a Quaker from between affluence and modest cir-
Germantown, who was also riding cumstances was apparent. There and the flight of its populace to dent of Hadassah and close
the war boom.
were palms in the parlor windows Cochin, marked 'the beginning of collaborator with its founder,
8424 LINWOOD AVE.
Phones; Garfield 1230.31
Discreetly in the background, on both sides of the street, but the history of one of the most in- Ilenrietta Szold, then president.
Barbara presented to her rejoic- those on the west side were larger teresting segments of Diaspora It was the genuine spirit which
ing husband four more children, and fancier, and the curtains more Jewry, the blank and white Jews
Jeannette, Benjamin, and the elegant, than the east. The west of Cochim. Both Jewries still pre- motivated her work and her
twins, Simon and Robert. Each side stoops somehow seemed to serve the memory of the Jewish aptitude in grasping the intri-
confinement was in a different look down on their humbler broth- state of Ajuvanam, and in the cate problems of organization
house and with a different doctor. ers to the east, Ind east was the Aron Kodesh of their beautiful which won for her many years
Meyer's restlessness? Perhaps. Guggenheim's side. Here, at 1417, synagogue they guard as their
FINE GROCERIES — DAIRY PRODUCTS — APPETIZERS
More probably it was the outward Cora was born in 1873, the last greatest treasure the copper plates the honor of presidency; and
AND DELICATESSEN
sign of his rapid rise in the world. of buxom Barbara's contributions that tell of the creation of the it was through her brilliant and
A Call Will Deliver Any Order
first Jewish state since the disper- ardent work as its leader that
Certain it is that the house at 619 to the House of Guggenheim.
sion.
Franklin Street where Jeanette
10236 DEXTER
12054 DEXTER
Never had there been the slight-
Hadassah gathered more and
Was born was not as commodious est suggestion of purple passion
TO. 6-9492
TO. 8.5860
as 1433 Franklin, where Benjamin i n the simple romance that united Dr. S. S. Wise and Dr. J. more women to its work,
(Copyright. 1137, a. A. P. 9.I
2 STORES TO SERVE YOU
gave his first yell in 1865. As for Barbara and Meyer. For her, mar-
Prinz
To
Be
Heard
on
443 Green Lane, Roxborough, riage was life's supreme business.
where in 1867 Simon and Robert There was little time and no in-
of the National Broadcasting Com-
Yom Kippur Program
greeted the world, it had a broad c liniation for outside frivolities
pany.
piazza with square pillars and I t was not unusual even in well-
The program will be broadcast
INFORMATION ON LISTED AND
One of the outstanding spokes- on Monday evening, September
fancy woodwork, and a large yard t o-do families to lose a child or
UNLISTED SECURITIES
both in front and in back for the two in infancy, but Barbara's 11 men of German Jewry will be 13, from 8 to 8:30 p. as. New
children to play. in. It must have all grew strong, although Bar- heard for the first time in a pull- York Daylight Saving Time, from
PERSONAL SERVICE ASSURED
seemed in every way worth the ef- bara got prematurely gray looking lir address since his recent arri- WJZ as the key station and over
fort of moving with six children after them. In her kitchen or val in the United States when Dr. the blue network of NBC.
a few months before the twins nursery she was happiest; sur- Joachim Prinz participates in a
A Tom Kippur musical program
came. In any case, not a word of rounded by her growing family, Tom Kippur radio program ar- will be provided by Professor A.
complaint passed Barbara's lips. she felt no need for outside inter- ranged by the United Palestine W. Binder and the Free Syna-
1131 BOIL BI DO.
CADILIA0
But despite the pleasant yard ests.
Appeal over a national network gogue choir.
with the fruit trees (fine climb-
Life was by no means somber.
ing for the boys) Meyer must "There were so many of us, we
have found the nine-mile trip made our own fun," the boys re-
downtown too long for his rushing membered. Many a charade, apt
business in those busless, subway- or far-fetched, was concocted for
less days. And so William, the the mirth of the family and great
eighth and last son, found them was the reward when Meyer,
back in the city on Franklin Street whose mind even at home hummed
(a little more uptown than be- with business problems •asauto-
fore) when he came along, a seven matically as a musician's hums
months baby, just 11 months after with tunes, was moved to join in
the twins.
with his full-throated roar.

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(' ,,, N('I.I'DED front EDITORIAL PAGE)

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1937
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WHEN THE JEWISH STATE WAS IN INDIA

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Jewish state in Southern India
enjoyed an existence of more than
half a millenium.
Where was Ajuvanam located
and how did the Jews come to the
Malabar Coast? Ajuvanam lay
close to the city of Cranganore,
bout 20 miles north of the pres-
ent city of Cochin. Colonial wars
reduced Cranganore to a mere vil-
lage but in the Middle Ages it
was the most important port of
Southern India. The ancients
called it Musiris. Until the year
226 the Romans maintained a
garrison there to protect their
perfume and spice trade. Some
writers believe that the Jews came
to Malabor as early as Biblical
times, because the people of the
Arabian peninsula enjoyed an ex-
tensive trade with Balabar, There
Is a theory that the famous land
of Ophir, to which Solomon and
Hiram sent their fleets, is iden-
tical with the Malabar Coast.
But the Jews of Cochin, as the
bearers of the traditions of old
Ajuvanam, have a legend accord-
ing to which thousands of Jews
are supposed to have come to
Cochin after the destruction of
the second Temple in 70 A. D.
That there must have been a con-
siderable Jewish population on
the Malabar Coast long before
the creation of the Jewish state
of Ajuvanam is obvious, else how
explain the grant to Joseph W-
ham
There can be no doubt as to
the authenticity of the copper
plates and their text. No one has
yet been able to decipher every
detail of the text, but through an
accident I happened upon an il-
lustration which throws consider-
able light on the text. In the Na-
tional Library in Jerusalem I
found the facsimile edition of a
travel journal written In Dutch by
the famous Italian explorer, Ame-
rigs Vespucci (from whom Amer-
ica derives its name), on Ms trip
to India from 1505 to 1508. Among
the illustrative drawings In this
work is one representing the king
of Cochin a she is being carried
by his chiefs. On this pictttre are

to be found all those insignia and
trappings of regal power and
authority which are named in the
copper plates—the palanquin, the
drum, the trumpet and the um-
brella. Thus the picture might
well be that of Joseph Rabban,
prince of the Jewish state of Aju-
vanam, being carried by his liege
lords,
Unfortunately, we know noth-
ing of this curious Jewish state
except that it existed and was
destroyed. There are extant, how-
ever, a number of descriptions of
the area in which Ajuvanam was
located, which must apply to the
.Jewish territory too. And in all
these descriptions Jews are fre-
quently mentioned, but not their
state. Marco Polo described Ku-
lam, a neighbor of Ajuvanam, as
"the home of many Jewish and
Christian merchants." Ibn Batuta,
the Arab traveler, confirmed the
opinion of Rabbi Benjamin of Tu-
dela, who praised the honesty of
the people of Malabar. "They
punish a thief with death," Batuta
wrote, "even if he has stolen noth-
ing but a single nutmeg or a few
grains of corn. That's why thieves
are unknown there." Doubtless, a
similar custom prevailed in Ajuva-
nam, which was a vassal state of
the king of Cochin.
All travelers who visited India
up to the time of the European
conquests praised the excellent or-
ganization of trade on the Mala-
bar coast probably enjoyed sev-
eral centuries of peace and un-
hampered progress until the ap-
pearance of the Mohammedans, it
is safe to assume that the Jewish
state of Ajuvanam, under the
rgien of Joseph Rabbam and a
long line of his successors, also
enjoyed great prosperity and un-
eventful development. We know
nothing, however, of how the Jews
of Ajuvanam lived, nor what sort
of intellectual life they led. After
the all too brief glimmer of light
thrown on the history of the Jews
of Ajuvanam by the copper
plates, complete darkness en-
shrouds them. Perhaps a Jewish
exploring expedition will some day
investigate the site of Ajuvanam

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