Americo: 'apish Periodical eader

February 21, 1941

When Yeshivath Beth Yehudah
was founded by the late Rabbi
Yehudah L. Levin, with the co-
operation of Isaac August, then
president of Congregation Mogen
Abraham, Louis Dann, Max 'Guns-
berg and Meyer Vine, Rabbi Levin
himself headed the institution for
a number of years, assisted by
Mr. August. Jacob Levin, one of
the founders of Detroit's Home
for the Aged, took over the presi-
dency afterwards. He was suc-

•

•

LATE RABBI S. M. FINE

•

•

•

•

•

1

If

n

C

at

of
CI'
eS

n,

at

if
ar
as
St

a
u-
m-
th

cal
ffi-

ceeded by the late Max Gunsberg
and the late Susl Goldstick, re-
spectively, both of them well-
known figures in the life of De-
troit's Jewish community. Rabbi
A. M. Ashinsky, now in Pitts-
burgh, subsequently headed the
Yeshivah.
Rabbi Samuel M. Fine, author
of many well-known Hebrew and
Yiddish books, was for a number
of years principal and secretary
of the institution. The library of
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah was ded-
icated as a memorial to him.
Daniel Temchin, outstanding
communal leader, active in the
Mizrachi movement, in several
congregations and other religious
groups, took over the presidency
to be released by Morris Levitt,
also a tireless worker in various
fields of Jewish communal life.
Isaac Rosenthal, member of e
prominent Detroit Orthodox Jew-
ish family and active leader in
educational, religious and civic in-
stitutions, headed the Yeshivah for
two years.
At present, Rabbi Isaac Stoll-
man presides, with Isidore Sosnick,
president of Congregation Bnai
Lion and for a number of years
head of the Turover Aid Society,
as vice-president.

I I

and the Legal Chronicle

By RABBI MORRIS ADLER

Destiny has placed American
Jewry not only in a privileged
position but also in a position of
responsibility and trust, for privi-
lege always is accompanied by

•

RABBI MORRIS ADLER

Women's Organization of Yeshivah

The founder of Yeshivath Beth M. Fine, who served as principal
Yehudah, the late Rabbi Yehudah and secretary of the school for
several years, and donated it to
L. Levin, had recognized the nec- the Yeshivah in his memory. The
essity of forming a women's or- ladies maintain the building, pre-
ganization for the purpose of pare the daily luncheons, provide
helping to maintain the Yeshivah, text books and school materials,
and shortly before he passed away
he asked Mrs. H. Rottenberg to
assist him in creating such a
group. In 1928, Mrs. Rottenberg
organized the society and suc-
ceeded in interesting a group of
women in the work. Rabbi A. M.
Ashinsky, now of Pittsburgh, who
at that time was rabbi of De-
troit's Congregation Emanuel and
headed Yeshivath Beth Yehudah,
also co-operated in forming the
women's organization.
The first president of the La-
dies of Yeshivath Beth Yehudah
was the late Mrs. Shifrah Stoll-
man, the late wife of Rabbi Isaac
Stollman, who now serves as pres-
ident of the Yeshivah. She was
succeeded by Mrs. I. Holtzman and
Mrs. E. Moskowitz, respectively.
Mrs. Rottenberg has been presi-
dent of the organization for the
last seven years.
The existence of the Academy
in the last twelve years—a period
of extreme financil difficulties for
the institution—is mainly due to
the tireless and persistent efforts
of the membership of the women's
MRS. H. ROTTENBERG
organization. During the time
when the Yeshivah was located in
the Twelfth Street neighborhood, help in the arrangement of all
the ladies maintained the build- public functions of the school
ing, provided luncheons for the and share in the administrative
students and clothed the poorer expenses.
As Yeshivath Beth Yehudah
among them, and for a number
of years even contributed a sub- comes before Detroit Jewry with
stantial amount toward the pay- plans for the erection of a new
ment of teachers' salaries. The building, the ladies organization
present building on Elmhurst will devote all its energies to-
Avenue was purchased by the ward the realization of the pro-
Ladies of Yeshivath Beth Yehu- ject, constituting as they do one
dah. Last year the women bought of the major groups responsible
a bus for the transportation of for the growth and development
pupils. They also secured the li- of Michigan's only center of ad-
brary of the late Rabbi, Samuel vanced Jewish learning.

duty. We shall not discharge the
obligation which rests upon us
by philanthropy alone, however,
generous. We must, if we be true
to our trust, build on the best
traditions and insights of our
past. We must rear a generation
of intelligent, loyal and devoted
Jews.
It is in the light of this re-
sponsibility that the expansion of
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah is to be
welcomed. The term Yeshivah is
rich with significant associations
and represents one of the mighty
forces that have molded the char-
acter of our people and have
made its survival possible. I feel
sure that an institution bearing
such a proud title and engaged
in so sacred a task will receive
the support of the Jewish com-
munity. The first line of Ameri-
can Jewry's defense against inner
despair and corrosion is knowledge,
understanding and faith. May Ye-
shivath Beth Yehudah live up to
the best traditions of which the
name Yeshivah is symbolic.

President of Yeshivah
Resolution Thanks
David W. Simons
Rabbi Isaac Stollman, since
Estate for Bequest 1939 President of Yeshivath Beth

Yehudah, was educated in the
At
At a meeting of the Board of great Talmud Academies of Slo-
Directors of Yeshivath Beth Ye- bodka and Radin. He is known
hudah held on Tuesday, Sept. 10, as the founder of the Yeshivoth
the following resolution was un- in Masir and Jurevitz, which he
headed. His first position was as
animously passed:
"Whereas the late David W. rabbi in Osoritz near Minsk,
ISAAC ROSENTHAL
Simon will always be remembered where he was also connected with
PaA President of Yeshivath
JACOB LEVIN
The
Yeshivah
as
in the Jewish community of De- the creation of a Yeshivah.
Beth Yehudah
Past President of Yeshivath
and elsewhere for his, ex-
He came to Detroit in 1924.
Monument to Late troit
Beth Yehudah
emplary life of devotion to the From the very beginning his ac-
Rabbi Y. L. Levin ideals of traditional Judaism, as tivities were closely connected with
well as for his many philanthropic Jewish education. He devoted his
By RABBI A. M. ASHINSKY
deeds, which have helped to es- energies to Yeshivath Beth Ye-
of Pittsburgh, Pa.
tablish and maintain important hudah and also to Detroit Young
communal institutions; and,
Israel group, for which he lec-
There are manifold reasons on
"Whereas Yeshivath Beth Ye-
my part for considering it a great hudah, the Hebrew Talmudical tured for many years. During his
privilege to contribute my mite Academy of Detroit, founded by presidency, Yeshivath Beth Ye-
towards this movement.
the late Chief Rabbi Judah Levin, hudah has been reorganized and
In the first instance, a Yeshi- to provide an intensive program the movement for a new building
vah and all that the name implies, of higher Jewish learning in an begun. This project received the
is a real fortress of Judaism. It atmosphere conducive to the nur-
is the inexhaustible fount which turing of the ideal Jewish religi- support of the Mogen Abraham
was instrumental in nurturing ous personality, has during almost Synagogue, which may be called
and cultivating all the brilliant 25 years of existence, trained hun- the mother of Detroit's Yeshivah,
minds of our sages, scholars and dreds of Jewish youths in this by the transfer of their assets
illustrious, learned men of all city, a large number of them hav- to a joint trust fund. Serving as
times and ages. It is unimagin- ing taken their places as active rabbi for several Detroit con-
able for the Jewish religion 16 leaders of the community, while gregations and participating in
prosper and be deepened in the others are now pursuing advanced many communal activities and as
minds and hearts of our children studies in rabbinical seminaries; author of a number of rabbinical
works, he sees in his activity for
without the spirit and atmosphere and
_ Yeshivath Beth Yehudah the real-
of
the
Yeshivah.
"Whereas
Yeshivath
Beth
Ye
ISIDORE SOSNICK
ization of his ideals and convic-
The past history in all the lands hudah has recently embarked upon
Vice-President, Yeshivath Beth
of our captivity furnished con- a new program, aiming for the tins.
Yehudah; Chairman, Synagogues'
elusive evidence that as soon
DANIEL TEMCHIN
and Organizations" Committee
down by of
its the
founders,
fullest laid
realization
prin-
Past President of Yeshivath Beth as the Jewry of a certain region ciples
had abandoned the Yeshivah and
Leads Women
Yehudah; Co-Chairman of
ar
anathe
have e c motivated
am of the
contented itself merely with the for
the preservation
very
ideals
Special Gifts Committee
l
car-
communal
fe
and
e
hlii
written law, that Judaism in that perso
personal
which h
Mrs. H. Rottenberg, organizer
country has dwindled down grad- eer of the late David W. Simons;
and president of the Detroit La-
wally until it became extinct and and
"Whereas the governors of the dies of Yeshivath Beth Yehudah.
nil. Truly say our rabbis "That
the covenant between God and estate of David W. Simons have For the past 24 years a leader in
he pepole of Israel was made seen fit to contribute in memory women's activities, Mrs. Rotten-
the
only after the tenor of the oral of the late benefactor the amount berg was instrumental in founding
Law." The Jewish communities of of three thousand dollars to the the Orphan's Home, now known
Germany, France and Italy stand Yeshivath Beth Yehudah, to be as the Jewish Children's Home,
out as historic examples of the used for such regular or special located on Burlingame and Pe-
aforesaid truth. expenditures as the budget of the toskey.
Again, I am also deeply inter- institution may require; now,
ested in the Yeshivath Beth Ye- therefore,
"Be It Resolved that the He- . hurst Ave., now occupied by the
hudah since it stands as a per-
petual monument to my revered brew Talmudical Academy Ye- said class; and,
and esteemed colleague, Rabbi' Ye- shivath Beth Yehudah accept with
"Be It Further Resolved that
hudah L. Levin of bessed memory. gratitude the kind contribution a similar class shall always be
On nw coming to Detroit in the from the hands of the governors thus known and designated, and
year 1925, I found the Yeshivah of the estate of David W. Simons the tablet prominently displayed
in an orphaned and desolate con- and,
the room occupied by such a
"Be It. Further Resolved that in
dition; there was no place to shel-
class, in whatever building the
ter the boys and the institution the present highest class in the Yeshivath Beth Yehudah of De-
was almost facing extinction and school, offering instruction in the troit may subsequently be located;
how happy am I in the thought Talmud and its commentaries, as and,
that by my humble service I well as other subjects prescribed
"Be It Further Resolved that
succeeded in securing the first in the curriculum, be designated
domicile for the Yeshivah on Pin- and known as the David W. Si- this resolution be spread on the
mons Talmud Class, and that a minutes of the organization, and
Street.
All the above goes to show my bronze tablet bearing an appro- a copy of it submitted to the
AUGUST
ISAAC
LOUIS DANN
Past President of Yeshivath Beth keenest interest in the further- priate inscription be permanently governors of the estate and to
One of Founders of Yeshivath
ance and elevation of the Yeshi- placed in the study hall of the the family of the late David W.
Yehudah and of Congrega-
Beth Yehudah; Chairman of
Yeshivah building on 2535 Elm- Simons."
vah.
lion
Mogen
Abraham
Scholarship Fund

•

m-

2th

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

The Yeshivah, Jewry's
THE PAST PRESIDENTS OF
First Defense tine
YESHIVATH BETH YEHUDAH

•

ed
ity
es-
nd
id-
ish
ms
ate

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 30, OHIO

•

by