Altrcrican Yewish Periodical Cotter

Friday April 19, 1946

CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 20, OHIO

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and The Legal Chronicle

Page Seven

Atomic Bomb Develops New Jewish Community

if they did not organize a congre-
gation and so it was decided to
attempt to hold regular Friday
evening services.
The first such service was held
October 15, 1943, with some 20
persons in attendance. The service
was conducted by Joe Jaffe, a
young chemist who formerly had
lived in Norfolk, Va. Mr. Jaffe
continued to conduct servcies un-
til he was transferred to another
part of the Manhattan District in
the spring of 1944. However, Fri-
day evening services have contin-
ued regularly since that initial
srevices in October 1943. Short
talks are given each week either
by Major Bernstein or some other
member of the congregation. Spe-
cail effort has been made to stress
the significance of the Jewish holi-
days and bring current Jewish
problems to the attention of the
congregation.. On several occa-
sions people came from outside
the community to speak at the
services.

of New York or Cpl. Sheldon
Behrns of Ohio. Mr. Sadowsky,
however, is regarded as the offi-
cial cantor.
In the fall of 1944 the JWB
collected a sum of money monthly
to be used in a hospitality pro-
gram for the Jewish boys at Oak

When the news of the atomic
bomb was broadcast to the world,
Oak Ridge, Tennessee, was sud-
r— ienly skyrocketed to fame, the
.0"
l-- ewish community of this pre.
tiously unheard of community al-
so came in for its share of public
Ridge.
notice. Families of personnel en-
gaged in the Manhattan District
This money was used to finance
project at Oak Ridge were proud
the parties for the Chanukah and
Purim parties and for the suppers
of the part their sons and bro-
thers had in the production of the
before and after the High Holy
Days.
atomic bomb which brought the
war to a victorious end. This ac-
A Sunday School started In
count tells of the development of
September 1944 is still function-
a Jewish communal life at Oak
ing. Several enlisted men have as-
Ridge and how the civilian Jewish
sisted to instruct the children.
population, composed of scien-
During its first term the school
tists, engineers, doctors and plain
was supervised by Miss Edith Le-
people from all over the country,
vin of Buffalo. The school is now
formed a congregation and, with
under the direction of a commit-
the aid of the JWB, supplied the
tee appointed by the Ladies Aux-
religious and hospitality needs of
iliary which was organized in the
the area's enlisted Jewish person-
fall of 1944 mainly through the
nel.
efforts of Mrs. Samuel Helfman
of Pittsburgh. This group has
Early in 1943 plans had been
been active in the affairs of the
formulated and steps had already
With the 1944 Passover seder, congregation and has provided
been taken to build a large and
very secret war installation in the interest in the congregation grew food and entertainment for the
hills of Tennessee. Military secur- noticeably. By this time the army soldiers' parties. Mrs. Bernard A.
ity prevented those who were em- had dispatched a considerable Stiller is at present the Auxiliary
ployed on the project from re- group of enlisted men to Oak President.
vealing what type of work they Ridge but since there were still
One of the major projects of
were doing or from disclosing any insufficient Jewish personnel to the Auxiliary during the past
information about the size, scope warrant a Jewish chaplain the year was the 1945 Passover sed-
or nature of the project. People congregation assumed the respon- er. Approximately 200 enlisted
came from all over the United sibility of providing religious and men, officers and civilians partook
States to work under a total social activities for the men. of a typical seder. The traditional
blackout in the country's newest Plans were made for a community reading of the Haggadah was led
seder to which they were specially by Major Bernstein assisted by
community.
Major William C. Bernstein, invited. The seder, a successful Sgt. Sadowsky and Cpl. Behrns.
who with a group of other medi- and pleasant affair, was attended The JWB, in addition to supply-
ing the wine and matzos, paid for
cal officers from the University of by sixty-five persons.
Minnesota Medical School has been
It was about this time that con- the meals of all the GI's.
assigned to the Manhattan Dis- tact was first made with the Na-
The 1945 High Holy Days were
trict to organize a clinic and hos- tional Jewish Welfare Board. Ma- celebrated fittingly. A congrega-
pital to provide medical services jor Bernstein communicated with tional dinner preceding the first
for the scientists, their families national office and reported that
and other residents of Oak Ridge, under military restrictions no in-
had no idea that he would be formation could be released con-
sponsoring a religious organiza- cerning the number of Jewish
tion when he arrived in June men stationed at Oak Ridge but
SEASON'S GREETINGS
1943. Major Bernstein had no that there was a definite need for
training in religious leadership ex- the JWB services at the project.
MODEL CLEANERS
cept for a period of service on The JWB agreed to supply all
the board of a synagogue in Min- needed help. Arrangements were
DYERS
neapolis, but since residence in made for a rabbi for the coming
the rapidly growing community of High Holy Days and to supply
12950 WOODWARD
Oak Ridge challenged the abilities prayer books and other religious
TO. 8.5366
of everyone, it was not long be- items. Rabbi Eli Schwartz of New
fore the responsibility of organ- York, who was asked to conduct
izing a congregation became his. the service inspired the congrega-
When Major Bernstein arrived tion into increased activity for
in Oak Ridge the town consisted the ensuing year. Approximately
of wide open spaces between 150 persons attended the first
mountain ridges. A few buildings High Holy Day services to be held
had been constructed and many at Oak Ridge.
SEASON'S GREETINGS
more were springing up every-
Sgt. Seymour Sadowsky of the
where. One of the first persons Bronx has been serving as cantor
he met on the project was Harry of the Oak Ridge congregation.
Cohen of Brooklyn who had been His infectious enthusiasm an d mu-
EMPIRE RUG F'S
sent to Oak Ridge to build and sical ability have endeared him to
operate a laundry system for the every member of the congrega-
MATTRESS CO.
new city. During July and August tion. When unable to attend serv-
1943, several other Jews arrived ices because of military duties his
at the area in official or semi-offi- place has been filled either by TEmple 1-7827 4477 Woodward
cial capacities. Among those were Norman Bernstein, Sgt. Abe Lev-
Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Sobol of itt of New York, Sgt. Joe Stein
New York and Mr. Bernard A.
Stiller of Cooperstown, N. Y.,
who brought his bride of several
weeks to live in this new moun-
tain abode. Craftsmen of all kinds
came to work on construction
jobs and girls came from the
Eastern ctiies to obtain employ-
ment as clerks or secretaries. The
vicissitudes of life and labor on
the area during the construction
phase proved, however, to be too
much for many and within a short
807 METROPOLITAN BLDG.
time they returned to their home
cities.
By September 1943 the first S.
Chapel to be built on the area
--. was completed and dedication cer-
•monies were scheduled for the
fi ght of September 30 which hap-
ened to be the second night of
Rosh Hashonah. Although the Ar-
my officials had invited the Jewish
people to take part in the cere-
monies there was difficulty in ob-
taining the proper person to of-
ficiate because those who would
be interested in the Chapel dedi-
cation were in Knoxville, Tenn.,
attending High Holy Day serv-
ices. Fortunately, Rabbi Jerome
Mark who conducted services at
Beth El Temple in Knoxville con-
MAX AND EDNA SILK
sented to come to Oak Ridge to
offer the invocation and to accept
the keys to the Chapel on behalf
of the Jews of the community. It
was felt that the small group of
Jews in Oak Ridge would not be
living up to their responsibilities

e

Passover Greetings!
And Best Wishes To You All
For a Lasting Peace

service was attended by 160 per-
sons. A traditional holiday meal
was served, the traditional Kid-
dush chanted by Isaac Levitt of
Brooklyn. Mr. Levitt, a retired
cantor, was in Oak Ridge to
spend the holidays with his son,
Sgt. Abe Levitt. Dr. Abraham
Gurvitz, a lay chaplain of Boston,

serve the ideals of Judaism. With-
out trained leadership it has pro-
vided religious services, observed
the Jewish holidays and perpetuat-
ed the Jewish ideals of democracy,
assigned by JWB to Oak Ridge culture and of understanding. In
for the holidays, conducted the the midst of a life of tension pro-
services with the assistance of duced by a critical and highly se-
Sgt. Sadowsky and Mr. Levitt as cret war project the Jews of Oak
cantors. Approximately 200 per- Ridge have made every attempt
sons attended. Following the Yom to live as good Americans and as
Kippur fast, the entire congrega- good Jews.
tion enjoyed a buffet supper pre-
pared by the Ladies Auxiliary.
One out of every four women
This account of the birth and veterans enrolled in the Veterans
growth of the Oak Ridge Jewish Administration's rehabil l tation
Congregation pictures the attempt training program plans to become
a secretary or a stenographer, ac-
that has been made to weld the
cording to this agency's latest
Jewish community into a large port.
and intimate family. Since the
number of Jewish families at Oak
Tfie U.S. Navy has discharged
Ridge is small compared with the
2,000,000 men and women since
number of military personnel, it V-J Day.
is significant that this communal
spirit has been maintained. Al-
though the work attached to these
activities has fallen on a small
SEASON'S GREETINGS
group, visitors at Oak Ridge often
express their amazement at how
much has been accomplished. This
probably can be explained by the
DETROIT SHOE
fact that civilians living away
from home seem better to appre-
LEATHER CO.
ciate the lot of the soldier and
try to make conditions more
2610 Blaine at Linwood
pleasant for all concerned. Jewish
homes are always open to the en-
Open Sunday until 3:00 p.m.
listed men and all activities are

SEASON'S GREETINGS

Season's Greetings

From

RADIANT
NEON t LIGHT CO.

Keith - Newman

Neon and Florescent
Sales and Service

Striking Versions
in Portraiture

B. Weinstock

11344 DEXTER BLVD.

8333.39 TWELFTH ST.

Between Lawrence & Collingwood

TYler 6.5130

TO. 8.6980

II 141SIIIIMIIIIPTINEnignriiiMaiiiliillgalilinlllaillialliliniq

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Passover Greetings

Season's Greetings

I i
E
M

EXCELSIOR
MACHINERY CO.

REEBER
FURNITURE CO.

6-

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3353 MICHIGAN AVE.

1452 RANDOLPH

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SEASON'S GREETINGS

JACK'S FINE CARS

HOgarth 6334

13613 LIVERNOIS

ricimornmorummummilal:!:7,117P77111TimmilluizzilsimmurrzillinimirazzA

JULES R. SCHUBOT

W

planned primarily for the boys.
The Jewish community at Oak
Ridge, aided by the JWB, has
done much to promote and pre-

From

SAM ROSENTHAL

WILLIS BAR

TE. 2.9148

4144 THIRD ST.

Comes the Season's Best Wishes

Sincerest Passover

Greetings .

— •

. .

Season's Best Wishes

from

COLONIAL LAUNDRY

617 HENDRIE

MAdison 4191

♦

