History of Yeshivath Beth Yehudah 1916-51
By IRVING I. KATZ
E xecutive Secretary, Temple Beth El
time, the Yeshivah had the sup-
port of the leading Orthodox
rabbis in the community, Eze-
kiel Aishiskin, Aaron M. Ashin-
sky, Moses FiScher, Isaac Stoll-
man and others. The quarters in
Temple Emanuel became inade-
quate and a house was at first
rented on Blaine Avenue and
through the efforts of Rabbi
Ashinsky, a house was later pur-
chased on Pingree Avenue. Rab-
bi Schulman became one of the
teachers remaining with the
Yeshivah for many years. In
1932, Rabbi Samuel M. Fine was
engaged as principal and secre-:-
tary of the Yeshivah, a post he
held until his death in 1938. The
teachers then were Schulman
and Novak.
Yeshivah on Elmhurst -
In 1936, the Ladies' Auxiliary
purchased a four-family resi-
dence at 2535-39 Elmhurst. In
January, 1937, t h e Yeshivah
moved into that remodeled build-
ing. Rabbi Wine was added to
the teaching staff. The entrance
of the Yeshivah into new quar-
ters was marked by a change in
the curriculum and a change in
the admission age of children.
Classes were opened for younger
boys, where English became the
language of instruction, in ad-
dition to the advanced classes
where Yiddish continued.
In 1916, Rabbi Yehudah L.
Levin, spiritual leader of Con-
gregations Mogen A b r a h a m,
Beth Jacob and Bnai Israel,
opened a Talmud class for post
Bar Mitzvah boys in the Mogen
Abraham Synagogue on Farns-
worth St. and named it "The
Yeshivah." Among the founders
who encouraged and assisted
Rabbi Levin in the establish-
ment of Detroit's first Yeshivah
were Isaac August, president of
Mogen Abraham; M. Kaufman,
president of Congregation Beth
Jacob; Susel Goldstick, presi-
dent of Congregation Bnai Is-
rael; Louis Dann, Moses Guns-
berg, Meyer Vine, Moses Weis-
wasser, Jacob Levin, Isaac Gen-
dleman, Isaac Rosenthal, J.
Sklar, Jacob Shevitz, B. Abra-
movitz, M. Duksin, Jacob Kar-
bal, B. Kaminsky and others.
While the immediate aim of
the Yeshivah was to provide a
school of higher Jewish learn-
ing to a select group of boys of
high school and college age, its
ultimate goal was to prepare
Jewish young men for entrance
into a Theological Seminary
where they would be trained for
the Orthodox Rabbinate. The
first Yeshivah class consisted of
eight boys. The first teacher I
was Abraham T. Rogvoy, with
In 1937, the Jewish Welfare
Rabbi Levin as the principal.
The first President of the Ye- Federation made its first sub-
shivah was Isaac August. Rabbi sidy to the Yeshivah, a prac-
David Rine and Israel Cohen tice which continues to this
were among the early teachers. day.
In 1933, the Bureau of Jewish
In 1938, when Rabbi Isaac
Social Research of New York Stollman became president of
conducted a survey of the Jew- the Yeshivah, the school enter-
ish community of Detroit. In ed ;upon a new era of progress.
the comprehensive report on A Board of Education was estab-
Jewish Education in Detroit, lished consisting of the Detroit
written by Dr. Isaac Berkson, Council of Orthodox Rabbis and
the Yeshivah received a high a number of scholarly laymen.
pedagogic rating. Dr. Berkson The first chairman of the Board
described the Yeshivah as an of Education was Louis Dann.
afternoon weekday school, Meet- An advanced Talmud class was
ing five times weekly for 2 1/2 organized in 1939 with Rabbi'
hours daily.
Isaac Stollman as the first vol-
Changing Locations
untary instructor. A bus was
A change in the neighborhood purchased by the Ladies' Auxil-
of the Mogen Abraham Syna- iary to transport children to
gogue necessitated the removal • and from the school.
of the Yeshivah, in 1923, to the
In 1940, Rabbi Samson R.
Oakland district where rooms
Weiss
was engaged as the Dean
were rented on Rosedale Court
near Oakland Avenue and where of the Yeshivah and under his
the Yeshivah remained for two guidance a high school was
established, and Rabbi. Jacob
years.
In 1925, the Yeshivah moved Unger and Dr. Hugo Mandel-
to the new Jewish neighborhood baum were engaged as instruc-
in the Twelfth Street district. tors. In August 1940 the Yeshi-
Classes were held for a while in vah was reincorporated. In
Temple Emanuel on Woodrow September 1940, the Yeshivah
Wilson and Taylor, now Congre- was the beneficiary of a sizeable
gation Beth Tefilo Emanuel. gift from the estate of David
One of the teachers was Solo- W. Simons. In appreciation, the
"D. W. Simons Talmud class'_1
man Cheluk.
In 1926, the Ladies' Auxiliary was established as a memorial.
of the Yeshivah (now Ladies of In November, 1940, the following
Yeshivath Beth Yehudah) was were named to look for a site
organized, with Mrs. Shifrah for a new building: Isaac Rosen-
thal, David I. Berris, Isadore R.
Stollman as president.
In 1926, Detroit Jewry mourn- Cohen, L. Levine, Beckerman
ed the death of Rabbi Yehudah and Sosnick.
L. Levin, the founder of the
Present Building Erected
Yeshivah, and in his memory
In November, 1940, the almost
the school was named "Yeshi- defunct Congregation Mogen
vath Beth Yehudah." By that Abraham, mother institution of
the Yeshivah, which at that
time had a handful of members
and was without a permanent
home, expressed a desire to con-
tribute $20,000 in cash realized
from the sale of the Farnsworth
Street Synagogue, a land con-
tract and other assets for the
erection of a new building for
the Yeshivah and as a syna-
gogue for members of Mogen
Abraham. Negotiations were en-
tered into between Rabbi Max J.
Wohlgelernter, Rabbi Is a a c
Stollman, Isadore R. Cohen,
David L. Berris, Louis Dann,
Sosnick and L. Levine -represent-
ing the Yeshivah, and Louis
Solai, Rev. Solomon Chinitz, and
M. Wolfson, president, secretary
and treasurer respectively of
Mogen Abraham. On Dec. 31.
1940, the merger was consum-
mated.
In 1941, a lot was purchased
on Dexter and Cortland. David
I. Berris was chairman of the
building drive, with Isaac Au-
gust as 'treasurer. On Sept. 28,
1941, the cornerstone laying
ceremony was conducted. In
November, 1941, Sam Cohen,
Nate Framovitz and Louis Kas-
off, representing the defunct
Congregation Etz Chaim. turned
over to the Yeshivah $500 in
cash, Torah Scrolls, and a col-
lection of books. As a mark of
appreciation a tablet was later
placed in the Yeshivah building
which- perpetuates the name of
Congregation Etz Chaim. In the,
same year, another generous gift
was received by the Yeshivah
from the estate of D. W. Simons.
The dedication of the new
building was marked with great
festivities from Feb. 15 to Feb.
22, 1942.
In 1943, the Beth Jacob School
for Girls was opened by the
Ladies of Yeshivath Beth Yehu-
dah in memory of Lena Holz-
man, and a Kindergarten De-
partment in honor of the 60th
•
birthday of Mrs. Hyman Rotten- first teacher of the Yeshivah,
berg.
consisting of a large collection
Day School Is Opened
of Hebrew Classical works was
In 1944, when Rabbi Wohl- presented by the Rogvoy family
gelernter became president of to the Yeshivah and placed in
the Yeshivah, a Day School of the Ohel Sarah Beth Hami- •
eight grades was opened.
drash, At present, the Yeshivah
It is interesting to note that has an enrollment of 600 stu-
when Temple Beth El of De- dents.
troit, Michigan's first Jewish
About 50 graduates of the
Congregation, was founded in Yeshivah are now enrolled in.
1850, the members opened a the various Orthodox Theologi-
Day School for secular and re- cal Semicaries in the United
ligious studies which existed States.
from 1950 to 1869. When Con-
The present officers and di-
gregation Shaarey Zedek was rectors of the Yeshivah are:
founded in 1861 by a group of Isidore Cohen, president; Max
Beth El members who seceded W. T em c hi n, vice-president.;
because of the introduction of David I. Berris, treasurer; Rabbi
reforms in the orthodox ritual, Israel Rockove, secretary; David
the members of Shaarey Ze- J. Cohen, chairman of the
dek also established a Day board; Rabbis Moses Fischer,
School which existed for about chairman of Vaad Hachinuch;
ten years. When the United Daniel A. Laven, chairman of
Hebrew Schools were estab- executive committee.
lished in 1919, a Day School
The teaching staff is headed
was included in its system of by Rabbi Joseph Elias.
-
.
education, which existed for
Mrs. Shifrah Stollman, first
two years.
president of Ladies of Yeshivath
In 1944, Rabbi Sirficha Was- Beth Yehudah, was succeeded by
serman succeeded Rabbi Weiss Mrs. I. Holzman and Mrs. E.
as Dean of the Yeshivah. In Moskowitz. Mrs. Hyman Rotten-
1946, the annex building across berg, affectionately referred to as
the street from the Yeshivah the "Mother of the Yeshivah,"
was acquired and branch schools has held the . office of president
discontinued.
since.
In 1949, the Ohel Sarah Beth
Hamidrash was opened and the 6 THE JEWISH NEWS
library of Abraham T. Rogvoy,
Friday, December 21, 1951
-
For Hanukah,
GIVE
THE PRICELESS GIFT
THAT KEEPS ON
GIVING . . •
FOOT HEALTH!
HACK SHOE COMPANY
Professional Shoe Fitters Since 1916
FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN
JUVENILE BRANCH
5th FLOOR MUTUAL BLDG. 19170 LIVERNOIS AVE.
28 W. Adams
Just North of 7 Mile Rd.
A Real Present for Your Boy or Girl for Hanukah
The finest Summer - At the best Kosher Camp
CAMP SHOR
On the beautiful Ohio River
at Aurora, Indiana
EVERY LUSTY ACTIVITY
Tennis, Golf Instruction, Horseback
Riding, Archery, Arts & Crofts,
- PLUS -
THESE CULTURAL ACTIVITIES
Informal Hebrew Instruction-Re-
Basketball, Baseball, Field Trips
ligious Services - Israeli Folk
and Swimming in our own filtered
Pool.
Dancing - Sabbath Programs -
Dramatics.
0
ALL
Under the guidance of outstanding specialists and counselors.
Clip this coupon and mail at once while there are vacancies. If
accompanied by your deposit, we will airmail a certificate to be given
as a Hanukah gift.
Course
HER WARM11.4 •
A fluffy wool electric blanket or comforter lulls you to
Camp Shor
cio Hebrew Institute Beth Am
5015 Reading Road
Cincinnati 37, Ohio
Address
Street and Number
City and State
Kindly enroll
(boy) (girl)
for the 1952 Summer Season (June 23 to August 24). Enclosed is my
check for $25.00 as deposit. It is my understanding that the cost for the
season is $400 including transportation from Cincinnati, Ohio to the camp.
It is also understood that this deposit will be refunded if I am not satis-
fied after receiving complete details from you. If satisfied I will spend
$25.00 before Purim, $50.00 before Pesach and the balance by June 1, 1952.
(Signature)
' I would liketo see more information before sending deposit.
sleep . • . keeps you warm as a kitten at the hearth, all
night long. These warm friends automatically adjust to
temperature changes in your room. There's nothing for
you to do but enjoy a good night's sleep. You'll like the
colors they come in, too .. . and they're easy to keep
fresh and lovely looking.
01140U1 *IOW
You'll find electric blankets, comforters or sheets at your
electric appliance dealer's now.
Tune in EDISON ELECTRIC THEATRE Wednosdays of 7:00 P.M., WXYZ-TY
EE YOUR DEALER or Detroit Edison 1
to