•

Beth El Historical Chapter in
Benjamin Il e s Travel Book,
'Three Years in America

Denver Hospital
Modernizes Chapel

An interesting page of Detroit's Jewish history is incorporated
in the two-volume classic, "Three Years in America," by I. J.
Benjamin, referred to here as Benjamin the Second, published
by the Jewish Publication Society of America.
This intriguing work, written as an account of his travels
in this country in the 1860s by a man who followed the example
of Benjamin of Tudela (Benjamin the First) in the 12th century,
was translated from the German by Charles Reznikoff. An
important introduction, outlining the story of Jewish travelers
and the period under discussion, was written by Prof. Oscar
Handlin.
Our traveler, Benjamin II, visited many important American
cities. His impressions, given in this two-volume work, contain
reactions to American Jewry, dating back nearly a century, that
will be found of great interest.
It was in 1861, that Benjamin II visited "Detroit in Michigan,
and Cincinnati," as Chapter IX, in Volume 2, is entitled. He
recorded:
went aboard
"On Aug; 29, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, I
At half past 10 at
Lake
Michigan.
steamer
and
sailed
a/o/1,g
a

night we reached Grand Haven. From there I went by railway
of the 30th. The distance
to Detroit and arrived on the morning
I
from Milwaukee is 186 miles and the trip cost in all $18.
who
stopped with Mr. Hermann Friedmann, a very rich man,
is a son-in-law
owns the largest drygoods store in the city and
York.
of
New
of , Mr. Micheibacher
the
"The city is situated on the Detroit River. One bank of
and the other, on which
the
United
States,
belongs
to
river
On the
Windsor is situated, forms pert of English Canada.
on
its
liveliest;
on
the
English
side,
at
American side business is
Detroit
the other hand, everything is as quiet as in a village.
and 18 miles north
is seven and a half miles south of St. Clair
houses
of Lake Erie. It is very beautifully built, has handsome
by water as well
lively
trade
a
well-paved
streets
and
enjoys
on
as by land. It is not necessary for me to set down further
of North America
details about this city: it is among the oldest
has
been
described
by
many
travelers.
and
they
"There are about 150 Israelites here. In 5610 (1850),
ritual.
formed a . congregation. called. Beth El, with a German
they built a
They rented a house for religious services. Later,
synagogue. It was consecrated on the very day of my arrival.
Cin-
The consecration ceremony was conducted by Dr. Wise of
purpose. The
for
that
been
invited
to
Detroit
cinnati, who had
consecration took place with much festivity and was celebrated
and as a festive
by the Jews of Detroit with great happiness
hazzan, contributed much
Mr.
Lasar,
the
newly
engaged
occasion.
choir. The congregation
to the celebration by a well organized
has about 30 members.
"The sole charitable society here is the Hebrath Bikur Cholim,
and bury the dead. It was organized
a society to help the sick
in 5611 (1851). Most of the Jews of the city are well-to-do.
I left Detroit
"On Sept. 2, 1861, at 2 o'clock in the afternoon,
reached Cincinnati on the
and
Dr.
Wise
of
the
company
in
miles."
morning of Sept. 3. The distance is about 400

How Did We Get
to he America's
Largest Dealer?

—Simply by saving our
PlIttOMIS the most money

WE'RE OffERIMS
ALI • TINE- NM TRAK IN ALLOWNICIS

would hold true for an Israeli
who goes to live in England.
In certain circumstances an
immigrant might be entitled to
two pensions, one from each
country. Among the rights
British citizens living in Israel
will receive are: old age assist-
ance, workmen's compensation
insurance and maternity bene-
fits.

To Haifa on S/S Israel and S/S
Zion, and on other steamships,
frequent departures.

VACATION CRUISES

Duluth 5 Day Cruise ....$129.50
Kentucky Lake, 7 Days $110.00
Nassau, 7 Day Cruises, $145 up
Bermuda, 6 Days, Sept. 1, $135
up. S/S Ryndam, Sails Labor Day
Sun Lane Cruise S/S Indepence
sails Sept. 13, Cannes, Genoa,
Naples, 20 days cruising $560
up.

Hirschfeld Co. Agency

600 WOODWARD ROOM 709

NEAL REALTY CO.

The 50-year-old chapel of
National Jewish Hospital at
Denver, the oldest remaining
building on the institution's
grounds, has recently been re-
decorated for Rosh Hashanah.
Rabbi Earl S. Stone, a Denver
rabbi, occupies the pulpit. The
free, non-sectarian institution
has given more than 4,000,00
days of care to patients fiom
every state since opening in
1899.

history.

JERUSALEM (JTA) — The
Israel Cabinet approved the
establishment of an Israeli cor-
poration to hold fairs and ex-
hibitions in Israel and otherwise
promote Israeli exports , and
tourism. The government will
be represented in the new com-
pany.
The company will organize
both local and international
fairs in Israel to promote
Israeli trade, industry and
handicrafts. In addition, it will
arrange the participation of Is-
raeli exhibitors in international
fairs held abroad.

LONDON, (JTA)—Israel and
Britain have signed a conven-
tion guaranteeing each other's
citizens national insurance bene-
fits from the other state while
residing there.
Under the arrangement, the
first such entered into by the
Jewish State, an immigrant
from Britain who settles in
Israel will be entitled to Israeli
benefits for the period he was
covered in Britain. The same

Mexican Jewry. Condemns
USSR's Cultural Liquidation
MEXICO CITY (JTA) — The
Jewish Central Committee here
has adopted a resolution of
protest against the Soviet gov-
ernment's liquidation of Jewish
culture in the USSR. The reso-
lution condemns the Soviet
execution of Jewish writers and
cultural leaders.

Benjamin II was referring,, of course, to Dr. Isaac M. Wise,
the founder of Reform Judaism in America. Irving Katz, of
Temple Beth El, informs us that the Hazzan Mr. Lasar referred
to by Benjamin II actually was Rabbi Abraham Lasar who
served Temple Beth El at that time.
The mid-19th century Jewish traveler was a keen Observer.
He was a tireless student of affairs in Jewish communities,
as evidenced in his references to Temple Beth El of Detroit,
which, soon after his visit here, split into two congregations—
the other being Shaarey Zedek.
"Three Years in America" is an information book. It reads
like a novel and it adds to our understanding of American Jewish

Israel Cabinet Approves
Measure Promoting Trade

Britain, Israel Ratify Mutual Insurance Pact

Communal Service Prize

to Be Made in November

The first presentation of the
newly established Edwin Rosen-
berg Award for distinguished
Jewish communal service will
be made at the 25th General
Assembly of the Council of Jew-
ish Federations and Welfare
Funds in November, it was an-
nounced by Julian Freeman of
Indianapolis, chairman of the
awards committee.
Eligible for the award are
men and women, volunteer and
professional, individual and
groups, "who have demon-
strated constructive leadership
in Jewish communal service, in
the achievement of cooperation
among Jewish organizations for
The greater benefit of the per-
sons served by those agencies,
and for the greater benefit of
the community and humanity
generally."
The award differs from the
William J. Shroder Memorial
Award which recognizes out-
standing advances in social wel-
fare , standards, programs and
services.

KASHRUTH DIRECTORY
The Fall 1956 edition of the
(U) .Kashrut Directory, stand-
ard guide for kosher shopping,
has been published by the Un-
ion of Orthodox Jewish Congre-
gations of America. Free copies
are available on request to the
Union at 305 Broadway, New
York 7.

Announces the Appointment
of

Jack Markowitz

MARKOWITZ

To Their Saks Staff

We Buy—Sell and Trade .. .
Land Contracts a Specialty
TO 9-8700
13254 LINWOOD

THE VOLUNTEER DEMOCRATS

OF THE 15th CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT

An organization dedicated to working for the -liberal progressive poli-
cies and principles of the Democratic Party, having carefully examined
the qualifications of the legislative candidates in the 15th Congressional
District in the Primary Election on Tuesday, August 7th, 1956

Endorse and Recommend for Your Consideration

For Congress

JOHN D. DINGELL

For State Legislature

4TH DISTRICT (WARDS 10-12-14)

FREDERICK YATES

AND

JERRY S. COHEN

For State Legislature

6TH DISTRICT (WARD 16)

George MONTGOMERY

VOTE IN THE PRIMARY ELECTION TUESDAY, AUGUST 7th, 1956

VOTE DEMOCRATIC