THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS

12 Friday, May 18, 1919

EL ISRAEL DT el h u e xe
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ere
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(one block east of Southfield Rd.)
Southfield, MI 48076

Jews in California Gold Rush

By ALLEN A. WARSEN
Robert E. Levinson, pro-
fessor of history and coor-
dinator of Jewish studies at
San Jose State University,
authored the chronicle "The
Jews in the California Gold
Rush," published by Ktav
and the Commission for the
Preservation of Pioneer
Jewish Cemeteries and
Landmarks of the Judah L.
Magnes Memorial Museum,
Berkeley, California.
The book, meticulously
researched, consists of 10
chapters. It contains an ex-
tensive collection of historic
photographs, a comprehen-
sive bibliography and is
fully annotated.
The author commences
his narrative by recording
in great detail the gold rush
of 1849. Thousands of
people, including many
newly arrived German
Jewish immigrants,
swarmed to California.
Of historic significance
are the recorded data of
the Jews who partici-
pated in gold mining and
prospecting. Their names
are listed in the decennial
census records, the
Toulumme County Great
Register and the records
of mining claims. In
Dorada County, Jews re-
corded 91 mining claims;
in Amador County, 49
claims; and in Calaveras
County, 128 claims.
Important, too, are the
data of Jews who panned
gold. For example, "A. Levy
washed out 18 pans of dirt
and obtained $6.50 in gold."
Jews, moreover, estab-
lished trading posts
throughout the gold terri-
tory to serve miners and or-
ganized business estab-
lishments for mining gold.
The firm Marks & Co.
engaged in "banking, buy-
ing and selling mining

claims and working the _organizations, became
same."
members of town and city
Jews also participated in councils, justices of the
gold mining in Nevada, peace, postmasters, and
Idaho, Montana, British served on grand, trial
Columbia and elsewhere. and coroner's juries.
They took part in the min- They were elected mem-
ing of silver in Nevada and bers to Democratic
Colorado.
county conventions and
Characteristic is this appointed "judges of
observation by a Sac- local elections by county
ramento memorialist: "I boards of supervisors."
They joined fraternal,
have never seen it in print
but the Jewish merchant masonic lodges and volun-
had lots in the opening of teer fire departments, but,
this coast. Every town, they did not participate in
village, city had retail or vigilance committees.
The author asserts, "Re-
wholesalers, carried
large stocks, gave liberal gardless of a Jew's place of
credit. It was observed origin or intended destina-
where there were no tion in the gold rush, his
Jews, gambling, fast first port of call in Califor-
sports, there were no nia was likely to be San
business."
Francisco." There the Ger-
The Alaska Commercial man Jews established Cong.
Co. founded by Louis, Slos Emanuel and the Polish
and Gerstle was important Jews, Cong. Shearith Israel.
The author also describes
in the economy of - the
Northwest. It dealt "in furs the beginnings of the Re-
and sealskins from 1870 form movement in Califor-
and supplied the miners in nia and the continued loy-
the Klondike gold strike in alty to tradition.
Illustrative is the notice
1897."
The following item ap- reported in 1860 in Rabbi
peared in the Prescott Isaac Leeser's periodical,
Weekly' Arizona Miner in The Occident: "The Is-
1877: "Mr. Michael Goldwa- raelites are rapidly in-
ter one of our successful creasing all over the state
merchants, we learn from a (of California). Every-
telegram received of Morris, where is the feeling
his son, arrived in San for our cause alive. In
Francisco today, where he Sacramento, Stockton,
plans to remain four or five Marysville, Nevada
weeks and be present dur- (City), Grass Valley --
ing the Jewish New Year everywhere, the service
and participate in the fes- was conducted during
the festivals without at-
tivities thereto."
It was truly remarkable tempt at reform."
As the gold rush period
that the Jewish merchants,
began
to decline, the Jewish
who were living among di-
verse religious and ethnic merchants abandoned the
groups, remained faithful to mountain regions and
their religion, formed places moved to the urban com-
of worship, organized be- munities, especially San
nevolent societies and es- Francisco, where they "pro-
vided sojourners and
tablished cemeteries.
settlers alike with the
In addition, they par- necessities and comforts of
ticipated in local civic life."

Elderly Make Harry Weinberg's
.
.
Birthday Occasion for Jubilation

- —
Harry Weinberg won't be
90 until July 3. Yet the
spirit of celebration is al-
ready reverberating wher-
ever his associates and
friends convene. There are
many of them. There are the
elder citizens associated
with the Cultural Commit-
tee of the Jewish Commu-

Avern Cohn,
Newblatt
Are Named

Detroit attorney Avern
Cohn and former Genesee
County circuit judge
Stewart Newblatt were
among three persons nomi-
nated by President Carter
Wednesday for Federal Dis-
trict Court judgeships.
The third appointee is
Mrs. Anna Diggs-Taylor,
assistant corporation coun-
sel for the city of Detroit. -
The President is expected
to send their names to the
Senate next 'week for con-
firmation. A Senate vote
would follow Judiciary
Committee hearings.

nity Center in whose ranks
the Weinberg natal day is
an occasion for recognition
of dedicated labors by a tire-
less man who has never
permitted age to stand in
the way of action.
It is as a Yiddishist that
he leads in emphasis on the
language and its culture,
and his devotion stems from
pioneering in the Yiddish
theater.

When the Yiddish
troupes were touring the
land and were making
routine and often lengthy
visits to Detroit, there
wasn't an actor of note who
did not know Harry Wein-
berg. He was on friendliest
terms with many of them.
He was a pal of Menashe
Skulnick. When that great
Yiddish actor played Poland
and Russia, Harry Wein-
berg of Warsaw was a young
member of the cast.
Mr. Weinberg came to
the U.S. in 1910 and
worked as an actor in the
U.S. for two years. He
leased a theater in Cleve-
land, whete he met and

HARRY WEINBERG
married Jennie Gross.
Business dropped be-
cause of the war and the
young couple came to De-
troit in 1918.
In Detroit, Mr. Weinberg
went into the shoe business.
AdVertising on radio led
him into his own Yiddish
program on WJBK, aided by
his wife. The program con-
tinued for many years on
WJLB.
The Weinbergs are
among the founders of the
Sholem Aleichem Institute,
the Federation for Polish
Jews and the Center
Businessmen's Club.

