Monday, April 14, 2008
EMERGENCY FUNDING NEEDED
This telegram, in the Adath Israel collection at the Rutgers Library, is probably from the late '40's:
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
BUY A BRICK
This seems to be a draft of a raffle ticket for our "new" synagogue in the late 1940's. I don't know if it was ever used - but it's a pretty clever concept:
(if you click on the image, you can enlarge it)
(if you click on the image, you can enlarge it)
Freddy Kaufman's grandkids
Richard Feldman ( Nettie and Abe's), Freddy Kaufman, Robert (Bobby) Kaufman (Eddie and June's), Judy Kaufman ( Eddie and June's), Sherry Kaufman, Kenny Kaufman ( Jerry and Harriet's), Nancy Feldman ( Nettie and Abe's)
Memories from Annette Kaufman Feldman
This was sent by my cousin, Nettie (Freddy Kaufman's daughter, who grew up on Tisdale Place, next door to us):
I was one of the Adath Israel Players. I played the lead ingenue role of "Elaine" in "Arsenic and Old Lace". I remember Rose Belafsky played one of the old ladies. David Kushinsky played opposite me in the male "love/hero" role. I am trying to remember who played the crazy guy who dug the graves in the cellar but I can't. They also put on "The man Who Came to Dinner" and I got the part of the Russian Duchess who had a heavy RRRRRRussian accent and served a platter of blintzes. Chuck Sokler played the guy who played the xylophone. I was the star of another play but the title escapes me.
I don't know who the rabbi was who conducted my brother Eddie's Bar Mitzvah which was in September of 1938. Very clearly I remember giggling when Eddie, in his speech to the congregation, said, "Today I am a man."
After the service the whole congregation came to our home on Tisdale Place for an outstanding kiddush, (truly a fabulous lunch), which my mother prepared all by herself. (pickled herring, pickled fish, all kinds of cheeses, breads and baked goodies, etc.) No caterers in those days! Then in the middle of the party while everyone was busy feasting, Eddie stole the keys to the family car, backed it out of the driveway and headed toward Green Street. I yelled for my father to come see what happened but by the time he went outside there was no trace of Eddie and the car. Eddie evidently turned left on Green Street. We waited in the street in front of our house for what seemed an eternity and finally up the street the car appeared coming from Grove Avenue. It slowly came down Tisdale Place and we thought it would stop in front of our house, but it just kept going! It continued to Green Street and again turned left. Again we waited until we saw it appear coming from Grove Avenue. This time my dad yelled "Stop! Stop! Stop the car!" but it continued again to Green Street and beyond. You could hardly see Eddie behind the wheel because he was short and could barely see over the dashboard. And the for the third time the car appeared coming from Grove Avenue. This time when my dad yelled "Stop the car!", Eddie yelled back, "I don't know how?" Whereby my dad yelled, "Just take your foot off the gas peddle and it will stop by itself!" (To this day I can't believe he backed it out of that particular driveway! The driveway had a slight curve, was close to the house, and Eddie not only couldn't see over the dashboard but he couldn't see out the rearview mirror, or side mirror if the car had one! But, you must also realize that in 1938 there were not very many cars around. (I guess that if the car was one that had to be cranked to start, it never would have happened!) I write lots of stories about the family. True happenings. And in my collection there is a story about "Eddies Bar Mitzvah".
(Nettie added Eddie's Bar Mitzvah might have been led by Mr. Najovitz)
I was one of the Adath Israel Players. I played the lead ingenue role of "Elaine" in "Arsenic and Old Lace". I remember Rose Belafsky played one of the old ladies. David Kushinsky played opposite me in the male "love/hero" role. I am trying to remember who played the crazy guy who dug the graves in the cellar but I can't. They also put on "The man Who Came to Dinner" and I got the part of the Russian Duchess who had a heavy RRRRRRussian accent and served a platter of blintzes. Chuck Sokler played the guy who played the xylophone. I was the star of another play but the title escapes me.
I don't know who the rabbi was who conducted my brother Eddie's Bar Mitzvah which was in September of 1938. Very clearly I remember giggling when Eddie, in his speech to the congregation, said, "Today I am a man."
After the service the whole congregation came to our home on Tisdale Place for an outstanding kiddush, (truly a fabulous lunch), which my mother prepared all by herself. (pickled herring, pickled fish, all kinds of cheeses, breads and baked goodies, etc.) No caterers in those days! Then in the middle of the party while everyone was busy feasting, Eddie stole the keys to the family car, backed it out of the driveway and headed toward Green Street. I yelled for my father to come see what happened but by the time he went outside there was no trace of Eddie and the car. Eddie evidently turned left on Green Street. We waited in the street in front of our house for what seemed an eternity and finally up the street the car appeared coming from Grove Avenue. It slowly came down Tisdale Place and we thought it would stop in front of our house, but it just kept going! It continued to Green Street and again turned left. Again we waited until we saw it appear coming from Grove Avenue. This time my dad yelled "Stop! Stop! Stop the car!" but it continued again to Green Street and beyond. You could hardly see Eddie behind the wheel because he was short and could barely see over the dashboard. And the for the third time the car appeared coming from Grove Avenue. This time when my dad yelled "Stop the car!", Eddie yelled back, "I don't know how?" Whereby my dad yelled, "Just take your foot off the gas peddle and it will stop by itself!" (To this day I can't believe he backed it out of that particular driveway! The driveway had a slight curve, was close to the house, and Eddie not only couldn't see over the dashboard but he couldn't see out the rearview mirror, or side mirror if the car had one! But, you must also realize that in 1938 there were not very many cars around. (I guess that if the car was one that had to be cranked to start, it never would have happened!) I write lots of stories about the family. True happenings. And in my collection there is a story about "Eddies Bar Mitzvah".
(Nettie added Eddie's Bar Mitzvah might have been led by Mr. Najovitz)
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Monday, April 7, 2008
A Little Research
Well, I finally made it out to the Alexander Library at Rutgers on Sunday - where four small boxes filled with copies of Adath Israel records reside. The material is well organized in dated folders - mostly minutes of board meetings. I made some notes of random things, and xeroxed a few papers, but my hopes of finding copies of photographs were dashed.
The very first folder had minutes starting with March 3, 1931. In 1935, dues were $6.00 a year, Holiday seats were $5.00 for men, $3.00 for women. Really. By 1944,when Irving Hutt called one meeting to order, there was a discussion about hiring a cantor for the High Holidays - a 20 year old graduate of Yeshiva. His name was written in by hand - it looked like "Merrill Fisher". The Holiday tickets were then set at $7.50 for members(couples), $10.00 for non-members, $7.50 for single men, and $5.00 for women. No mention of children.
In October of 1944 the Congregation had a bank balance of $1428.48. Then in February of 1945 it was time to hire a full-time Rabbi - a letter was sent to the Reverand Alter Abelson of Rockaway Beach to "ask him to become our spititual leader" at a salary of $3000/year. By then the membership fee was not to be "less than $20 a year".
At the end of that year a letter was sent to United Synagogue of America informing them of plans to build a new synagogue "on ground 120' x 105' - with a request for them to submit plans or sketches for the new building.
Rabbi Abelson wasn't working out, I guess - he was to be replaced after May 31, 1946. I didn't find any explanation for his termination, but Rabbi Samuel Newberger was hired as of September 15, 1946 at a salary of $4000/year. (There's a receipt from around that time for a Lullove and Esrog for $6.25).
Perhaps the best quote from my two hour scan of the files is from December, 1947: "There is a drop of two pupils from the Hebrew School due to mothers afraid that the children are not getting enough vitamins and sunshine." And if you know who those kids were, let me know.
In April, 1948, the Adath Israel Players staged "Front Page", and made a few hundred dollars, and in 1950 the big hit was "Arsenic and Old Lace." The production for 1951 was "Born Yesterday". The Belafskys probably know more about those productions and others - the minutes didn't reveal very much.
In 1949, there were 31 Hebrew school students, 45 Sunday school students. That includes many of us, I guess.
By 1956, membership fees were to be "not less than $65.00", and included two seats for the Holidays. Widows of members could purchase seats for $15.00.
And by 1957, Harold Wishna reported 200 kids enrolled in all activities, with 123 in leagues (basketball, vollyball, etc.) There was even a boxing class starting in 1958! Anyone out there with PICTURES? I Googled Harold recently, and found him living and working in Florida. We had a lovely conversation, and he and Helen sound well and happy.
So, it's not much, but I'll post some of the xeroxed papers in a few days. I don't want to give it all up at once.
- Sharon
The very first folder had minutes starting with March 3, 1931. In 1935, dues were $6.00 a year, Holiday seats were $5.00 for men, $3.00 for women. Really. By 1944,when Irving Hutt called one meeting to order, there was a discussion about hiring a cantor for the High Holidays - a 20 year old graduate of Yeshiva. His name was written in by hand - it looked like "Merrill Fisher". The Holiday tickets were then set at $7.50 for members(couples), $10.00 for non-members, $7.50 for single men, and $5.00 for women. No mention of children.
In October of 1944 the Congregation had a bank balance of $1428.48. Then in February of 1945 it was time to hire a full-time Rabbi - a letter was sent to the Reverand Alter Abelson of Rockaway Beach to "ask him to become our spititual leader" at a salary of $3000/year. By then the membership fee was not to be "less than $20 a year".
At the end of that year a letter was sent to United Synagogue of America informing them of plans to build a new synagogue "on ground 120' x 105' - with a request for them to submit plans or sketches for the new building.
Rabbi Abelson wasn't working out, I guess - he was to be replaced after May 31, 1946. I didn't find any explanation for his termination, but Rabbi Samuel Newberger was hired as of September 15, 1946 at a salary of $4000/year. (There's a receipt from around that time for a Lullove and Esrog for $6.25).
Perhaps the best quote from my two hour scan of the files is from December, 1947: "There is a drop of two pupils from the Hebrew School due to mothers afraid that the children are not getting enough vitamins and sunshine." And if you know who those kids were, let me know.
In April, 1948, the Adath Israel Players staged "Front Page", and made a few hundred dollars, and in 1950 the big hit was "Arsenic and Old Lace." The production for 1951 was "Born Yesterday". The Belafskys probably know more about those productions and others - the minutes didn't reveal very much.
In 1949, there were 31 Hebrew school students, 45 Sunday school students. That includes many of us, I guess.
By 1956, membership fees were to be "not less than $65.00", and included two seats for the Holidays. Widows of members could purchase seats for $15.00.
And by 1957, Harold Wishna reported 200 kids enrolled in all activities, with 123 in leagues (basketball, vollyball, etc.) There was even a boxing class starting in 1958! Anyone out there with PICTURES? I Googled Harold recently, and found him living and working in Florida. We had a lovely conversation, and he and Helen sound well and happy.
So, it's not much, but I'll post some of the xeroxed papers in a few days. I don't want to give it all up at once.
- Sharon
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