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