Rabbi David Philipson Clara B. Jordan Memorial
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Clara B. Jordan Memorial A beautiful and important part of Hughes High School is the Clara B. Jordan Memorial Library. i\I iss Clara B. Jordan graduated from Hughes in 1867; and during the remainder of her life was closely asso ciated with the school through her work in the Alumnal Association and her long teaching career. She was a member of key committees in planning the Semi-Cen tcnnial Program in 1901 , the Laying of the Corner Stone in 1908, and Dedication Day 19l0. From 1872 to 19l6 Miss Jordan taught Latin at Hughes. In 1924 a committee was appointed by the Hon. John Dempsey, President of the Hughes Alumnal Association to create an appropriate memorial for Miss Jordan in recognition of her ou tstanding service to the school. The committee followed the suggestion of Mr. C. M. Merry, principal of Hughes, to name the library in the school the Clara B. Jordan Memorial Library. Charles R. Lamb, a competent artist of the J. and R. Lamb Studios of New York, was chosen to suggest a plan which the Alumnal Association could develop as a cumu lative scheme to keep alive the memory of Miss Jordan. In 1926 he submitted plans and sketches which the Alumnal Association accepted. In 1929 the Central window was installed. In 1931 decorators from the J. and R. Lamb Company frescoed the walls. The Greybar Electrical Company de signed and made the lighting fixtures. In following years, [our other windows were installed to memorialize other Hughes teachers. Students spend many hours in the library during their four years at Hughes, browsing, seeking information for reports, making bibliographies for senior themes, chat ting over tea cups at social functions held there. Rabbi David Philipson Many Hughes graduates have occupied positions of im portance in our city and nation, but perhaps none have exerted such tremendous influence on people living in all corners of the earth as Rabbi David Philipson. After graduation from Hughes in the class of 1879, Dr. Philipson entered the newly founded Hebrew Union College as a boy of thirteen. In 1883 he graduated from the University of Cincinnati and in the same year was one of the four who formed the first class ever graduated [rom the Hebrew Union College. For several years following his graduation Dr. Philipson continued to study while teaching Arabic, Assyrian, and Biblical exegecies. During this period his wntlllgs were numerous and he was rewarded with the post of Rabbi of Bene Israel Congregatio in Cincinnati. Philipson's standing as one of the leading Reform rabbis of the United States was unquestioned and he represented Reform Judaism at numerous sectarian functions, as well as an official governmen t occasions. A staunch advocate of Americanism and of the compatabili ty of Americanism and Judaism, he remained throughout his life an opponent of Jewish nationalism of any sort, particularly of Zionism, which he regarded as incompatible with Americanism. He was, however, intensely sympathetic toward Palestine as a place of refuge [or the oppressed Jews. As a crusader for clean municipal government, Dr. Philip son was instrumental in eliminating the corrupt boss-domin ated government of Cincinnati and substituting a reform charter administration decently and economically run. '!\Then Dr. Philipson died in 1948, people of all race mourn ed the passing of this man who had stood as a shining light to his people and the worlel for eighty-six brilliant years. Page seventeen .