Look to the rock from which you were hewn Vol. 31, No. 4, Fall 2007

chicago jewish historical society chicago jewish history

Henry Horner, “The Real Goods” BY EDWARD H. MAZUR Governor Henry Horner, trade, on November 30, 1878, he Chicago Politics, and the Great managed to skillfully straddle the Depression. By Charles J. Masters. divide between the respectable good 2007, Southern Illinois University government crowd and the rough Press, 245 pages. Cloth $24.95 and tumble ward politicians of Chicago during the World War I Henry Horner and his Burden of era, the Roaring Twenties, and the Tragedy. By Thomas B. Littlewood. Great American Depression. 2007, Author House, 314 pages. Attorney and author Charles J. Paper, $12.20 Masters in his important mono- he story of Henry Horner, graph reveals that at various times in the first Jewish Governor of his political career, Horner found T the State of Illinois, from himself an ally of Chicago’s powerful January 9, 1933 until his death in Democratic Machine—founded by office on October 6, 1940, holds Irish politicos Roger Sullivan and Henry Horner (1878-1940) many contradictions. George Brennan, perfected by Illinois Historic Preservation Agency Born Henry Levy into a family Bohemian Anton “Tony” Cermak, of successful Jewish entrepreneurs in and managed by Patrick Nash, legendary First Ward duo of “Hinky the retail and wholesale grocery Edward Kelly, and the 24th Ward’s Dink” Kenna and “Bathhouse John” Jacob Arvey. At other times, Horner Coughlin—decidedly not good found himself to be the object of the government types! IN THIS ISSUE Democratic Machine’s wrath. While Henry Horner was the third son remaining a staunch Democrat, of Dilah Horner and Solomon Levy. Jewish Book Month: Horner nevertheless found himself His parents’ relationship was Published Works by at loggerheads with the adminis- anything but harmonious, and in CJHS Members tration of Franklin D. Roosevelt. 1883 they were divorced. Afterwards Terminiello vs. Chicago: His rise to power and struggle to his maternal grandmother, Hannah The Free Speech Case remain in the leadership of Illinois Dernberg Horner, invited Dilah and government is a dramatic tale, full of the children to move in with her, Symbol of The Society: political intrigue and twists of fate. but only on the condition that they Remembering Artist For example: Horner, elected change their surname to Horner. Rose Ann Chasman Governor in 1932 as the candidate The future governor would be a of “good government,” received his lifelong bachelor, who enjoyed the SPECIAL SECTION: political start with Chicago’s continued on page 4 “The Jews of Hyde Park High School”—Report on The Society has 10 copies of our 1990 reprint of the classic reference book Our Oct. 28 Program H.L. Meites: History of the Jews of Chicago A drawing will be held. Winners may purchase the books. Details on Page 23. 2 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007 President’s Column Look to the rock from which you were hewn

chicago jewish historical society NOVEMBER IS JEWISH BOOK MONTH, and this Fall (November) issue of our quarterly Officers 2007 publication is dedicated to Jewish books. Walter Roth By way of coincidence, on October 16, my President wife Chaya and I had the opportunity to attend a Burt Robin luncheon downtown in the Sheraton Hotel and Vice President Towers to celebrate the coming 15th anniversary Dr. Carolyn Eastwood of the United States Holocaust Memorial Recording Secretary Walter Roth. Museum. Elie Wiesel, the founding chairman of Dr. Edward H. Mazur the museum, was guest of honor. It was Treasurer estimated that about 3,000 persons came to see and hear him. Directors Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, writer and recipient of the Nobel Leah Axelrod Peace Prize in 1986, continues to be a powerful spokesman for the Harold T. Berc victims and survivors of the Holocaust and a moral voice for peoples Charles B. Bernstein around the world who are facing persecution today. Rachel Heimovics Braun* In a moving message to the audience, he stressed the need to Dr. Irving Cutler remember and teach the facts surrounding the Jewish genocide. Herman Draznin Asked how to best accomplish this, Wiesel answered, “Books, books, Herbert Eiseman and books” —meaning that through reading history we remember Dr. Rachelle Gold our past, and hold onto our faith, and learn from it in dealing with Clare Greenberg present injustices, such as Darfur. “The Darfur Holocaust occurred Dr. Adele Hast* [and continues]—not because the killers killed, but because others Janet Iltis let them do the work and did not protest.” Melynda Lopin He stressed that anti-Semitism is still “a plague” and defined an Seymour H. Persky anti-Semite as “a person who hated me before I was born.” Muriel Robin Rogers* Norman D. Schwartz* CHICAGO, IN PARTICULAR, HAS BEEN CAPTIVATED Dr. Milton Shulman by Elie Wiesel. Night, his memoir of his youth in the concentration Dr. N. Sue Weiler camps, was the “One Book, One Chicago” selected by Mayor Daley *Indicates Past President and the Chicago Public Library in Spring 2002. A specially priced Chicago Jewish History paperback edition was featured in retail bookstores, Night discussion is published quarterly by the groups met at branch libraries, and the book was assigned for Chicago Jewish Historical reading in local high schools. Wiesel came and spoke to the young Society at 610 S. Michigan Ave., people of our city. Each fall and spring, an important “One Book” is O Chicago, Illinois 60605. chosen, but none has quite had the impact of Elie Wiesel’s story. Phone (312) 663-5634. [email protected]. Single copies $4.00 postpaid. Successor to Society News. Editor-Designer Bev Chubat Editorial Board Burt Robin, Walter Roth, Norman D. Schwartz, and Milton Shulman Send all submissions to: Editor, Chicago Jewish Historical Society. 610 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60605 or e-mail: http://www.chipublib.org/003cpl/onebook_night/resources.html [email protected] Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007 3 New Office, New Board Member The Society is in the process of moving into our new office in the magnificent new building of the Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies at 610 South Michigan Avenue. In our new room, with computer, phone, and files at hand, we will be able to manage the business of the Herbert Eiseman and the Chicago skyline. CJHS more efficiently. We look forward The Society extends a warm welcome to Herbert to continuing our Eiseman, the newest member of the Board of Directors. working relationship Herb is a certified member of the Chicago Tour-Guide with our colleagues at Professionals Association (CTPA). He was elected to a the Asher Library and three-year term at our October 28 business meeting. the Chicago Jewish Carolyn Eastwood, Clare Greenberg, Ed Mazur, Packed and stacked Tyga-Boxes. Archives. and Burt Robin were re-elected to a three-year term.

From the CJH Summer 2007 Issue — Corrections, Clarifications, and Additions Beatrice Michaels Shapiro. In the article “CJHS several abandoned coal yards, and a railroad right of Member Among Jewish Chicagoans of the Year way. The address you have listed is the Horace Mann 2007” on page 6, we misstated her husband’s name. Elementary School.” The late Mr. Shapiro’s name was Larry. The Chicago Park District website lists two contact Berger Park & Cultural Center. The correct addresses for Rosenblum Park: (A) 7547 South Euclid address is 6205 North Sheridan Road. In the article and (B) 8050 South Chappel—neither one at the park. “Chicago Park District Facilities Named for Jewish Bidwill Stadium—often misspelled as “Bidwell”— People” on pages 8-9, we listed a wrong address. was the home field of the Bluebirds of the All Rosenblum Park. Another error in the Chicago American Girls Professional Baseball League Park District article is the location of this park. (AAGPBL), founded in 1943 by Chicago Cubs CJHS member Jerry Levin corrected us: owner Phillip Wrigley in the belief that Major “Rosenblum Park is at the southwest corner of 75th League and Minor League baseball would be Street and Jeffery Blvd. The park is one block long suspended during World War II. N-S and one and a half blocks E-W. When President Roosevelt gave the order to continue “I spent many days and nights playing baseball there men’s pro baseball to keep up the morale of the from 1954 through 1960. The park served as the nation, Wrigley wanted to fold the AAGPBL. But athletic field for South Shore High School, which at attendance continued to grow, and the women’s that time was across 76th Street on Constance league continued to operate until 1954. It was made Avenue. In the late 1960s, the Chicago Public famous again in the movie “A League of Their Own.” Schools constructed a second high school building The owner of the Bluebirds, Charles Bidwill, was on the west side of the park. The new building is on better known as the owner of the Chicago Cardinals the 7500 block of Constance. The park land was NFL football team. The Bidwill family still owns the assembled from the old Bidwill baseball stadium, team, now the Arizona Cardinals. 4 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007

Henry Horner continued from page 1 Throughout his career, many around him— Democrat and Republican, Jew and non-Jew—thought that Horner lacked “toughness.” Masters’ book conviviality of the Standard Club, good whiskey, and a convincingly dispels this characterization and serves to fine cigar. He was a member of two Reform congre- remind us not only that the first Jewish Governor of gations, Sinai and Kehilath Anshe Maariv (KAM). Illinois was tough, but that he was a deeply principled Throughout his career, Henry Horner was extremely man, committed to practical common sense politics. In sensitive about the integrity of the Jewish community. the political climate of the 1920s and 1930s where For example, when Jewish merchants who supplied state honesty was a liability, Henry Horner managed to institutions tried to hedge on their contractual maintain his political integrity even when he was obligations or substitute inferior merchandise for the targeted for political sacrifice by the Kelly-Nash original, his wrath was boundless. He would rage, “You Chicago Democratic Machine, abetted overtly and have disgraced me and you have disgraced our covertly by the Roosevelt administration. people…if you don’t replace this merchandise, I’ll get Governor Horner vetoed the “Bookie Bill.” This you in the Courts.” was a plan pushed by Mayor Ed Kelly to produce He was a genial, well-spoken man with a pince-nez revenue for Chicago by regulating gambling on and a moustache. He had the good fortune to be horseracing, already a widely recognized “industry” in politically mentored by Jacob Lindheimer, a German local taverns. After the veto, Kelly was reported to have Jew from Stuttgart, who became both Horner’s father said to Cook County Democratic Party chief Pat Nash, figure and political sponsor. (Ironically, Jacob’s sons, “We’re going to take that [expletive] out of the mansion. Benjamin and Horace, would leave Governor Horner’s We’re going to drop him down the chute, and there’s political camp and align with the opposition during the nothing he can do about it.” This sets the stage for a heated intra-party battles of the late 1930s.) most exciting narrative—as Horner becomes an In 1915, with Lindheimer’s backing, Horner was individual who brazenly fights the Machine and the elected to the first of many terms on the Probate President in order to do right for the people of Illinois. Court. This was the perfect union of man and Despite his prominent position in the annals of occupation. Henry Horner was a micro-manager, a Chicago Jewry, Horner is a largely forgotten figure in workaholic with a sense of fairness, who drew the history of Illinois and the United States. Masters’ inspiration from Abraham Lincoln. Probate Court monograph is the first full-scale treatment of Horner to represented a huge administrative undertaking that was appear in over thirty-five years. Writers who include ideal for Horner’s talents, especially his honesty and him in their historical narratives offer contradictory and ability to track and organize assets. Horner became the even dismissive characterizations of Horner. He is benefactor of many, following the Biblical injunction to referred to as “weak,” “lacking guts,” and “a rubber- protect the widow and orphan. He gave his support to stamper.” Some describe him as being “too numerous social, philanthropic, and economic causes independent,” a “troublemaker,” and an “obstruc- and was especially concerned with the “vulnerable tionist.” A frequent comment is that he was “not a peoples” of Chicago. He lobbied for more humane care politician.” However, we should remember that Henry in state institutions. In 1926, when the Illinois Horner, first as Judge of the Probate Court from 1915 legislature voted a pay raise for judges, Horner turned to 1932, and then as Governor from 1933 until his over his increase to the Institute for Juvenile Research. death in the fall of 1940, held elected office for most of here are two distinct parts to Masters’ book. his life. The first half provides the reader with a decent One of Horner’s legacies was the restructuring of an overview of Chicago politics and the Jewish antiquated, unfair, and ineffective taxation system. Also, T with his prodding, a permanent voter registration community from the city’s founding until the 1930s. Much of the material in this portion of the work is measure was enacted that helped bring voting practices familiar to those interested in Chicago Jewish history. into the relatively orderly and reliable state of today. The stronger second half is a highly informative and Following his death, political and non-political fast-moving account of Horner’s selection as the figures of all persuasions agreed that Horner exemplified Democratic candidate for Governor, his primary and the best of good government. In the years that followed, general election campaigns in 1932 and 1936, and his Illinois politics would be characterized by suspicion, ensuing eight years as the state’s chief executive. scandal, loose handling of public funds, and abuses of Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007 5

the public trust. Only then, in retrospect, could the electorate appreciate the protections that resulted from Horner’s watchful eye, vigilance, and micro- management. Sinai Temple’s Rabbi Louis Mann, who had persuaded Horner to sign the “Eyedrop Bill” that saved so many newborns from blindness, delivered the eulogy at the Governor’s funeral. He lauded Horner’s battle with “graft, corruption, dishonesty, and the spoils system,” and attributed the Governor’s death to his exhausting battle against corruption and betrayal. Henry Horner’s life and career indicate a craving for harmony and goodwill. Perhaps this was a result of watching the marriage of his parents dissolve in divorce. Her won the office of Governor in the midst of the worst global economic depression in history and at a time when anti-Semitism and racism filled much of American life, while in Europe, Hitler was taking Nazi Germany down the ominous path to World War II. Horner never seemed intent upon increasing his personal wealth. Although those around him appeared continually to be searching for ways to enrich themselves, Horner dedicated his life to ensuring that resources went where they were intended. Henry Horner was a good guy with the tenacity of a lion—he was a mentsch in the truest sense of the term. ittlewood’s book, Henry Horner and his Burden of Tragedy, is a revised second edition of a 1969 biography. Thomas B. Littlewood is a former L The Governor Horner Memorial, Chicago Park District’s chief of the Springfield, Illinois and Washington, D.C. bureaus of the Chicago Sun-Times, and professor Horner Park, Montrose and California Avenues. emeritus of journalism in the University of Illinois, “A granite monument designed by sculptor John Brcin. The front side bears a bas relief representing Horner during his Urbana-Champaign. years as probate judge. Behind him is a figure of Justice, and Originally titled Horner of Illinois and long out of before him are widows and orphans whose cause he print, the revised edition includes information on championed. The rear side holds a large bronze plaque of Jewish voting patterns and attitudes in Chicago that has Horner standing in front of the statehouse. Inscriptions on become available since the original publication. (My both sides extol his services as governor during the Great writing and that of Walter Roth are cited.) The unique Depression.”—Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. value of the book, though, is in Littlewood’s own reporting and his first-hand knowledge of the political pressures and prejudices that buffeted Henry Horner. Carl Sandburg in a 1961 interview with Littlewood stated, “Henry Horner was the Real Goods…He collab- orated with men who were purchasable without becoming purchasable himself. He got to high places without selling his soul.” O DR. EDWARD H. MAZUR, treasurer of the CJHS and member of the Board of Directors, is an urban historian, professor emeritus at City Colleges of Chicago, and consultant to the International Visitors Center of Chicago. Henry Horner Monument, Mount Mayriv Cemetery. 6 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007 Terminiello vs. Chicago — The Free Speech Case BY WALTER ROTH

ne of the most important civil rights cases in by the Illinois Appellate Court and by the Supreme OAmerican judicial history was decided in 1949: Court of Illinois. The Supreme Court of the United Terminiello vs. Chicago. My friend Dan Sharon, States granted the right to appeal. Research Librarian at the Asher Library, Spertus In Terminiello vs. Chicago, the Supreme Court by a Institute of Jewish Studies, suggested to me that this narrow five to four majority applied a “clear and present case needs to be brought to the attention of our readers danger” solution to a case, which placed in sharp relief for a better understanding of the laws dealing with free the theoretical conflict between community interest and speech and the rights of our people. First Amendment rights. While Terminiello’s speech had In the immediate post-World War II era, the produced a near-riot, his conviction was not based on a attention of the United States Supreme Court turned physical act by him or by his followers, but by persons increasingly to free speech cases in which Communists in his audience outraged by what he had to say. The case and religious conflicts came under consideration. The thus posed a basic constitutional question: could a Court resorted to “the balancing argument,” that the speaker, himself guilty of no disorder, be punished for First Amendment right of free speech “was not to be an “illegal” breach of the peace on the part of those who considered as absolute…but rather was to be weighed objected to ideas he expressed? against the right of the community and state to protect By a vote of five to four, the Supreme Court the public welfare.” overturned the conviction. Th majority opinion, written Lurking in the background were the likes of Gerald by Justice William O. Douglas, turned upon a point not L.K. Smith, a notorious anti-Semitic, anti-Communist even raised in the lower courts—the constitutionality of agitator, and others such as a 38-year-old defrocked the Illinois law under which Terminiello had been tried. priest named Arthur Terminiello. Both Smith and The trial judge, interpreting the law for the jury, had Terminiello (following in the footsteps of Father asserted that it made punishable “speech which stirs the Coughlin, the anti-Semitic bigot of the pre-War period) public to anger, invites dispute, brings about a toured the country delivering hateful attacks on Jews condition of unrest or creates a disturbance.” So and urging that the United States Constitution be construed, Douglas said, the law was unconstitutional. amended to make Zionism illegal. Terminiello also The right of free speech, he admitted, was “not published a monthly called The Crusader which absolute” but it could be suppressed only in the face of a allegedly had a wide readership. The House Un- “clear and present danger of a serious and substantive American Activities Committee was also beginning its evil that rises far above public inconvenience, annoyance hearings and investigative activities, and Gerald L.K. and unrest.” The opinion made quite clear that Douglas Smith had testified before it and had received a warm thought it intolerable to punish a person merely because welcome for his testimony. his ideas led to violence on the part of those who In 1945 Terminiello was addressing a large audience resented what he said. in a meeting hall in Chicago, outside of which was an angry, unruly crowd of protesters. Undaunted, ustice Robert Jackson, writing for the minority, Terminiello made his usual attacks on Jews and other Jattacked the majority decision for declaring “scum” and accused the Jews of an “organized unconstitutional a statute whose validity technically conspiracy” to innoculate the entire German was not at issue before the Court at all. He also population with syphilis. Notwithstanding efforts of a condemned the majority opinion for its “doctrinaire” large number of police to preserve order, there were disregard of the discretionary rights of the states in free disturbances in the crowd, stones were thrown and speech matters. Jackson, the American lead prosecutor windows broken. Terminiello and his cohorts were at the Nuremberg Trials, castigated the majority finally escorted out of the hall by the police. Terminiello decision as fulfilling “the most extravagant hopes of left was charged with disorderly conduct in violation of a and right totalitarian groups,” and warned that the Chicago ordinance forbidding any “breach of the majority had best beware lest its destruction of state peace,” and he was convicted after a trial by jury. The police power “turn the Bill of Rights into a suicide penalty was a fine of $100. The verdict was confirmed pact,” stating that this is what had happened in Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007 7

Germany under the Weimar regime march through Chicago’s all-white American Civil Liberties Union where mobs were free to roam the Marquette Park neighborhood as because of its representation of the streets because of free speech rights. well as protecting neo-Nazis in their neo-Nazi group in this matter. It should be noted that in the threatened 1977 demonstration in The American Jewish Congress proceedings before the Supreme north suburban Skokie. in Chicago, of which I had been Court, Chicago was represented in The National Socialist Party of president 1969-1973, was in a its brief by attorneys Benjamin S. America had demanded the right to quandary, but continued to adhere Adamowski, Joseph F. Grossman, hold a demonstration in Skokie. to the position taken by Justice A.A. Pantilis, and Harry A. Iseberg. Village authorities enacted an Jackson in the Terminiello case, that ordinance barring demonstrations of in certain instances the community he American Jewish Congress, persons in full Nazi regalia with has a right to protect itself. T then a strong civil rights organi- swastikas. Thousands of Jewish Dan Sharon was certainly zation headquartered in New York Holocaust survivors lived in Skokie correct in remembering the Supreme with offices in Chicago, filed an at the time, and they argued Court’s decision in Terminiello vs. amicus curiae brief urging the vociferously that the neo-Nazis be Chicago half a century ago, and affirmation of Terminiello’s convic- banned from demonstrating. As was reminding me of its relevance to the tion. Among the attorneys on the the case in the Terminiello matter, narrowly split decisions of the American Jewish Congress brief the American Civil Liberties Union current Court in First Amendment were William Maslow, a brilliant represented the neo-Nazis in legal cases dealing with free speech. O attorney who died in April of this proceedings in order to declare the Skokie ordinance unconstitutional. WALTER ROTH, president of the year, Shad Polier, a son-in-law of Chicago Jewish Historical Society, is a Rabbi Stephen S. Wise, and Byron When the case went to trial, the United States Court of Appeals for practicing attorney with the law firm S. Miller, a Chicago attorney who of Seyfarth Shaw LLP. was chief counsel for the American the 7th Circuit appeared to agree Jewish Congress in Chicago at that with the American Civil Liberties time. Miller later joined the law firm Union position. On Sunday, April 3, 2005, at an of D’Ancona Pflaum Wyatt & The Village of Skokie appealed open meeting of the Society at Riskind, which I later joined upon to the Courts for a temporary stay of Skokie Valley Agudath Jacob graduation from law school. the march, scheduled for June 25, Synagogue, Sheldon H. Nahmod, To the contrary, the American 1978. The Supreme Court, in a Distinguished Professor of Law, Civil Liberties Union filed a brief as “terse one sentence order,” denied Chicago-Kent College of Law, spoke amicus curiae, urging reversal of the Skokie’s request. However, when on “The March on Skokie Contro- conviction on the grounds that the that date arrived, no neo-Nazis versy: A Twenty-Five Year First Chicago law was a violation of the appeared, and no demonstration Amendment Perspective.” First Amendment right to free occurred. A report on the main points of speech. Thus, the Skokie case, which Prof. Nahmod’s lecture can be found The precedent set in Terminiello had preoccupied the Jewish com- in Chicago Jewish History (Spring vs. Chicago protected Dr. Martin munity for months, was over, 2005, page 11). Issues of CJH since Luther King and other open housing though its bitterness exists to this 1999 are posted on our website: protesters in their 1966 civil rights day. Many persons resigned from the www.chicagojewishhistory.org.

Welcome, New Members of the Chicago Jewish Historical Society! Lei-Ann Alimorong Jan C. Halperin Eve Mayer Ethan Bensinger Ann Hoenig Lawrence J. Moss Amy J. Bernstein Jo Ann Kaufman Beverly Persky Herbert H. Franks Dr. Milton & Fradie Kramer Fred & Vilma Porges Gil Gavlin Barry & Jayna Kroll Arthur B. Simon Chester & Naomi Gaynes Dr. Jerome Landy Henry & Judy Strauss Mr. & Mrs. Bruce Leon 8 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007

Talented Artist Rose Ann Chasman Designed the CJHS Logo Rose Ann Chasman, a founding Board member of promptly and graciously made a fresh version of her the CJHS and the designer of our logo, died on August logo art for the tote, and delivered it to me personally. 24 at the age of 68. Friends say that she had endured Rose Ann is survived by her husband Richard, sons several illnesses in recent years. David and Haim (Nurit), grandchildren Meira, Eitan Rose Ann was just embarking on her career as a self- and Ari, and brother David Golber. taught book artist when There is a beautiful she created the distinctive Artist’s Statement on narrative line drawing Rose Ann’s website: and calligraphic Hebrew “I draw my imagery Biblical phrase that from a life-long dialog became our symbol. She with classic Jewish texts, also chose the English The Bible, The Talmud, typeface that completed and The Midrash. My the composition. Rose work represents a lively Ann also designed the conversation with my Society’s first exhibition. Source, my Spur, and my That was nearly thirty Toughest Client. These years ago. Rose Ann Chasman with her work at an art fair. conversations are joyous, She became a ba’alas Courtesy of the Chicago Jewish News. skeptical, and devout. teshuva—involved in “Hebrew letterforms, Modern Orthodoxy—and an increasingly busy artist, central to my work, are seen in legend as G-d’s first with many commissions: ketubot, papercuts, and all creation. They are the tools used in fashioning the manner of spiritually Jewish-themed art. world. My work renews traditional folk crafts, Hebrew Last year, CJHS Membership Chair Dr. Rachelle calligraphy and paper cutting, using contemporary Gold, a participant with Rose Ann in a women’s tefila materials and techniques to express my personal vision. group, was planning our 30th Anniversary Tote Bag It reflects the renewal I find in the religious tradition promotion. Rachelle directed me to Rose Ann, who itself. I expect delight!”—Bev Chubat

Basketball All-Star Irv Bemoras Spoke at Our Marshall High “Reunion” Irving Bemoras, Marshall High School Class of January, Champaign, and finally to the City Championship with a 1949, a son of Sephardic Jewish immigrants from Turkey, close win over DePaul Academy at the International died on November 1, at age 76, in his Buffalo Grove home of Amphitheater (I still have my Cheering Section ticket). portal hypertension and severe gastric gastropathy. Mr. What led to that great year? Irv told us that after the Bemoras is survived by his wife, Sally; two sons, David and Juniors had won the Public League Championship in 1947, Bobby; a daughter, Jill Abruzzo; a sister, Esther Schreiber; a their star, Seymour “Bimbo” Gantman, was moved to the brother, Ralph; and six grandchildren. Senior team. He was their first point guard, passing to Irv (over 6-foot-3) was one of the guest speakers at our Bemoras for his jump shot. Stardom at Marshall gave Irv a Marshall High “Reunion” on June 4, 2006, at the Bernard springboard to the University of Illinois where he played on Horwich JCC. He followed fellow basketball legend Izzy Big Ten Championship teams, then on the Army Acker (under 5-foot-8) on the program. Like Izzy, Irv got his Championship Team during his two-year service. He earned start practicing shots at the Lawson “hoop” and the ABC. a degree in Economics at the U of I, played in the NBA, and Irv Bemoras led the Marshall Seniors to the Chicago went into the insurance business. Public League Championship, then downstate for a win and Irv Bemoras was active in the B’nai B’rith Sports Lodge a loss in the “Sweet Sixteen” State Tournament in and the GVS (Great Vest Side) mens’ club. —B.C. Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007 9 Report on Our October 28 Open Meeting “The Jews of Hyde Park High School”

From Left: Guest speakers Manfred Steinfeld, Elise Ginsparg, Julian Frazin, and Judith Phillips; President Walter Roth, and Program Chairman Charles Bernstein. CJHS photograph by Bev Chubat.

ur Hyde Park High School commemorate Jewish contributions O “reunion” program was held to various Chicago high schools. on Sunday afternoon, October 28, The first was an experimental “mini in the sanctuary of Chicago Sinai reunion” for Roosevelt High; the Hyde Park High School. Congregation, 15 West Delaware second, a full program on Marshall Yearbook photograph, 1945. Place. A brief meeting preceded the High, with talks by four alumni Courtesy of Chicago Jewish Archives, program, at which members of the from different decades. This excel- Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. Board of Directors were elected. lent format, designed by Program This program was the third in a Chairman Charles B. Bernstein, was Here, we present edited transcripts series presented by the Society to followed in the Hyde Park program. of the four talks. Enjoy!

A Great Old School and a Young Refugee from Germany BY MANFRED STEINFELD

PHS was a very old school in a very old neighbor- but also many larger, elegant apartment buildings, H hood that was established by Paul Cornell in the mostly constructed in the 1920s. Woodlawn was a 1850s, when he purchased three hundred acres of land working class neighborhood. South Shore offered newly from the Illinois Central Railroad—between 51st and arriving families a more middle class environment. 59th Streets, extending west from the lakefront. HPHS was considered to be the best community In 1861, Hyde Park Township was incorporated, school in the city, and was frequently referred to as the extending from 39th to 63rd Street. The Hyde Park “prep school for the University of Chicago.” Hotel was built in the 1860s, and it served as Mary The faculty at Hyde Park High was a collection of Todd Lincoln’s residence for many years. heavyweights, both in their ability to teach, and also in HPHS drew its student body from Kenwood, Hyde their own educational backgrounds. Foremost among Park, Woodlawn, and South Shore. During our time at them was Beulah Shoesmith, a math teacher of HPHS, Kenwood still had its original affluence, with an incredible dimension and reputation. She may have abundance of very large homes belonging to the used her mathematical expertise in her investment Rosenwalds, the Loebs, the Leopolds, Mayor Ed Kelly, strategies, for when she died she she left a multimillion Norman Wait Harris (founder of the Harris Bank), and dollar estate—all on an average yearly salary of $5,000. many other wealthy families. The Hyde Park neighbor- continued on page 10 hood was somewhat less solid, with numerous six-flats, 10 Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007

Steinfeld continued from page 9 HPHS Jewish “Fame and Fortune” Alumni Carl Nyberg was the author of ACADEMIA INTERIOR DESIGN the geometry book we used, and also Rolf Weil Howard Hirsch* Milt Shulman a very excellent teacher in the math JOURNALISM honors courses. The Euclidians, the ARCHITECTURE Joseph Sanders* math honors society, would usually Jim Ingo Freed* be in the finals of the statewide LAW math competition and most of the ART & PHILANTHROPY Sid Hess time became state champs. Allan Frumkin* Jack Ring (Occasionally they would lose to Leonard Ring* AUTOMOTIVE New Trier.) Miss Rubovitz and Miss Walter Roth Arnie Yusim Helen Gallagher (my favorite MEDICINE teacher), were the best in English. COMMERCE & INDUSTRY Bernie Block* HPHS also distinguished itself Norman Chapman Bernie Eisenstein* by having the only teacher in this Howard Haas Ralph Keno* city ever discharged because of Nate Lipson Rosita Stephan political orientation. Her name was Manny Steinfeld Brenda Joyce. After a lengthy and ECONOMICS & SCIENCE MILITARY well-publicized hearing, she was Norman Davidson* Phil Kriloff – KIA, Normandy* discharged for fomenting fascism in Paul Samuelson* Major General Gerd Grombacher* her classes. It was a very serious Gunther Stent RELIGION charge at a very serious time. Rabbi Frederick Schwartz This gives you a glimpse of what PUBLISHING was happening at 6220 South Stony Eddie Diamond SPORTS Island Avenue. Bill Pattis Leon Strauss Now I want to share with you a ELECTRONICS list I’ve compiled of distinguished WOMEN alumni, but I would like to Werner Neumann Harriett Rattner – Not-for-Profit Org. Gloria Wolf – Politics, Phoenix AZ introduce it with an excerpt from ENGINEERING the book, Reunion, written by my Paul Gordon *Deceased friend, the late journalist Joe Ed Levitt Sanders, after the 1992 HPHS ENTERTAINMENT In reading out this list that he compiled Reunion. I recently found his 50- Mel Tormé* of his contemporaries and older (and page typed manuscript in my library. some younger) HPHS graduates who FINANCE achieved great success, Steinfeld stressed Walter Goldschmidt* ot all success need the importance to them of the G.I. Bill of “N be measured in show FOOD SERVICE Rights, which provided a free college biz glitz. Rather, we should be Arnie Morton* education to returning WWII veterans. reminded of all the richness of participation in American life MANFRED STEINFELD is a Chicago industrialist and philanthropist. He fled Nazi available to the Hyde Park Germany, alone, in 1938 to live with an aunt and uncle in Chicago. After graduation alumni of my time. It should from Hyde Park High and notable service in the U.S. Army, he earned a degree in be known that the cream was business administration from Roosevelt University. In 1953, he and an associate so deep at Hyde Park, that a purchased a bankrupt chair manufacturing firm and renamed it Shelby Williams mere skimming of the obvious Industries. Under Mr. Steinfeld’s leadership, Shelby Williams became the country’s leading commercial seating company, focusing on the hospitality and food service indicates how rich a place it markets. Among his myriad awards are an honorary doctorate from Roosevelt University, was, just in intellectual the Horatio Alger Award for Distinguished Americans, and the Julius Rosenwald butterfat alone…” Memorial Award from the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago. Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007 11 Home, Bittersweet Home, and Hyde Park High School BY JULIAN J. FRAZIN

n my lifetime, I have been many for her husband. “How much?” she being Jewish. Particularly since a I things. I’ve been a copyboy, I’ve asks. “It costs one dollar per word,” third of my grandfather’s twelve been a boxer, I’ve been a political she’s told. “Okay,” she says, “Put children had married (much to his cartoonist, a songwriter, a lawyer, ‘Sam died.’” The guy on the phone dismay) non-Jews, and I had spent a and a theater critic, a Little League says, “I’m sorry, madam, there’s a number of holidays in their homes coach, a college professor, a writer of minimum charge of five dollars. You celebrating Christmas. It was then, parodies, a producer of and a need three more words.” She thinks and remains today, one of my performer in the Chicago Bar for a moment and says, “Okay, put favorite holidays. Association Show, a judge in the ‘Sam died. Cadillac for sale.’” This feeling was enhanced as Circuit Court of Cook County and But I didn’t always tell jokes. every year the businessmen of 63rd now, today, a speaker before the I just used to say something stupid, Street, then a very thriving Chicago Jewish Historical Society. and when people would laugh, I commercial community, would But, when I’m gone, I would would pretend I was just being come to the orphanage and take all hope that I would be best funny. Like when I was a little kid us “home kids” out for a Christmas remembered as someone who loved growing up in the orphanage and dinner with Santa Claus—with to make people laugh. In spite of all someone would ask what I wanted special treats and presents for all. their troubles. Amid all the turmoil for my birthday. I would say They didn’t care if we were Jewish or and chaos in which the world has “a second hand watch,” and they not. This tradition was continued by generally found itself. To laugh. would all laugh. (They knew I us kids in the Home as well. Every At themselves. At me. And at our meant a watch with a second hand.) Christmas Eve the older kids, after beleaguered society. I would laugh too, pretending the younger ones were asleep, would And I would like think that I got I knew it was a joke. True story. sneak into our dormitories, and my sense of humor from my Jewish And I got a lot of laughs. And also a leave gifts—always wrapped in that heritage. From a people, who despite lot of second-hand watches. cheap red or green crepe paper from all their problems and tsoris, still Woolworths. Games, toys and managed to find humor in the most peaking of the orphanage, it’s candy, all of which were probably bizarre circumstances. And for that I S time I got into that. stolen from Woolworths—or one of thank Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, My mother died in 1932 when I the other kids’ locker. Sara, Rebekah, Rachel and Leah, was two years old. My sister, Betty, Of course, we also celebrated and Woody Allen, Sid Caesar and and I were raised by my dad, Myron, Chanukah and all the other Jewish Mel Brooks. with the help of one of his sisters. holidays as well. How else could I have told the But when she went into the hospital When my own kids, Glenn and story of this woman down in Florida in 1935, and with my dad working Howard, were growing up, we who meets a man sitting at the pool with the WPA during the always observed both customs. I outside her condo. “Do you live Depression, my mother’s sister— remember once when one of here?” she asks him. “How come I’ve Aunt Minnie—got into a battle with Howie’s little friends could not never seen you?” “I’ve been away,” my father as to who should have understand how we could do it, he says. “Away? Where have you custody of us kids. Howie told him, “Every house has been?” “I’ve been in prison.” “In It was finally resolved by placing got its own rules.” In fact, every year prison??? What were you in prison us into the Home at 62nd and my wife, Rhona, and I continue in for?” “For killing my wife!” Drexel which was run by the Jewish this ecumenical spirit. I have even [pause] “So, you’re single.” Federation of Chicago. Although my written a children’s Christmas tale Or the one I told at my Aunt Dad was a very religious Orthodox and a number of Christmas songs. Minnie’s funeral several years ago Jew, as was my grandfather Hey, Irving Berlin did all right—and back in Hyde Park at the old Sinai, (a founder of the Beth Abraham I haven’t even gotten into Easter! about the woman who calls the Congregation on the South Side), newspaper to place a death notice at five I had little consciousness of continued on page 12 12 Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007

Frazin continued from page 11 there as an eight year old, antici- chairs, drapes, and a large Zenith pating gulping down a delicious radio on which we could listen to treat , when along comes Big Ernie, the Joe Louis fights and the Morris Anyway, I really didn’t realize I going from table to table, scooping B. Sachs Amateur Hour. The Zenith was Jewish or even an orphan, for up his weekly winnings. That I was equipped with a little button that matter, until I went into the could later laugh at such a situation marked “television.” But it did Home and found out it was called taught me that I was a Jew. nothing when you punched it The Chicago Home for Jewish because TV would not be around for Orphans. I knew that meant me. o I began to pay closer attention at least ten more years. There were What a name! It sounds like S to those Bible stories they were picnics, beach days, baseball games, something out of a Dickens novel. telling us in Saturday religion class summer camp, and Automobile Fortunately, they eventually changed and by the rabbi in his sermon Days, when a group of volunteers the name to Woodlawn Hall, which during Sunday services in our own would take us in their private cars sounded more like a prep school. on-site temple. for special visits to Riverview, and Then I could say, “Ah, yes, when The Home, being supported the Lincoln Park and Brookfield mommy passed, father thought it mainly by Chicago’s wealthy Zoos. It was no prep school, but it best to enroll my sister and me at German Jews, was consequently was no Marks Nathan either. Woodlawn Hall. What a delight.” operated as a very liberal Reform However, the main reason I Actually, it wasn’t. At least not Jewish institution—preparing me never felt like an orphan was because always. In the words of Dickens, for my life at Sinai. All the happy of my dad. He would come visiting “It was the best of times. It was the holidays, like Rosh Hashanah, several times a week, and on worst of times.” We were well fed— Chanukah, Passover, Purim— weekends got special permission to if you liked creamed peas, stewed Halloween—were observed, but take my sister and me out so we tomatoes, and canned salmon— none of the strict dietary laws were could have dinner with the many which I didn’t. But every Saturday, followed. In fact, when one of the members of our large family in their there was also the best veal chop kids would disobey, they would homes. Even Aunt Minnie, who had with mashed potatoes and gravy and threaten to send him to the fought so bitterly with my father the best little cup of Goldenrod ice (Orthodox) Marks Nathan Home following my mother’s death, did cream I ever tasted. on the West Side, where he would her best to become a surrogate mom We also all got our weekly nickel be forced to always wear a little by taking us on alternate weekends allowance, which we could take to black skullcap, be beaten until he to spend overnight in her home in buy candy at our free triple feature learned his Hebrew lesson every day, Hyde Park with my Uncle Buck. plus three cartoons and a Flash and never, but never, get to eat bread All of which taught me to become a Gordon serial at the Maryland and butter with meat. I don’t know better judge when I sat in Divorce Theater on 63rd Street or, for the of anyone who was actually sent Court handling child custody cases. older kids, the movie and stage show there, but when the little Dorfman at the Tivoli on Cottage Grove. kid disappeared, there were rumors. hen I came to Hyde Park High Yes, we got all that plus Tuesday I was raised in the orphanage T School. First the Branch and Sweet Rolls and Thursday Cake— from the time I was five until I was then to the Main on Stony Island. which you got to eat unless you had twelve, when the Home closed its By then, my sister and I were living the misfortune to lose both, along doors. Then I was placed in a foster with my father in an apartment at with that great veal chop, your little home until my dad was able to get 47th and Ellis. I had already made a cup of Goldenrod ice cream, and an apartment for my sister and me lot of new friends at the Shakespeare your Saturday nickel in a poker to live with him. School, including Sid Drury, who game with the older kids—played But I never felt like an orphan. became my longest and best friend secretly under the back stairs. (“I’ll Following the name change, all the until his death several years ago. At see your Thursday Cake, and raise staff at the home got rid of their the Branch I met Dave Ofner, who you two sweet rolls and a veal uniforms and dressed casually, went on to become President of the chop.”) creating a more friendly Foote, Cone and Belding Believe me, there is nothing environment. A large living room Advertising Agency, and Jerry more excruciating than to be sitting was provided with couches, arm Osherwitz, who would run the Best Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007 13

Kosher Sausage Company. her husband, Michael Fain, has Yes, I felt guilty. Until I recalled Both Dave and Jerry also remained written more than a dozen best- from my Bible study days, that close friends until their deaths. selling novels under the pen name of Moses was not Bar Mitzvah nor At Hyde Park those two invited Judith Michael. confirmed either. He didn’t even me to join their popular Jewish One of my classmates, the lovely know he was Jewish until he was a fraternity, KDT. I could tell you Millie Fogel, went off to New York grown man. And I got to thinking— what those letters stood for, but then and Hollywood and emerged as the Moses and I have a lot in common. I’d have to kill you. Seriously, it was sultry Barbara Bain. And another, Both of us were raised by people a great experience. I know a lot of who staked her theatre career here in other than our parents. Both of us people oppose this sort of thing, but Chicago, was the talented actress/ were frightened by a talking Bush. I know it taught me how to get singer Renée Matthews. In the visual (He saw his in the desert. I saw mine along with my peers. Were it not for arts we had the internationally on television.) Both of us loved them forcing me to make the phone acclaimed artist Robert Natkin, matzo. He liked his crisp and dry in call, I doubt if the shy guy I was whose abstract mural fills the lobby the hot sun. I like mine buttered would ever have had a date or have of Rockefeller Center. and with grape jelly in an air- gone dancing. With a girl. Surely there must have been conditioned kitchen. Hyde Park had a great more. I know that before our time And finally, both of us got to be reputation. Like Marshall on the Steve Allen and Mel Torme were old men without getting to set foot West Side, which also had a large Hyde Parkers. Later came Herbie in Israel, the Promised Land. But Jewish enrollment, our school Hancock and Chaka Khan. that could change. If I ever get a call consistently had the highest from the Palestinian-Israeli B’nai scholastic ratings, and one of the ince I am at a program of the B’rith Lodge to come over to their finest school newspaper staffs in the S Chicago Jewish Historical annual dinner dance and get them country. As for football—we are not Society, I have a confession to make. to laugh at themselves and their a violent people. As for basketball— While I am not a devout Jew, I like troubles—I’ll be there. O we are not a tall people. Although to think I am a very spiritual one. I our Junior teams, the short guys, belong to a temple. And celebrate all JULIAN J. FRAZIN has had distin- always did well. the holidays. At least the happy guished careers in both law and But the school did have a ones. But, I must admit, I have entertainment. He received his B.A. creative spirit which I am sure neither been Bar Mitzvah nor from the University of Illinois, and nurtured mine as I matured and confirmed. They didn’t have Bar earned his J.D. from the Northwestern took off for college, law school, and Mitzvah at the Home, and besides I University School of Law. Judge a legal career, which included was only 12 when it closed. I could Frazin served on the Cook County writing, since 1963, for a nationally have had a Bar Mitzvah when living Circuit Court for ten years and is now famous, but non-paying, social and with the elderly Jewish couple at counsel to the law firm of Michael political gridiron show. Beth Eliezer, but my dad couldn’t Best & Friedrich LLP. For over forty There were many others at Hyde come up with the cash for the years he has been producer and Park at the time who were touched necessary private lessons. I used to principal writer for the Chicago Bar by that imaginative muse. In feel kind of guilty about that. Association’s annual “Christmas addition to David Ofner, to whom I So when my father passed away, Spirits” satirical musical revue. already referred, there was Burt I immediately enrolled both my Manning, who, when at Leo sons, Cain and Abel—I mean, Burnett, came up with that great Howie and Glenn—first at Temple slogan: “When you’re out of Schlitz, Emanuel, and then at Sholom, you’re out of beer.” This propelled where they were indeed Bar him to become Chairman of the Mitzvah, had big parties, and swore Board at J. Walter Thompson. to the rabbi that they would There’s Bill Raffeld, who headed up continue their Jewish education to the Theater Department at the Confirmation—and then, in University of Illinois at Chicago, another great Jewish tradition— Poster for upcoming 2007 CBA and Judith Barnard, who along with never showed up again. “Christmas Spirits” musical (detail). 14 Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007 Yankel’s Butcher Shop, Rabbi Muskin’s Shul, and HPHS BY ELISE DEBOFSKY GINSPARG

y father olov hashalom, I am, in the current lingo, an FFB—“Frum From Birth.” I was born in M of blessed memory, came Hyde Park to a religious, observant family, and lived at 5470 South from the Polish Russian city of Greenwood for over a quarter of a century. Drohitchin. Whenever he spotted My father had a kosher butcher shop on 55th Street, called the anyone from Drohitchen he was University Meat Market. However, it was better known as Yankel’s. My delighted to see a lantsman, a person father’s reputation for purveying the finest meats, and for his honesty and from his city. I never really under- religiousness, attracted a very loyal clientele. On a recent trip I took to the stood that concept until I moved to South Side with Dr. Irv Cutler, he pointed out where the butcher shop had the North Side. Now I have that been located, indicating that it was a landmark. special feeling whenever I meet a We lived on the third floor of a large three-flat building on Greenwood. South Sider, especially a Hyde The Nathan family, also Orthodox, lived below us, and the Teiman-Packer Parker, a lantsman. So I greet you, all family, who also kept kosher, occupied the first floor. My parents, both of my lantsleyt, family and friends who blessed memory, could walk to the butcher shop, and the entire family could have come to hear the program. walk to shul on Shabbos. Our shul was Beth Hamedrosh Hagadol– Anshe Dorom, (A Great House of Learning– People of the South). However, it was known as “Muskin’s Shul,” named for Rabbi Eliezer Ruven Muskin, of blessed memory, the spiritual leader. The shul was on 54th Street and Greenwood, about two blocks from our house. The synagogue had a balcony for the women. The rabbi’s sermons were in Yiddish, except on the High Holy Days, when Rabbi Oscar Z. Fasman gave them in English as well. (Rabbi Fasman, of blessed memory, was a past president of the Hebrew Theological College and former rabbi of Congregation Yehuda Moshe, my synagogue in Lincolnwood.) Rabbi and Rebbetsin Muskin hosted a Simchas Torah reception every year for the young people. There was a Hebrew School in our shul, which I attended in the afternoon, after Kozminski Public School. My teacher, Rabbi Eliyahu Block, of blessed memory, taught at the Jewish Parochial School on the West Side, and then came South to teach us. To this day, I remember his teachings. I experienced a little anti-Semitism from the kids at St. Thomas Catholic School on 55th and Woodlawn. There had been skirmishes between them and the Jewish kids. One day, when I was on the way back to school after lunch, a boy carrying a huge snowball came toward me and asked if I went there, pointing to Rodfei Zedek, the Conservative congregation a half-block from my home, also on Greenwood. I answered, “no.” It wasn’t a lie, as we went to Muskin’s Shul. He didn’t throw the snow- Hyde Park High School. Yearbook photograph, 1945. Courtesy of Chicago Jewish Archives, Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies. ball, but believe me, I ran away as fast as I could. Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007 15

There was a major confrontation physics department at Bar-Ilan to HPHS and sometimes the bus between the Catholic and Jewish University in Israel. down Hyde Park Boulevard. Once, a kids, and after a while the incidents There was a falling out between bunch of us hitchhiked to school in stopped. I assume that parents and Rabbi Peretz and the German immi- a laundry truck. We weren’t too administrators became involved. grant members of his congregation, happy when the principal met us as Adas Yeshuran, so the breakaway we piled out! he composition of the Ortho- group left and began holding Academically, Hyde Park was on T dox Jewish community on the services in a room above the Frolic top. When I was in college, my South Side changed with the influx Theater on 55th and Ellis. They professor said that the two top of German Jews in the late 1930s called their congregation Chevra Chicago Public High Schools at that and early ’40s. They attended Yeshurun. Rabbi Peretz and his time were Senn and Hyde Park. Of Muskin’s Shul until they broke away followers remained on Greenwood. course, he was correct! in the early ’50s. The breakaway There are two other synagogues After my high school classes, I group brought in Rabbi and Mrs. I wish to mention in conjunction attended the Hebrew Theological Kurt Peretz, of blessed memory, with the Orthodox community— College, the Yeshiva High School originally from Germany, then living the Hyde Park Hebrew Center on Branch, located in a mansion on in England. They held services in a 52nd and Blackstone and Congre- 51st and Greenwood, on the little house belonging to Rodfei gation Beth Abraham on 53rd and southwest corner, directly across the Zedek, right next to the synagogue. University. These synagogues were street from Isaiah Israel. The It was called the Orthodox Jewish referred to as Traditional. They mansion was donated to the Yeshiva Center of Hyde Park. functioned as Orthodox, with the by the Anna Sarah Katz family from Many religiously observant exception of having no physical Wisconsin. In this building, my young people came to the University separation (mekhitza) between the friend Hannah Gottschalk of Chicago from out of town. They men and women, although many of Sondhelm and I went all through attended the services led by Rabbi the men and women sat separately Hebrew grammar school and Peretz. Many U of C students and anyway. Rabbi Harold Karp was attended Hebrew high school for business people who wanted kosher then the spiritual leader of Hyde four years. (I recently had dinner meals ate or boarded at the homes of Park Hebrew Congregation. with her in Jerusalem.) We were Bella Stern and Betty Schmidt, both Beth Abraham was affectionately blessed with marvelous teachers who of blessed memory. The Shabbos know as the “State Street Shul” taught at the Chicago Jewish meals were especially popular. because so many members of the Academy, now the Ida Crown Jewish One of the students was Rose Congregation had lived or worked Academy, and came to the South Ann Golber Chasman, of blessed on 18th and State Street when they Side to teach us. memory, who recently passed away. came to America. Our family The young rabbis, our teachers, (She designed the logo of the became very active in Beth Abraham loved our class. We were highly Chicago Jewish Historical Society.) because my parents had lived near motivated teenagers—boys and girls Rose Ann came from a Reform State Street, and my sister, Florence, — willing to learn and absorb. The family. She attended services with who should live and be well, married house at 51st and Greenwood is still Rabbi Peretz, became involved in the Rabbi Isaac Mayefsky, of blessed standing. Rumor has it that Barack community, and interested in memory, the congregation’s rabbi. Obama is living there or nearby. Orthodoxy, a ba’alas teshuva.She While I was in high school, I was a gifted artist who became a attended Kozminski Grammar was a member of a sorority, Pi learned Orthodox Jew. I School. The majority of the Epsilon Phi, known as Pi Ep. Dr. Alvin Radkofsky, another of Jewish students in my class attended Although it was illegal at Hyde Park, these students, became a renowned Rodfei Zedek. It wasn’t until I many Jewish boys and girls were nuclear scientist, involved in the entered Hyde Park High School that members of sororities and frater- submarine program in Washington. I met so many of the kids from nities. Everyone, including staff and Dr. Nathan Weiser and Dr. Avi Sinai, Isaiah, KAM, Beth Am, South administration, knew about their Greenfield, with whom my husband Shore Temple, etc. existence. My sorority sisters were and I visited in Jerusalem a week I took the 55th Street bus and very accommodating to me. The and a half ago, established the the streetcar on Stony Island Avenue continued on page 16 16 Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007

Ginsparg continued from page 15 I had lunch with these childhood Orthodox young people met with friends. May we continue for many the North and West Side groups. years to come. Many marriages resulted from these Saturday rush tea was in Hyde Park This yeshiva building was also gatherings, including mine. so I could walk, and the Sunday tea used as the first home of the South While I was part of a distinct was in South Shore, so I could ride. Side Jewish Day School in the late minority as an Orthodox Jew in the My sorority hosted the most 1940s, spearheaded by Bella Stern overall Jewish population, I had a important dance of the year, the Pi and Rebbetsn Peretz. The school wonderful time growing up in the Ep Sing. The proceeds went to later moved to South Shore and Hyde Park community, and my charitable causes. The dance was a became Akiba Jewish Day School. Orthodoxy only added to the rich- “turnabout”—the girls asked the It later merged with Solomon ness and dimensions of that life. O boys—and was held on Friday night. Schechter South Side School to form It was changed to Saturday night so Akiba-Schechter Jewish Day School, ELISE DEBOFSKY GINSPARG my friend and sorority sister, Judith located at 5235 South Cornell. is a former board member and Bachenheimer Gutstein, and I could During the summer, Shabbos membership chair of the CJHS. She attend. By the time we graduated, afternoons found us at The Point on graduated from Loyola University practically all the dances were held 55th and the Lake. As our college Chicago with a B.A. in Education on Saturday night because the years approached, we began to and earned a master’s in audiology Reform congregations wanted the attend the Friday night lectures at from Northwestern. Since retiring kids in Temple for Friday night the U of C Hillel Foundation. We from teaching in the Chicago Public services. did a lot of walking in those days! Schools, she has been a lecturer, slide The senior prom was scheduled After high school, I joined a show presenter and book reviewer, for Friday night. We went to see the Religious Zionist Group named concentrating on Jewish life in cities principal, Dr. Arthur O’Mara, and Negbah (In the South). We formed a around the world. the proms were changed to council where we South Side Thursday night. Yes, there were events on Friday night that I missed, but my home on Shabbos was very An HP Alum’s Greetings from CA special. My parents were home, my Recently, I received notice of your October 28th meeting from a siblings were home, we had longtime friend, Alvin Saper of Skokie, a member of the CJHS. company, we read, we talked, and, of I was a member of the HPHS Jewish student body, 1934-38. course, we had my bubbe’s challah. Most of us came from the Hyde Park, Woodlawn, and South habbos afternoons during Shore neighborhoods. I, and others from South Shore, would walk Sgrammar school and high school to school through Jackson Park, weather permitting, or take the IC were spent with my dear friends train which traveled along 71st Street on its way to downtown, with from German-Jewish backgrounds. a station a few blocks from school. We were involved in B’nai Akiva, The president and vice-president of my class, June 1938, were the youth group of the Religious Herman Neiman and Harriet Distenfield, respectively. Zionists. We were the Kadima Girls. We were an active group, participating in virtually all school Though not all of the girls’ families programs. We took leadership roles in athletics, the Honor Society were Orthodox, they were very (Sigma Epsilon), special interest clubs, the staffs of the AITCHPE Jewishly committed and happy that annual and the Weekly. Even the ROTC. Our parents were also their daughters were in a Shabbos involved as members of the PTA,Varsity Mothers’ Club, and atmosphere. Orchestra Parents’ Club. We met at the Yeshiva building There were also Jewish members of the faculty. Notably, for all on 51st and Greenwood. Our boys, and especially those of us who participated in varsity sports, madrikhim (counselors) were Ruth there was our coach and mentor, Elliot Hasan. Frank Selig, of blessed memory, for Those were great, memorable times! the girls and Nachman Patinkin, of Arthur Fradkin blessed memory, for the boys. I’m Agoura Hills, California proud to say that last Wednesday Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007 17 Hyde Park High, Rodfei Zedek, and Camp Ramah BY JUDITH MARGOLIS PHILLIPS

y tenure at Hyde Park High School, 1957–1961, ground—I retain an impression of activity, liveliness, M came on the cusp of changes triggered by the new and excitement. This upbeat aura was due to an demographics of the post-World War II 1950s. By the excellent faculty; to the classes above my own which still mid-50s the topography, population and commercial preserved a substantial white (and Jewish) presence; to activity of the Hyde Park community had shifted the double-track education system in place at that time; radically. With the influx of Blacks east, into Hyde Park and to the really extraordinary number of extra proper, many Jews moved farther south into South curricular activities available. Shore, or fled to utopias on the North Side. During my years there, Hyde Park High was blessed Before the mid-50s, the Jewish community of Hyde with a strong math program, led by the legendary Mrs. Park thrived west of the IC tracks. It supported Kosher Schull and the dedicated Mr. Helms, who also presided butchers and delis, Jewish-run businesses, like Cohn & over math honors at 7:00 a.m.; one could study Greek, Stern on 53rd and Kimbark, as well as several Latin, French, German, or Russian, or any combination synagogues and a small JCC. By 1957, on the other of these languages and participate in French or German hand, the majority of Hyde Park’s Jewish population Club after school; Mrs. Bernice Cohen taught us not lived in East Hyde Park. 53d Street lost its luster as a only to read, but to apply analytical skills to the plot shopping mecca, 55th Street was a no-man’s land of elements and character development of novels like tenements and bars, Lake Park Avenue was threatening, Buddenbrooks. In AP Biology, we dissected frogs and with its taverns, cigar store, pool hall, bowling alley, and fetal pigs under the enthusiastic, but demanding, eye of the old Hyde Park movie theater. Mrs. Hawkes; and in the extracurricular extension of During my first year of high school, redevelopment biology, Conservation Club, we would arise at 5 on a began. An early sign of its arrival was the deep, wide Saturday morning in order to go bird watching at the trench that split 55th Street from Lake Park to Wooded Island. During my senior year, a special after- Blackstone. We who walked home from Hyde Park school class in creative writing was introduced. It was High were forced to find a new route in order to reach taught by a then-U of C graduate student, Sheldon our homes north of 55th Street. By 1960, the once- Patinkin, who was one of the founders of Second City, familiar landscape between 55th and 57th Streets, Lake and more recently headed up the drama department of Park and Kenwood, had disappeared. Taverns and Columbia College. tenements were replaced by townhouses; many Hyde ith these resources and opportunities, most of Parkers chose private schools for their children rather W my friends from Hyde Park High went on to than send them to the community’s sole high school college and beyond. Michael Schwartz, for example, with its predominantly Black student body. took a Ph.D. in chemistry and worked many years for Strangely, considering this bleak picture, I recall my Amoco; Carol Gross, a math whiz, received her degrees years at HPHS with great fondness. The school was not from IIT and went on to teach physics for over 30 years devoid of Jewish students until the early 1960s, at least, at Lane Tech. One of my oldest friends, Iris Beller, who when Kenwood Academy was built. I think my younger is here today, worked many years as an accountant. sister’s class—three years behind mine—was the last one Arnie Kanter became a lawyer and earned the with a decent Jewish contingent, although I cannot say distinction of being the youngest ever to be appointed precisely when the Jewish population declined to zero. as a Special Magistrate in a prolonged airline litigation. To be honest, in those days, ratios were calculated in He “retired” early in order to write; I have a humorous terms of white and black: when I entered Hyde Park book on the Chicago Cubs that he published recently. High, it may have been 85% black; when I graduated, it Joanie Lazarus Shapiro, avid bird watcher, became was 90% or more. But we had fantastic football and the vice president of the South Shore Bank, where she basketball teams! facilitated loans to minorities and worked to realize Although I recall that the physical make-up of the development projects in nearby areas. Roger Price is a school was dreary by today’s standards—browns and lawyer; in addition, he helped found the Reconstruc- tans prevail in my mind’s eye, with the noise, dirt and tionist Synagogue in Evanston and served as the looming presence of the 63d Street El in the back- continued on page 18 18 Chicago Jewish History Hyde Park High Fall 2007

Phillips continued from page 17 Mitzvah, we had lessons with Rabbi Daskal immediately prior to evening minyan. There were always adult congregants somewhere in the background: sisterhood national president of the Reconstructionist movement. ladies practicing the skits they put on; the men at Gerry Rizzer, who teased me mercilessly in Mrs. evening minyan; the RZ choir rehearsing under the Atwater’s French class, went on to found a chamber directorship of Cantor and Mrs. Goldberg. music group, which still performs in the Chicago area. Unlike now, our ties to the shul did not end post- My non-Jewish friend and biology lab partner, John B’nai Mitzvah. Because Rabbi Simon and a past- Cody, worked as a reporter for WBBM radio before and president, Lou Winer, were instrumental in founding after he returned from the Viet Nam war; turn to 780 Camp Ramah, the Conservative Movement’s summer on your dial and you can still hear his insightful camp in Wisconsin, many of us were sent to Ramah. As interviews. My oldest friend, John Stevens (remember an impressionable early adolescent, it was there that my the Stevens Hotel?), comes from a family of lawyers; his Jewish identity and experiences took concrete form and uncle is a Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. John and my predilection for biblical studies and Hebrew found his brothers introduced me to the SPU (Student Peace expression. More important, perhaps, Ramah was the Union) while we were at Hyde Park High; and this was motivating force for continuing my Jewish education the start of my own involvement with liberal causes, beyond the age of 13. In order to return there, one had peace marches, and demonstrations. to engage in Jewish studies a set number of hours a week and to meet certain performance standards. ur academic opportunities were stellar, but during Not wanting to be permanently cut off from my these years Hyde Park High provided us a rather O newly-found Jewish friends of the North Side and limited Jewish social life. The Jewish minority formed suburbs, and not wanting to be left out of the social itself into fraternities and sororities, drawing members activities of the Conservative youth organizations, USY from Hyde Park High, South Shore High, and the U of and LTF, during the school year I attended Hebrew C Lab School. Dating and socializing took place within High School until I was 16, and I founded a local USY the framework of the Greek associations. My knowledge chapter at Rodfei. My guiding light during those years of their activities is severely limited, because I resigned was Mrs. Elbaum, a superb teacher who succeeded in when I observed the blackballing process. As a result, I transmitting to me her love of the Hebrew language and found myself on the fringes of high school-centered Jewish culture. It is to Rodfei’s credit that it funded a Jewish social life; instead, I ran around with a mixed sparsely attended Hebrew High class during a difficult group of friends at school, and turned to other avenues period in its history. for Jewish content. Obviously, I had the best of two worlds. At Hyde As I said, in those years Hyde Park was home to a Park High, I received a good education, both academ- variety of Jewish institutions. Of these, three major ically and politically; through Hebrew High, Ramah synagogues (KAM, Isaiah Israel and Sinai) were Reform, and USY, I maintained relationships with Jewish friends and one, Rodfei Zedek, belonged to the Conservative that seem as fresh now as they were 50 years ago. Some Movement. Because my father was from a well-known of these friends are well-known; Sam Zell, for example, Conservative family from the East Coast, and because is a real estate magnate who is about to become the Rabbi Ralph Simon had been my grandfather’s protégé owner of the Tribune Company; Larry Bloom was an at the Jewish Theological Seminary, my parents joined alderman of the Fifth Ward; and my bunkmate at Rodfei Zedek shortly before my birth in 1944. I admit, Ramah, Judy Graubart, was a regular cast member of Rodfei was—and still is—a home to me. I attended the children’s TV show, The Electric Company. O Sunday School at the old Rodfei on Greenwood; when the new synagogue was built in East Hyde Park, I JUDITH MARGOLIS PHILLIPS has resided in Hyde moved over there for Hebrew School. Despite depopu- Park for almost her entire life. She received her B.A. from lation, Jewish life—Conservative as well as Reform– the University of Michigan, her M.A. from the University thrived during those years. of Chicago Oriental Institute, and her Ph.D. from the My early memories of Rodfei are of bustle and Chicago Theological Seminary. A scholar in Semitic activity. We attended Hebrew School four times weekly, languages and cultures, she gives frequent lectures on as well as on Shabbat morning. We arrived immediately Scripture and life in the ancient Middle East. A lifelong after school, had a snack of Tam-Tams and milk, and member of Congregation Rodfei Zedek, she has been “studied” until 6 p.m. When we were pre-B’nai Director of Torah Reading since 1990. Chicago Jewish History BOOKS Fall 2007 19

CJHS Publications: Walter Roth Looks Back at References & Quarterlies Chicago’s Jewish Past

HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF CHICAGO. LOOKING BACKWARD: True Stories from Edited by Hyman L. Meites; new introduction Chicago’s Jewish Past. By Walter Roth. by James R. Grossman; foreword by Thomas R. 2002. Academy Chicago Publishers. The Meites and Jerome B. Meites. 1990. Facsimile unknown story of Jewish participation in of the original 1924 edition. Includes special Chicago’s great fair of 1893 is only one of the supplement excerpts from the 1927 edition. fascinating nuggets of history unearthed and Includes biographical references and index. polished by Walter Roth in the pages of Chicago Out of print. Reference copies are at the Harold Jewish History. Now, for the first time, the Washington Library Center, Chicago Public material has been collected in a single volume, Library, 400 South State Street, and the Asher chronicling events and Library, Spertus Institute of Jewish Studies, people from the late 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago. 1800s to the end of SYNAGOGUES OF CHICAGO. World War II. Illustrated. 305 pages. Edited by Irving Cutler, Norman D. Schwartz, Cloth $27.95; and Sidney Sorkin. Project supervised by Clare paper $16.95. Greenberg. 1991. Computerized compilation of Available at retail synagogue listings in Chicago city directories bookstores and online. since 1851. Includes every year’s complete listings; a one line summary of each congre- AN ACCIDENTAL gation; its active years; street address; name of ANARCHIST.By rabbi; and name of president if available. Walter Roth and Joe Out of print. Reference copies are at the Harold Kraus. 1998. Academy Washington Library Center and the Asher Library. Chicago Publishers. The story of young Lazarus Averbuch’s fatal 1908 encounter with Chicago The Following Publications: Prepay by check Police Chief George Shippy. Paper, 211 pages. to Chicago Jewish Historical Society, 610 South Illustrated. $16.95. At bookstores and online. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605-1901. THE GERMAN-JEWISH EMIGRATION OF CJHS Takes a Walk THE 1930S AND ITS IMPACT ON CHICAGO. on the Great West Side By Walter Roth. 1980. Text of speeches at a CJHS symposium held at Congregation Ezra- A WALK TO SHUL: Chicago Synagogues of Habonim in 1979. Paper, 24 pages. Illustrated. Lawndale and Stops on the Way. By Bea $4.00. Price includes postage. Kraus and Norman D. Schwartz. 2003. Paper, THE CHICAGO JEWISH HISTORICAL 159 pages. The major SOCIETY: A Ten Year History. Edited by Irwin synagogues and the J. Suloway. 1988. Paper, 24 pages. Illustrated. little shtibelekh, too. $4.00. Price includes postage. Profusely illustrated. CHICAGO JEWISH HISTORY: INDEX 1977- With map. $19.95. At Spertus Gift Shop; 2002. Compiled by Adele Hast. 2002. Chicago History Covers the first 25 years of our quarterly Museum Store; publication. Paper, 23 pages. $4.00. Rosenblum’s World of Price includes postage. Judaica; or by prepaid CHICAGO JEWISH HISTORY: SINGLE check to the CJHS ISSUES—1977 TO PRESENT. 12 to 16 pages. (See address at left). Illustrated. Each $4.00. Price includes postage. $19.95 + 3.00 s/h 20 Chicago Jewish History BOOKS Fall 2007

CJHS Romance of A People: SPECIAL OFFER: DVD/Video/Pageant Program Book CJHS Minsky Prize Winners

DVD: ROMANCE OF A PEOPLE—100 Years Doris Minsky was a founder, director, and officer of Jewish History in Chicago, 1833-1933. of the Society. The Fund was established in her Beverly Siegel, Executive Producer-Director. memory for the purpose of publishing monographs 1997. 30 minutes. $29.95. on the history of the Jews of Chicago. Submissions Special Offer: The DVD plus the Program were judged, and cash prizes awarded, by the Book for The Romance of A People, the Jewish CJHS Publications Committee. Day pageant at A Century of Progress, the 1933 Supplies Limited! Chicago World’s Fair. The 72-page facsimile 1. CHICAGO JEWISH STREET PEDDLERS. includes program notes, names of participants By Carolyn Eastwood. MEMORIES OF and sponsors, and pages of advertising, plus new LAWNDALE. By Beatrice Michaels Shapiro. material— Walter Roth’s eight-page historical 1991. Paper, total 103 pages. Illustrated. perspective. Paper, $39.95 Ergo Media, Inc. Distributed by Academy Chicago Publishers, Order online from www.ergomedia.com. (312) 751-7300, www.academychicago.com. Also available from the Chicago Jewish The Following Items: Prepay by check to Historical Society as part of the special offer. Chicago Jewish Historical Society, 610 South 2. THE CHAYDER, THE YESHIVA AND I. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605-1901. By Morris Springer. Recollections of Hebrew VHS VIDEO: ROMANCE OF A PEOPLE. school and the Hebrew Theological College. See DVD. $29.95 + 3.00 s/h. MEMORIES OF THE MANOR. Eva Gross. THE ROMANCE OF A PEOPLE. Program 1993. Growing up Jewish in the Jeffery Manor Book. See above. $15.00 + 3.00 s/h. neighborhood. Paper, 95 pages. Illustrated. 3. THE CANTORS: Gifted Voices Remem- Special Offer: ROMANCE VIDEO and bered. By Bea Kraus. 1996. Chicago was well- Program Book. $39.95 + $3.00 s/h. known for her congregational cantors and the world-famous vocal artists brought here for the High Holy Days. Paper, 85 pages. Illustrated. NEW—CHICAGO’S 4. MY FATHER, MYSELF. By Rabbi Alex J. FORGOTTEN Goldman. 1997. A son’s memoir of his father, SYNAGOGUES. By Robert Yehudah D. Goldman, America’s oldest A. Packer. 2007. Arcadia practicing rabbi. Paper, 120 pages. Illustrated. Publishing Images of America. 5. THROUGH THE EYES OF THEIR Pictures of former Jewish CHILDREN. By Myron H. Fox. 2001. An houses of worship and account of Chicago’s notorious Taxi Wars and communal buildings on the the author’s research into his family’s tragic North, Northwest, West, and involvement. Paper, 160 pages. Illustrated. South Sides. Portraits of rabbis, Hebrew school class ALL FIVE BOOKS FOR $25.00 pictures, announcements, Postage included. Prepay by check to and more. Collected from archives, congregations, Chicago Jewish Historical Society, 610 South individual holdings, and Robert Packer’s own collection. Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605-1901. Informative captions. Paper, 127 pages. $19.99 DOORS OF REDEMPTION: The Forgotten Music—THE ART OF THE YIDDISH FOLK SONG. Synagogues of Chicago and Other Communal Sima Miller, soprano; Arnold Miller, piano. Chicago’s Buildings. Photographed and Edited by Robert A. renowned concert artists. Four CDs each $15.00; five Packer. 2006. Booksurge. Spiral-bound, 282 pages. audiotapes each $10.00 Sima Miller, 8610 Avers Ave., $23.99 Buy from www.amazon.com. Skokie, IL 60076; (847) 673-6409 or [email protected]. Chicago Jewish History BOOKS Fall 2007 21

BRIDGES TO AN AMERICAN CITY: A Guide to Chicago’s Landsmanshaften 1870 to 1990. By Irving Cutler Knows Sidney Sorkin. 1993. Peter Lang Publishing. A His Way Around “The Real Chicago” thorough study of the hundreds of service organizations, named after their Old World origins, that were a CHICAGO: Metropolis of the Mid- significant part of the immigrant experience. 480 pages. Continent. Fourth Edition. By Irving Cutler. $35.00 Order from Mr. Sorkin at (847) 541-2188. 2006. Southern Illinois University Press. Dr. MINYANS FOR A PRAIRIE CITY: The Politics of Cutler skillfully weaves together the history, Chicago Jewry 1850-1914. By Edward H. Mazur. economy, and culture of the city and its 1990. Garland. 428 pages. $75.00 Out of print. suburbs, with a special emphasis on the role of the many ethnic and racial groups that comprise THE ETHNIC FRONTIER. Holli and d’A Jones, editors. the “real Chicago” of its neighborhoods. 447 1984. Eerdmans. The “Jewish Chicago: From Diversity pages. Illustrated. Cloth, $52.00, paper $22.95 to Community” entry is by Edward H. Mazur. Paper. $19.95 Out of print. THE JEWS OF CHICAGO: From Shtetl to Suburb. BIOGRAPHICAL DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN By Irving Cutler. 1996. University of Illinois Press. Vividly told history of Chicago’s MAYORS, 1820-1980. Holli and d’A Jones, editors; Jewish community, by a founding Board Edward H. Mazur, contributing editor. 1981. member of the Chicago Jewish Historical Greenwood Press. 441 Pages. $49.95 Out of print. Society. 368 pages. Illustrated. $29.95 NEAR WEST SIDE STORIES: Struggles for JEWISH CHICAGO: Community in Chicago’s Maxwell Street A Pictorial History. Neighborhood. By Carolyn Eastwood. 2002. Lake By Irving Cutler. 2000. Claremont Press. Four extraordinary “ordinary” people Arcadia Publishing try to save their neighborhood and the market at its Images of America. core. One of them is clothier and jazz musician Harold A sentimental snapshot Fox, designer of the first zoot suit. Paper, 355 pages. of the city’s Jewish Illustrated. $17.95 Also available on CD or audiocassette community. Includes from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic, 18 South 230 photographs and Michigan Avenue, Suite. 806, Chicago, IL 60603. local maps. Paper, THE OXFORD ENCYCLOPEDIA OF FOOD AND 126 pages. $18.99 DRINK IN AMERICA: 2-VOLUME SET. 2004. URBAN GEOGRAPHY. Edited by Andrew F. Smith. Oxford University Press. By Irving Cutler. 1978. Charles E. Merrill The entry on “Street Vending” was written by Publishing. A general study of cities in the Dr. Carolyn Eastwood. Hardcover, $250.00 United States and some of their major character- CANDLES BURNED IN CHICAGO: A History of istics. Paper, 120 pages. Illustrated. $18.50 53 Memorial Commemorations of the Warsaw THE ENCYCLOPEDIA OF CHICAGO. Edited Ghetto Uprising. The Midwest Jewish Council. Kenan by James R. Grossman, Ann Durkin Keating, Heise, editor; N. Sue Weiler, contributing editor. 2004. and Janice L. Reiff. 2004. The University of Author House. The stirring memorial gatherings Chicago Press. The encyclopedia’s “Jewish mounted by a group of Jewish Chicagoans and their Community” entry is by Dr. Irving Cutler. 1152 friends from 1944 to 1996. Paper, 132 pages. $18.00 pages. Color insert; illustrations; maps. $65.00 Make checks payable to: The Midwest Jewish Council, P.O. Box 59032, Chicago, IL 60659-0032. NEW—ENCYCLOPEDIA OF AMERICAN JEWISH HISTORY. CHICAGO’S GREAT WHITE CITY: A Postal History Edited by Stephen Panorama of the 1893 World’s Columbian Norwood and Eunice Pollack. 2007. ABC- CLIO. The encyclopedia’s six-page entry on Exposition. By Dr. Harvey M. Karlen. 2004. Berk-Hill “Chicago” is by Dr. Irving Cutler. Two volumes, Publishers. The author is a member of the Philatelic total 775 pages. Illustrated. $195.00 Writers’ Hall of Fame. 283 pages. 480 black and white illustrations. $50.00 + 4.00 s/h. Order from Berk-Hill All of Dr. Cutler’s books are widely available Publishers, P.O. Box 833, Oak Park, IL 60303. through retail booksellers and online vendors. 22 Chicago Jewish History BOOKS Fall 2007

THE SIDDUR COMPANION. By Paul H. Vishny. WOMEN BUILDING CHICAGO, 1790-1990: 2005. Devorah Publishing, Jerusalem. This work is A Biographical Dictionary. Edited by Adele intended to form the background for a meaningful Hast and Rima Lunin Schultz. 2001. Indiana devotion to prayer, during the week and on the major University Press. Of the over 400 individual festivals. It will help guide the novice through the entries, forty are Jewish women. 1,088 pages. different prayers and make these prayers more Illustrated. $75.00 understandable and fulfilling. It will also give the daily BREAKING GROUND: Careers of 20 davener a sense of where these prayers came from, how the rabbis developed them. 112 pages. Hardcover Chicago Jewish Women. By Beatrice Michaels $18.95; paper $12.95 Available from online booksellers. Shapiro. Edited by Dr. Khane-Faygl Turtletaub. 2004. Author House. Interviews bring out the Jewish values that have played a part in the lives LEGACY: The Saga of a German-Jewish Family of these high achievers. Judge Ilana Rovner, U.S. Across Time and Circumstance. By Werner L. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Ruth Rothstein, Melissa Frank. 2003. Avoteynu Foundation, Inc. A portion of Isaacson, Beverly Siegel, and Klara Tulsky are the book deals with the author’s immigration to included. Paper, 137 pages. $15.50 Rosenblum’s Chicago, and growing up in Hyde Park. 926 pages plus World of Judaica, Women and Children First, CD. $49.00 (800) 286-8296 or www.avoteynu.com. Barnes & Noble (Skokie), Waldenbooks (Lincoln- THE CONVERSO LEGACY. By Sheldon Gardner. 2004. wood Mall), or from www.authorhouse.com Pitspopany Press. This work of historical fiction for young people takes place in the 1880s. As the Jews in A TIME TO REMEMBER: A History of the Jewish Russia are being massacred in pogroms, Samuel makes Community in South Haven. By Bea Kraus. 1999. his way to America, and eventually to La Rosa, New Priscilla Press. Covers the 1920s through the 1950s, Mexico. 258 pages. Cloth $18.95, paper $12.95. when this town on the Lake RED SCARE IN COURT: NEW YORK VERSUS THE Michigan shore was home to a INTERNATIONAL WORKERS ORDER. By Arthur J. thriving Jewish summer resort Sabin. Foreword by Howard Fast. 1999. University of community. Paper, 287 pages. Pennsylvania Press. The author is Professor of Law at Illustrated. $24.95 the John Marshall Law School. 392 pages. $26.50 www.KrausBooks.com IN CALMER TIMES: THE SUPREME COURT AND A PLACE TO REMEMBER: RED SCARE MONDAY. By Arthur J. Sabin. 1999. South Haven—A Success University of Pennsylvania Press. 262 pages. $49.95 from the Beginning. By Bea THE INVENTION OF THE JEW: Jewish-American Kraus. 2003. Priscilla Press. Education Novels (1916-1964). By Bernard Anecdotal history ranges from Sherman. 1969. Thomas Yoseloff. A literary study. early America to the present day. Paper, 316 pages. Paper, 256 pages. $7.50 Out of print. Illustrated. $24.95 www.KrausBooks.com SHORT SEA SAGAS. PRAIRIE DIRECTORY OF NORTH AMERICA: By Harold T. Berc. 2002. Athena Press. Unusual tales of over two hundred ships U.S, & Canada. By Charlotte Adelman and Bernard L. —mutinies, unusual sinkings, mystery ships sailing for Schwartz. 2002. Lawndale Enterprises. The first-ever years without crews, piracy! Concludes with a chapter guide for visits to the prairie, an ecosystem unique to on the author’s own experiences as a U.S. Navy combat North America. Fifty pages are devoted to Illinois. officer in World War II. Paper, 190 pages. $17.95 Paper, 352 pages. $19.95 P.O. Box 561, Wilmette, IL 60091-0561; www.Lawndaleenterprises.com. JACK OF HEARTS—A FULL DECK. By Jack W. Ardell. 2004. Family-friendly short stories, poems, and THE FLORIDA JEWISH HERITAGE TRAIL. By Rachel cartoons. Paper, 150 pages. $15.00 Ardell Art & Craft, B. Heimovics and Marcia Zerivitz. 2000. Florida 5140 S. Fairview, #8, Downers Grove, IL 60515. Department of State. Paper, 44 pages. Fully illustrated. $10.50 each for one or two copies if ordered from: A STUDENT LOOKS AT THE SIDDUR. By Sender Leib The Jewish Museum of Florida, 301 Washington Ave., (Sanford) Aronin. 1997. Targum Press. Chidushei Torah Miami Beach, FL 33139-6965. (305) 672-5044. on Tractate Berachos. Paper, 78 pages. $6.00 Out of print. Chicago Jewish History BOOKS Fall 2007 23

CREATING CHICAGO’S NORTH SHORE: A JULIUS ROSENWALD: The Man Who Built SUBURBAN HISTORY. By Michael H. Ebner. Sears, Roebuck and Advanced the Cause 1988. University of of Black Education in the American South. Chicago Press. By Peter Ascoli. 2006. Indiana University Press. Evanston, Wilmette, Chicago’s Julius Rosenwald was one of the Kenilworth, richest men in America in the 1920s, but few Winnetka, Glencoe, people today, other than the older members of Highland Park, Lake the Jewish and African-American communities, Forest, Lake Bluff: know the story of his together, they far-reaching philan- comprise the North thropy. Historian Peter Shore of Chicago— Ascoli is Rosenwald’s eight communities grandson. He tells his that serve as a genteel enclave of affluence, grandfather’s story culture, and high society. Historian Michael H. with professional skill Ebner explains the origins and evolution of the as well as with insights North Shore as a distinctive region. At the same that only an insider time, he tells the paradoxical story of how these with access to intimate suburbs, with their common heritage, mutual family records and values, and shared aspirations, still preserve their memories could have. distinctly separate identities. Embedded in this 472 pages. Illustrated. history are important lessons about the uneasy $35.00 development of the American metropolis. 368 TO LOVE MERCY. By Frank S. Joseph. A tale of pages. Photographs and maps. $55.00 Chicago blacks and whites, Christians and Jews, A PLACE OF OUR OWN: The Rise of Reform conflict and forgiveness. Set in 1948, it throws Jewish Camping. Edited by Michael M. Lorge together two boys from different worlds— and Gary P. Zola. 2006. University of Alabama affluent, Jewish Hyde Park and the hardscrabble Press. Seven essays assembled to commemorate Bronzeville black ghetto—on a quest for a the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the missing silver talisman inscribed with the verse first Reform Jewish summer camp in the United from Micah, “What doth the Lord require of States —Olin-Sang-Ruby Union Institute thee? To do justice, to love mercy, and to walk (OSRUI), in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. 240 humbly with thy God.” Illustrated. Paper, 291 pages. Illustrated. Cloth $60.00; paper $25.00 pages. $14.95 Buy from www.amazon.com.

HISTORY OF THE JEWS OF CHICAGO. Edited by H.L. Meites. The CJHS 1990 facsimile of the original 1924 edition. Includes special supplement excerpts from the 1927 edition. New introduction by James R. Grossman. Foreword by Thomas R. Meites and Jerome B. Meites. Biographical references and index. $200.00 including s/h The CJHS has 10 copies of the book — in mint condition, in original wrappers. We are offering them for sale TO OUR ACTIVE MEMBERS via a DRAWING. This coupon or a facsimile (Active members have paid annual dues through 2007 or are Life Members.) must be received at our office Do not send payment check until notification that you are one of the 10 winners. via regular US Mail or e-mail (PDF) by January 28, 2008. NAME The drawing will be held on February 7, 2008. Winners ADDRESS APT will be notified by phone and CITY STATE ZIP e-mail. One coupon only per active member of the CJHS. PHONE E-MAIL MAIL TO: Chicago Jewish Historical Society, 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605-1901 24 Chicago Jewish History Fall 2007

What We Are About the Society Membership The Chicago Jewish Historical Membership in the Society is Society was founded in 1977, What We Do open to all interested persons and is in part an outgrowth of The Society seeks out, collects and and organizations and includes local Jewish participation in the preserves written, spoken and a subscription to Chicago Jewish American Bicentennial photographic records, in close History, discounts on Society Celebration of 1976. Muriel cooperation with the Chicago Jewish tours and at the Spertus Robin was the founding Archives, Spertus Institute of Jewish Museum store, and the oppor- president. The Society has as its Studies. The Society publishes tunity to learn and inform purpose the discovery, preser- historical information, holds public others about Chicago Jewish vation and dissemination of meetings at which various aspects of history and its preservation. information concerning the Chicago Jewish history are treated; Dues Structure mounts appropriate exhibits; and Jewish experience in the Membership runs on a calendar offers tours of Jewish historical sites. Chicago area. year, from January through Tribute Cards for Celebrations or Memorials The card design December. New members features the Society’s logo, our mission statement, and space for a joining after July 1 are given an personal message. A pack of eight cards and envelopes is $10.00. initial membership through Individual cards can be mailed for you from our office at $5.00 per card, December of the following year. postage included. Order cards from the Society office (312) 663-5634. Life Membership $1000 Remember the Society Name the Chicago Jewish Historical Society Annual Dues: as a beneficiary under your Last Will, Living Trust, IRA or other retire- Historian 500 ment account. Any gift to CJHS avoids all estate taxes and can be used Scholar 250 to support any activity of our Society that you choose—publication, Sponsor 100 exhibition, public program, or research. For information please call the Patron 50 Society office at (312) 663-5634. Basic Membership 35 Browse Our Website for information about our upcoming programs. Make checks payable to the Read past issues of Chicago Jewish History. Discover links to other Jewish Chicago Jewish Historical sites. Use the printable membership application. We welcome your Society, and mail to our office at inquiries and comments. E-mail: [email protected] 610 South Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL 60605. Dues are www.chicagojewishhistory.org tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.

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