From Our Archives

This column is based on information in the TJHS Collection, housed at the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History at the University of Texas campus in Austin. It has been supplemented with online research. If you have corrections or additions, please submit them in writing to the TJHS editor at [email protected]. We want our archives to be as complete as possible. The Jewish Literary Society of Houston by Vickie Vogel A few years ago while rummag- commemorative postage stamp. The for the Defense and Sheriff Ketchum ing through the index to the TJHS desk attendant helped me remove it I. Lynchem, and an astonishingly Collection at the Briscoe Center for and the next layer until we reached full cast of thirty-five actors, includ- American History, I noted an inter- the three TJHS items. The first was ing prominent Houston names like esting title, “Sylvan Beach Party.”1 I an 8 x 10 photograph of a mock trial Westheimer, Weingarten, Dannen- finally got around to looking it up. I from May 10, 1915, given by the baum, Lippman, and Hurwitz. The was surprised when the aide brought Jewish Literary Society of Houston.3 staff loaned me a magnifying glass so me not a typical file box, but a large A program of the event accompanied I could read the signs posted on the flat box like an evening gown would it. The case was styled State of Texas stage set, such as “A Great Dowry is a be packaged in at a department store.2 v. Reginald Shimsha Muchwed and bed full of troubles,” “Witness Room: I lifted the lid and saw an oversized was a charge of polygamy. Clearly, it Dice, cards and whiskey may be had photograph of the late Congressman was an amusing evening with charac- from the judge,” and “A deposit of 97¢ Mickey Leland that was used for a ters like Winem & Losem, Attorneys continued on page 13

Sylvan Beach Picnic, 1913. Texas Jewish Historical Society Records, di_10287, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Page 12 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2015 Jewish Literary Society, continued from page 12 required on all cases before trial.” ing, the maintenance of a library, and ski, and Jessie Stark. An Amusement The third item was an amazing the support of other arts. Their annual Committee was formed. panoramic photograph of the promised activities included the mock trial, a The rabbis of Houston became Sylvan Beach party of 1913. It is about boat ride, a declamation contest, a interested and offered their services. 7" tall and 20" wide. The participants public Seder, a Purim ball for Sunday Meetings were held in the Mason are dressed mostly in white with boat- School children, a carnival ball, a new Building. Congregation Beth Israel er straw hats, many wearing ties even year’s ball, a musical, monthly literary used the same hall for Friday night for a beach picnic. I counted about 132 meetings, dances, a bulletin of activi- services during the construction of people. There is no further description ties and editorials, a weekly debating their temple. The first debate was held and no one is identified. club, an orchestra, and public athletic in 1906 on the topic “Are We Better My curiosity piqued, I returned games. There were also daily athlet- Than Our Forefathers?” The affirma- to the index to see what else we have ics, and the building could be used tive side won the debate. 1907 saw on the Jewish Literary Society, and I by members “when nothing special is Henry Dannenbaum elected president, was not disappointed. We have their going on.” the presentation of the first mock constitution and bylaws from 1907, The Society came into being when trial (Jewish Literary Society v. J. L. an article on their history from 1906 Max Flaxman, H. Grossman and Boris Mendlovitz for Breach of Duty), and to 1916, a roster of members in 1916, Litowich called a meeting to organize the annual boat ride to the San Jacinto along with several bulletins from a Zionist society at Adath Yeshurun Battleground. 1915 to 1917 and a small amount of Synagogue. The young people who In 1908, a library was started with correspondence. It was organized for showed up, however, wanted a differ- Max Westheimer’s gift of a twenty the purpose of promoting “culture ent kind of society on a broader basis, volume set of Charles Dickens. Class- and character along lines approved by and the Jewish Literary Society of es were organized to teach English Jewish thought and ethics.” This was Houston was born. Isidor Tiras was and American customs to immigrants.4 expanded to include the support of any elected President; other offices were continued on page 14 literary, musical or scientific undertak- filled by Sadie Eden, Max T. Karkow-

Sylvan Beach Picnic, 1913. Texas Jewish Historical Society Records, di_10287, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2015 Page 13 Jewish Literary Society, continued from page 13 The first Carnival Ball was October room, dressing rooms with showers, directed the show in April. Basket- 27. and storage space. On September 12, ball and baseball teams were orga- In 1909, a $2 initiation fee for the first dance in the new building nized. To express encouragement and male applicants and a 50¢ fee for was held.5 welcome to young men and women graduates and confirmands, an annual Kadimah Reception was started. A girls basketball team was formed, and a Sunday School opened with Dr. W. Willner as superintendent. By 1913, businessmen were starting to take note of the growing organization, and a special sustain- ing membership of $10 was created for them. Joseph Fels gave a talk on single taxation.6 The annual outing in 1914 was a trolley ride via the interurban to Gal- veston Beach, joined by 147 mem- bers and friends. About 2,500 people attended the Cabaret Play presented at the City Auditorium, netting over $900 for the Society. In 1915, the Society filed suit against Galveston-Houston Interurban continued on page 13 The Group Photo, Mock Trial, 1915: Texas Jewish Historical Society, di_10290, The Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Aus- tin (the group photo) females was instituted. A major effort Membership increased with the was made to abolish Jewish stereo- new building. Any Jewish organiza- types in the theater. A resolution was tion without a hall of its own could passed that any theater presenting a use this one. Galveston’s Rabbi Jewish character “giving offense to Henry Cohen, a great supporter of our people or casting a reflection on the organization, was the speaker in them” would be boycotted. All the- December. There was also a lecture aters were informed, and they prom- about Russian Jewish immigrants, ised cooperation. and Literary Wednesdays was insti- A committee was formed to raise tuted. The office of General Secre- money and purchase land for a build- tary was created to look after the af- ing of their own. They began nego- fairs of the group. Sam Bloomberg tiations to buy the Adath Yeshurun of San Antonio was elected General vacant lot. The lot was purchased in Secretary in 1911. He was closely 1910 and the use of the Mason build- connected with the JLS of that city, ing was discontinued. The Society which was formed two years after was granted use of Montefiore Hall Houston and patterned after it. S. J. by CBI for public meetings and Adath Westheimer was elected president. Yeshurun Hall for business meetings. There were 170 members. Mock Trial Program, 1915. Texas Jewish A temporary building was constructed In 1912, Bertha Westheimer Historical Society, di_10291, The Dolph with an auditorium for dances and suggested a vaudeville show and Briscoe Center for American History, The public meetings, a library, directors a committee was formed. Bertha University of Texas at Austin.

Page 14 Texas Jewish Historical Society - December 2015 Jewish Literary Society, continued from page 11 for placing tracks in the street in front cannot be the result of a process in TJHS Travel of their building, claiming damage to which the ethnic distinctiveness of by Vickie Vogel their property. The trial court ruled the immigrant is melted out…Hence, Members of the Texas Jewish in their favor, but the appellate court whatever agency helps any one of the Historical Society are a curious reversed the judgment. The Society various racial elements constituting lot. As an organization, we want maintained it owned to the middle of the American people to gain a clear- to collect and preserve all we can the street, and the railroad laid tracks er and a deeper appreciation of the about Texas Jewish history, but as down the middle without condemning peculiar contribution which it can individuals in our spare time, our the property and making compensa- make, out of its own culture, to the curiosity expands to the ends of tion. The Defendant said it was using upbuilding of the American charac- the earth! Houston Electric Company streetcar ter…is an agency deserving all praise Since it’s more fun to explore tracks and was entitled to do so. The and welcome. This…is the funda- with each other, we occasionally court stated it was a difficult case, but mental aim of the Jewish Literary organize Jewish-themed trips that the use of the street by the inter- Society.” outside Texas. Each participant is urban railroad was basically the same responsible for his/her own travel 7 as the street railway company. Endnotes expenses, and TJHS funds are 1 Sylvan Beach is in La Porte. The JLS reached its peak around never used in planning, organiz- 1916. Large crowds attended the 2 Unless otherwise stated, all information ing, or implementing. In fact, the mock trial, the annual Kadimah Re- is from Box 3So3 (photos and program) tour company for our Cuba trip ception, the kosher public Seder, and and Box 3A191 of the Texas Jewish made a generous donation to our Historical Society Collection, Dolph the tenth anniversary celebration, a general fund because we had so Musical Night with the JLS Orches- Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin. many participants. tra and others. Leona Westheimer8 We hope you will travel with 3 gave a reading from Anne of Green With gratitude to J. L. and Rose Keeper us soon, on a faraway trip or to for donating this photo for preservation. Gables. 200 attended the Shirtwaist one of our quarterly Texas week- Dance in June. They were still trying 4 Eventually, the City of Houston opened ends. Come have fun with us, and to pay off the building. night schools for this purpose. learn something new! At its height, the JLS had some 5 The October 19 Jewish Herald contains 400 members, but World War I appar- a good description of the dedication ently took the wind out of the sails, ceremonies. and the group disbanded in 1920.9 6 A single tax is a system of taxation For ten years, though, the Jewish based mainly or exclusively on one tax, Literary Society was an important typically chosen for its special prop- organization in Houston and widely erties, often being a tax on land value. praised and supported by the commu- The idea was proposed by both John nity. Rabbi W. Willner called it “one Locke and Baruch Spinoza. https:// en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_tax. of the best assets of our community.” Rabbi Henry Barnstein said it filled 7 https://books.google.com/books?id=On “a grievously needed want among VFAQAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA325&lp g=RA1-PA325&dq=jewish+liter the young Jewish people of Hous- ary+society+houston&source=bl&ots= ton,” teaching them how to use their fie_fK9LRp&sig=25Inj8AAUa4ad The deadline for leisure hours “pleasurably and prof- eRvvY3KTPp5Mlg&hl=en&sa=X itably in the cultivation of athletics, &ved=0CDAQ6AEwBGoVChMIybX the February by social intercourse, and by literary B4OSTyAIVQZQNCh0eegxr#v=one exercises.” page&q=jewish%20literary%20soci 2016 TJHS Dr. Radoslav Andrea Tsanoff of ety%20houston&f=false. the Rice Institute praised the group, 8 See TJHS summer news magazine, News Magazine putting it in an even larger context. 2010, “From the Footlights” about “American nationalism does not Leona Westheimer. is Friday, rest upon racial homogeneity, nor 9 http://www.isjl.org/texas-houston- January 4. upon a common language bond. It encyclopedia.html.

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