MOSES JACOB EZEKIEL The American Jewish Year Book 5678 September 17, 1917, to September 6, 1918 Edited by SAMSON D. OPPENHEIM for the AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE PHILADELPHIA THE JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA 1917 A COPYRIGHT, 1917, BY THE JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY OF AMERICA PREFACE In assuming editorial responsibility for the AMEKICAN JEWISH YEAB BOOK, I have felt that the task of maintaining the splendid standards set by my distinguished predecessors was a most arduous one, especially in view of the peculiar difficulties with which it has been necessary to cope during the past year. Under the present circumstances there is available but a paucity of events to set forth concerning the Jews of the world. The editor has endeavored to atone, in a measure, for the lack of news items by furnishing several special essays bearing upon one or another of the problems likely to advance into the foreground with the advent of the prayed-for peace. Especially timely is the study prepared by Max J. Kohler, Esq., on Jewish Rights at International Congresses. In the settlement and progress of the enormous domain, vaguely known as Latin America, Jews have played no small part, and in some states they have built up organized and even powerful communities. Except sporadically, their brethren in North Amer- ica have given but little attention to these communities, and since one of the prime functions of the YEAR BOOK is to aid in the organi- zation of American Jewry through the knowledge of its existing forces, the editor was very happy to secure a survey of the countries to the south of the United States by Harry O. Sandberg, who, through his connection with the Pan-American Union, has had exceptional facilities for collecting information concerning the Jews of Central and South America. One of the pressing problems for the immediate future will be that of the economic rehabilitation of the Jews of the war-ridden sections of Europe. For the present all that can be done is -to provide aid sufficient to keep alive the Jewish multitude greatly impoverished or utterly ruined by the three years' conflict. To carry out the noble aim of preventing the destruction of hundreds of thousands of their misery-laden brethren, the Jews of America have contributed money by the millions. How the many millions of dollars have been gathered together, and how, since the fall of 1914, all this money has been distributed in Europe, Asia, and Africa, are matters of moment to almost every Jew on earth. It will, therefore, be of peculiar interest to readers of this volume to find in its pages the article entitled " Jewish War Relief Work." This resume was prepared in the office of the American Jewish Committee. 073 7 VI PREFACE In January, 1917, there was issued the new Jewish Bible, that is to say, a new English translation of the Hebrew Scriptures pre- pared by representative Jewish scholars in the United States. An account of this achievement, together with some of the changes . introduced by its editors, will undoubtedly be welcomed by readers of this volume. It is a matter of regret that returns in connection with the Census of Jewish Religious Bodies in the United States, made by the Bureau of Jewish Statistics and Research on behalf of the United States Census Bureau, should not be, at the time of going to press, sufficiently complete to warrant the presentation of a lengthy discussion of that topic. The epitome on the subject furnished in this volume, however, will perhaps supply to the reader the more salient points of interest concerning this wide- spread investigation. Due to the painstaking labor of Dr. Julius Greenstone, there is now contained in the YEAR BOOK for the first time a hundred-year calendar. It has also been felt by the editor that a complete list of the rabbis of the United States would be in the highest degree desirable; and accordingly every effort has been made to obtain the names and addresses of all rabbis. Unfortunately, the responses to the questionnaires have not been as complete as might have been desired. There are probably 1500 rabbis in the United States, and the list published in the YEAR BOOK contains much less than half that number of names. It is hoped that those who do not find themselves listed, or who wish to make any cor- rections with respect to addresses, etc., will promptly communicate with the Bureau of Statistics of the American Jewish Committee, in order that hereafter a larger and more correct list may be forthcoming. I avail myself of this opportunity to express my sense of gratitude for the invaluable counsels of Dr. Cyrus Adler, and to acknowledge the very great assistance received by me in this, my first attempt at editing the AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK, from Dr. B. Halper, Miss Rose A. Herzog, and especially from Mr. Harry Schneiderman, Assistant Secretary of the American Jewish Committee. SAMSON D. OPPENHEIM. AUGUST 6, 1917. SPECIAL AETICLES IN PKEVIOUS ISSUES OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH YEAR BOOK THE ALLIANCE ISRAELITE UNIVERSELLE, 5661, pp. 45-65. THE JEWS OF ROUMANIA (two articles), 5662, pp. 25-87. THE AMEEICAN PASSPORT IN RUSSIA, 5665, pp. 283-305. THE PASSPORT QUESTION IN CONGRESS, 5670, pp. 21-43. DIRECTORIES OF NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS, 5661, pp. 67- 495; 5668, pp. 21-430; 5669, pp. 19-64; 5670, pp. 146-189; 5671, pp. 229-253; 5672, pp. 217-265; 5673, pp. 217-263; 5674, pp. 361-413; 5675, pp. 276-327; 5676, pp. 286-339; 5677, pp. 221- 270. STATISTICAL SUMMARY BY STATES (JEWISH ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES), 5662, pp. 126-156. THE JEWISH POPUIATION OF MARYLAND, 5663, pp. 46-62. A LIST OF JEWISH PERIODICALS IN THE UNITED STATES, 5660, pp. 271-282; and in subsequent issues. PRELIMINARY LIST OF JEWISH SOLDIERS AND SAILORS WHO SERVED IN THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR, 5661, pp. 525-622. THE HUNDRED BEST AVAILABLE BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON JEWISH SUB- JECTS, 5665, pp. 309-317. ONE HUNDRED AVAILABLE BOOKS IN ENGLISH ON PALESTINE, 5666, pp. 153-162. A LIST OF AVAILABLE STORIES OF JEWISH INTEREST IN ENGLISH, 5667, pp. 130-142. A SYLLABUS OF JEWISH HISTORY, 5666, pp. 163-170. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF RABBIS AND CANTORS OFFICIATING IN THE UNITED STATES, 5664, pp. 40-108; 5665, pp. 214-22,5; 5666, pp. 119-125. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF JEWS PROMINENT IN THE PROFESSIONS, ETC., IN THE UNITED STATES, 5665, pp. 52-213. BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF JEWISH COMMUNAL WORKERS IN THE UNITED STATES, 5666, pp. 32-118. URIAH P. LEVY, 5663, pp. 42-45. GERSHOM MENDEZ SEIXAS, 5665, pp. 40-51. VIII SPECIAL ARTICLES PENINA MOISE, 5666, pp. 17-31. FROM KISHINEFF TO BIALYSTOK. A TABLE OF POGROMS FROM 1903 TO 1906, 5667, pp. 34-89. SUNDAY LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND JUDICIAL DECISIONS HAV- ING REFERENCE TO JEWS, 5669, pp. 152-189. THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF NEW YOKK CITY, 5670, pp. 44-54. IN DEFENSE OF THE IMMIGRANT, 5671, pp. 19-98. THE PASSPORT QUESTION, 5672, pp. 19-128. • THE JEW AND AGRICULTURE, 5673, pp. 21-115. THE JEWISH PUBLICATION SOCIETY, 1888-1913, 5674, pp. 19-187. THE BEILIS AFFAIR, 5675, pp. 19-89. JEWISH EDUCATION IN THE UNITED STATES, 5675, pp. 90-127. JEWISH POPULATION OF THE UNITED STATES, 5675, pp. 339-378. RECENT JEWISH PROGRESS IN PALESTINE, 5676, pp. 24-158. THE FEDERATION MOVEMENT IN AMERICAN JEWISH PHILANTHROPY, 5676, pp. 159-198. SOLOMON SCHECHTER, A BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH, 5677, pp. 25-67. JOSEPH JACOBS, 5677, pp. 68-75. JEWS IN THE UNITED STATES ARMY AND NAVY, 5677, pp. 76-79. CALENDARS CALEfltt on HE 1916-1917 1917-f 1916 5677 1917 Sept. 28 New Year Tishri 1 Sept. 17 Newte Oct. 1 Fast of Gedaliah Tishri 4 Sept. 19 Fast of G:« Oct. 7 Day of Atonement Tishri 10 Sept. 26 Day of Atw Oct. 12 Tabernacles Tishri 15 Oct. 1 Tabertii Oct. 19 Eighth Day of the Feast Tishri 22 Oct. 8 Eighth Day ttrf Oct. 20 Rejoicing of the Law Tishri 23 Oct. 9 Rejoicing o:il Oct. 27 First New Moon Day (of Heshvan) Tishri 30 Oct. 16 First New Moon Df :11 Nov. 26 New Moon Day Kislev 1 Nov. 15 First New Moon lit Dec. 20 Hanukkah Kislev 25 Dec. 10 HanuH Dec. 25 First New Moon Day (of Tebet) Kislev 30 Dec. 15 First New Moon Dalol Dec. 25 Fast of W 1917 1918 Jan. 4 Fast of Tebet Tebet 10 Jan. 14 New MooDij Jan. 24 New Moon Day Shebat 1 Feb. 12 First New Moon In(o Feb. 23 First New Moon Day (of Adar) Shebat 30 Feb. 25 Fast of Ife Mch. 7 Fast of Esther Adar 13 Feb. 26 Puri; Mch. 8 Purim Adar 14 Mch. 14 New Mock Mch. 24 New Moon Day Nisau 1 Mch. 28 Passes A'pl. 7 . Passover Nisan 15 Apl. 13 First New Moonhii Apl. 2fi First New Moon Day (of Iyar) Nisan 30 Apl. 30 Thirty-third Dt.; May 10 Thirty-third Day of 'Omer Iyar 18 May 12 New Mock May 33 New Moon Day Sivan 1 May 17 Feast of Mi May 37 Feast of Weeks Sivan 6 June 10 First New Moon Dai | June 20 First New Moon Day (of Tammuz) Sivan 30 June 27 Fast of T<a July 8 Fast of Tammuz Tammuz IS July 10 New MooJi July 20 New Moon Day Ab 1 July IS Fast ofn July 29 Fast of Ab Ab 10 Aug. 8 First New MoonDij Aug. 18 First New Moon Day (of Elul) Ab 30 Sept.