New Season of Jewish Activities Begins in Chicago; Community’s Achievements Described (By Our Chicago Correspondent)
Chicago, the second largest Jewish community in the United States, has started this season’s communal activities following the holding of the Constructive Relief Conference of the United Jewish Campaign here the end of October.
The Jewish Charities of Chicago has an annual budget of more than $1,500,000 and a five-year building program of $3,500,000 is now under way. The tremendous scope of the work done by the charities may be appreciated by perusal of a list of the leading institutions under the federation, some of which are: The Michael Reese Hospital, founded in 1878 and today one of the finest in the country; Mt. Sinai Hospital, built for Orthodox Jews who observe Kosher dietry laws; the Michael Reese Dispensary; the Jewish Social Service Bureau; the Infants’ Aid Society; the Home for Aged Jews; the Chicago-Winfield Tuberculosis Sani-tarium; the Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society; the Jewish Free Employment Bureau; the Jewish Industrial Shops; the Chicago Home for Jewish Orphans; the Marks Nathan Orphan Home; the Dorothy Kahn Home for Crippled Children; the Aid Association for Incurable Jews and the Orthodox Home for Aged Jews. The Jewish Charities of Chicago also contributes to the support of the Lying-Inn Hospital of Chicago, the Chicago Section. Council of Jewish Women; the Northwest Free Burial Society, the Leo A. Levi Memorial Hospital and the Hillel Foundation.
In addition, Chicago Jews have donated millions of dollars to the Red Cross and other relief organizations.
Outstanding in the Jewish and non-sectarian philanthropic endeavors is Julius Rosenwald, chairman of the board of directors of Sears Roebuck and Company, whose benefactions have made him an international figure. Mr. Rosenwald has given away millions of dollars. He has given freely of his time and money not only to Jewish but to non-Jewish charities as well. He has given $3,000,000 for an Industrial Museum to be erected in Chicago.
There are more than 125 Jewish congregations in the city, of which about 100 are orthodox. The rest are either conservative or reform. Chicago has some of the most beautiful synagogues and temples in America and plans have just been completed for two more. In connection with many of the temples, there are attached social and educational centers.
Among Chicago’s outstanding Jewish leaders in the educational activities of the city are Professor Albert A. Michelson, world famed physicist, of the University of Chicago; Dr. Bert-hold Laufer of the Field Museum; Dr. Edward Sapir of the University of Chicago, noted anthropologist; Prof. Ernst Freund, leading authority on constitutional law, and Dr. Julius Stieglitz. professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago.
The principal Jewish education institutions in the city are the Hebrew Theological College under the direction of Rabbi Saul Silber; the Jewish People’s Institute, directed by Philip L. Seman and the College of Jewish Studies now affiliated with the University of Chicago, under the direction of Dr. Alexander Dushkin. In addition, there are hundreds of Talmud Torahs.
In the field of education again the name of Julius Rosenwald is a leading one. Besides contributing liberally to the Jewish People’s Institute, he has given several millions of dollars to the University of Chicago, of which he is a trustee.
There are four Jewish daily papers published in Chicago–The Daily Jewish Courier; the Daily Jewish Press; the Daily Jewish Forward, and the Jewish Daily Freiheit. There also are four Anglo-Jewish weeklies–The Chicago Israelite, the Chicago Chronicle, the Reform Advocate and the Sentinel.
In music and art, this city boasts of many Jews of prominence. The late Fannie Bloomfield Zeisler was recognized as the world’s greatest woman pianist. Giorgio Polacco, director of the Chicago Civic Opera company; Rosa Raisa, Giacomo Rimini, her husband and Irene Pavloska, operatic stars, are all Jewish. The summer opera season at Ravinia Park, famous the world over, owes its great success to its director and financial underwriter, Louis Eckstein, Jewish philanthropist. Leopold Godowsky, famous pianist; Adolph Muhlmann, noted vocal instructor: Alexander Zukovsky, second concertmeister of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and Herman Devries and Maurice Rosenfeld noted music critics, are Jews. Aong the Jewish authors of note who began their careers in Chicago, some of them still being here, are Edna Ferber, Dr. Morris Fishbein, editor of the Journal of the American Medical Association; Ben Hecht, Jack Lait and Lester Cohen.
In the business world, large firms owned or controlled by Jews have become internationally famous.
Sears Roebuck & Co., the Yellow Cab company, the Inland Steel company, S. W. Straus & Co., The Bank of America (formerly Greenebaum Sons Bank & Trust Company) ; the Foreman National Bank; the American Tank Company; Hart Shaffner & Marx; B. Kuppenheimer & Co.; Alfred Decker and Cohn, clothing manufacturers; L. C. Smith Bearings company, Florsheim Shoe Company; and Selz, Schwab and Company, shoe manufacturers are but a few of the outstanding business establishments which have been built through the genius of Jewish captains of industry. In every line of business, Jews have risen to the top in Chicago and back of their rise is many a romantic story of self sacrifice and achievement.
Jewish real estate men have played an important part in the vast expansion that Chicago has undergone in recent years. Among the foremost builders in that field are Edward Dato, of Krenn and Dato, who handle the interests of Mrs. Edith Rockefeller McCormick; Mark Levy of Mark Levy & Bro., and B. F. Lindheimer. One of the leading Jews in the insurance business is Jacob Locb, head of the Jewish People’s Institute.
In the theatrical business Balaban and Katz, Lubliner and Trinz, Jones, Linnick and Schaefer, Marx Brothers and Ascher Brothers are the leaders. In professional life, Jews have time and again demonstrated their ability. Dr. Jssac A. Abt, noted child specialist who was recently presented a Legion of Honor decoration by the French government, and Dr. Joseph DeLee obsterrician and founder of the Chicago Lying-In hospital, are Jews who have achieved an international reputation.
A large number of Chicago Jews are among the city’s leading lawyers. Adolf Kraus, for twenty years grand president of the International Order of B’nai Brith, and Lessing Rosenthal are typical of the high calibre of Jewish lawyers here.
In the advertising world, the outstanding figure is Albert D. Lasker bead of Lord and Thomas and Logan, and former chairman of the United States shipping board. Among the leading architects we find Samuel Alschuler.
Two notable figures are found in the military ranks in Chicago. Brig. Gen. Abel Davis, now vice president of the Chicago Title and Trust company, and Maj. Gen. Milton J. Foreman, who commanded the famous Thirty-third division overseas, are at the top in army circles. Both Gen. Davis and Gen. Foreman, who is now retired were awarded Distinguished Service medals and Distinguished Servce Crosses, for their services in the world war.
Civic and political life finds many leaders. Among them may be mentioned United States Circuit Court Judges Julian W. Mack and Samuel Alschuler; Probate Judge Henry Horner, Chief Justice Joseph Sabath of the Superior court of Cook county; Municipal Court Judges Joseph B. David. Hugo Pam. Harry M. Fisher. Emanuel Eller. Max Luster, Michael Feinberg and Samuel Heller.
Others are Corporation Counsel Samuel A. Ettelson. Sanitary District Trustee Michael Rosenberg. City Collector Morris Eller, Aldermen Jacob M. Arvey,
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
