Congress to Have at Least 11 Jewish Members; Ten Retained Their Seats

At least one new Congressman of the Jewish faith was elected in the national elections, while 10 Jews retained Congressional seats and one suffered defeat, the ballot tabulations here showed today. The new Jewish Congressman is Charles S. Joelsen, Democrat, of New Jersey, who is married to an Israeli sabra.

The incumbent who lost his seat was also a Democrat, Rep. Ludwig Teller, of New York, who represented a Manhattan district as a Liberal-Democrat. He lost to a Democrat of another party faction. The only Jewish member of the House who is a Republican, Rep. Seymour Halpern, Queens, N. Y., retained his scat.

The other Jews who kept their places in Congress–all Democrats–are Representatives Lester Holtzman, Emanuel Celler, Abraham Mu’Multer, Leonard Earbstein, Herbert Zelenko, and J. H. Gilbert, all of New York; Herman Toll, of Pennsylvania; Sidney Yates, of Illinois; and Samuel N. Friedel, of Maryland. No Senate seats held by Jews were at issue in this election.

Congressman-Elect Joelsen, of Patterson, N.J., is the first Democrat in 48 years to be elected from his district, the 8th Congressional district. He is 44 years old and a Phi Betta Kappa graduate of Cornell University who served as Naval intelligence lieutenant in World War II.

Mr. Joelsen was married 14 years ago to the former Ora Aboulafia, a 13th generation Israel sabra of Sephardic background. Mr. Joelsen has spent some time in Israel, and has been active in the campaigns for State of Israel Bonds, United Jewish Appeal, and similar undertakings. He is a member of B’nai B’rith and other Jewish groups.

The new Congressman tried twice before to win the seat he finally achieved, once losing by only 148 votes. He has served as a deputy attorney general in New Jersey, and as an acting prosecutor. He enjoys a distinguished legal reputation. Mrs. Joelsen, now an American citizen, is active in Jewish affairs and philanthropic causes benefiting Israel.