Galvestonians of all faiths and friends throughout the State paid tribute yesterday to Dr. Henry Cohen, Rabbi of Temple B’nai Israel, on the occasion of his seventieth birthday and forty-fifth anniversary of continuous ministry here.
Colleagues from San Antonio, Dallas, Houston, state, county and city officials, ministers and laymen, eulogized Dr. Cohen as a humanitarian, teacher and friend and referred to Wilson’s characterization of him as “the foremost citizen of Texas.”
Messages, cablegrams and letters came from all sections of the country testifying to the esteem and respect in which he is held. At noon congregational members tendered a luncheon at the Hotel Galvez to Dr. Cohen. Adrian F. Levy presided on account of the illness of Robert I. Cohen, Sr., President of the congregation for twenty-eight years.
Eulogies were paid by Mayor Jack E. Pearce, Rev. Marius S. Chataignn Rector of Sacred Heart Church; County Judge E. B. Holman; Judge Charles G. D. Dibrell; Judge J. C. Canty; Rabbi Louis Feigon of Temple Beth Jacob; Sam I. Miller of Houston; John Neethe, President of the School Board: Mrs. I. H. Kempner, of the Congregational Board; and Rabbi David Lefkowitz of Dallas. Dr. Cohen feelingly responded.
Last night Temple B’nai Israel was filled with congregants and friends of all denominations for an elaborate anniversary service. Musical selections were rendered by the Temple and Scottish Rite Choirs.
Addresses were delivered by the following; Rabbi Ephraim Frisch of San Antonio, son-in-law of Dr. Cohen, who spoke on “Dr. Cohen, the Husband and Father”; Mrs. I. H. Kempner on “Dr Cohen, The Citizen”; Rev. Edmund Gibson, Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church on “Dr. Cohen. The Humanitarian”; Dr. David Lefkowitz on “Dr Cohen’s Contribution to American Jewry”; and Dr. H. V. Benedict, President of the University of Texas on “Dr. Cohen, The Scholar” Following the Temple services a public reception was held in the Henry Cohen Community House, dedicated by the Congregation to Dr. Cohen.
Dr. Cohen first came to Galveston in 1888. He was born in London. England, where he was ordained a Rabbi in 1884. His first pastorage was in Kingston, Jamaica. He later served at Woodville. Miss., then at Galveston. He was elected Rabbi of Temple B’nai Israel for life in 1905.
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