J.D.B. News Letter

Providence Jewish Welfare Agencies Included in Community Chest (By Our Providence Correspondent)

For the first time in the history of Rhode Island’s capital, Jewish organizations were admitted in the Community Chest in its recent drive. In his opening address Mayor James E. Dunne welcomed the Jewish organizations into the fund.

The Jewish organizations included in the fund are: the Jewish Federation of Social Service, the Montefiore Ladies’ Hebrew Benevolent Association, the South Providence Ladies’ Aid Association, the Miriam Hospital, Jewish Orphanage, Jewish Community Centre and the North End Dispensary.

There were 28 agencies affiliated with the drive last year, while this year the number has been increased by ten. Seven of the ten new agencies are the Jewish organizations. The sum to be realized is $583,000.

In the past decade Providence has had a growth in its Jewish population and institutions. The Jewish population numbers over 25,000 with the total inhabitants being about 270,000.

Up to 1873 there were but 40 Jewish families in Providence, mostly from Austria. At that time the immigration of Russian Jews to Rhode Island began and since then it has grown until now there are 6000 families in this city.

A new temple dedicated near Brown University on Rosh Hashonah was erected at a cost of $250,000. Among the institutions are the Miriam Hospital, Jewish Orphanage, Jewish Community Centre, North End Dispensary and Home for the Aged. There are seven synagogues and ten congregations.

Although Providence is the main Jewish centre in the state, the oldest synagogue in the country is located in Newport. Touro Synagogue, Newport, was dedicated on Dec. 2, 1763. The first Jews came to Newport as early as 1658.

The Miriam Hospital which will get a large share of the chest fund is one of the outstanding institutions built by Jews of this city. The hospital is the outgrowth of nearly a quarter of a century of work by women members of the Miriam Hospital Association. In 1907 the Hospital Association was formed, today there are more than 2,000 members. The hospital has a 70 bed capacity.

In business as well as in professional life the Jewish population of Providence is very prominent. The largest department store in New England is conducted by the Samuel brothers, Leon and Col. Joseph. Others are Jacob Conn, motion picture magnate and Archibald Silverman, manufacturer.

Judge Max C. Levy is at the Newport courthouse and Samson Nathanson is the acting judge at the district court in Central Falls. On the Superior court bench, Justice J. Jerome Hahn handles the criminal docket.

Politics has also claimed many Jews in Rhode Island. Two of the state senators are Jews. They are Senator Maurice Robinson of Providence and Max W. Saugy of Warren.

Rep. Philip C. Joslin of Providence, who has concluded his term in the lower branch of the state legislature was speaker of the house for several terms. Jewish representatives are Harry Harovitz, Herman Lippman and Ira Marcus. Solomon S. Bromson is one of the ten aldermen in Providence.

At Brown University last year, half of the students to receive Phi Betta Kappa keys for scholastic honors were Jews. A Jewish boy, David Mishel is coaching Freshman football at Brown, while three others, Farber and the Cornsweet brothers are playing on the varsity teams.

Rabbi Jacob J. Gittleman, of Adath Jeshurun Congregation, Louisville, Ky., was honored Sunday evening at the Community building, with a special anniversary program marking his completion of ten years as rabbi of the congregation.

Funds for the support of national and foreign Jewish philanthropic activities will be sought during the campaign of the Dallas, Texas, Jewish Federation of Social Service which opened Monday night.

Henry S. Miller is chairman of the drive for $55,000.