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Southern Israelite
Inviting You...
Rich’s New
Crystal
Shop
a cool, spring-green nook
where myriad lights from a
hundred lovely crystal gifts
dance with sunbeams that
slip through spacious Goth
ic windows. . . . There are
pieces obviously modern or
artfully copied from Grand
mother’s china cabinet . . . .
there are pieces aloofly
plain, gracefully etched or
quaintly gold edged . . . .
there are new and age old
shades of Cobalt blue, pink
shading to Burgundy, clear
amethyst, ruby red and sil
very white.
— Infinite selection of
charming gifts varying
from Crystal Tea Sets to
Venetian Flower Bowls.
Moderate price range.
RICH’S FOURTH FLOOR
RICH'S
Eighteen thousand dollars a year
for a Conservative Rabbi! That will
make American Jewry stop and think.
For years, many, many years, Rabbis
of the traditional school had long
given up hope that their field would
ever be as remunerative as that of
their Reform brethren. In fact, it is
well known that because of the limited
opportunity in the Orthodox and Con
servative Congregations from a finan
cial standpoint, some Rabbis either
left the pulpit for other fields of en
deavor and may we whisper, even
essayed to occupy Reform pulpits.
But all this is changing and now with
the news that $18,000 will be the sal
ary of Rabbi Solomon Goldman, of
Cleveland, who has accepted a call to
become Rabbi of Congregation Anshe
Ernes of Chicago.
In connection with this item of
news the editorial comment of Rabbi
Felix Mendelsohn, in the Chicago
“Sentinel” will be of interest to the
readers of this column.
“Rabbi Goldman’s coming to
Anshe Ernes will make him unique
also in another respect. His an
nual salary has been fixed at
$18,000—a fact which makes him
the highest paid Conservative
Rabbi in America. The munifi
cent salary of Rabbi Goldman ex
plodes an accepted theory that
Reform Rabbis receive the high
est pay in American congrega
tions. Only about half a dozen
Reform Rabbis—who minister to
the wealthiest Jewish congrega
tions in the world—receive slight
ly larger salaries than that of
Rabbi Goldman, while the average
pay of 08 per cent of the Reform
Rabbis does not even begin to
compare to that which will be
paid by Anshe Ernes. Jewish
communities should be familiar
with the fact that Conservative
congregations are beginning to
pay their Rabbis more than Re
form temples, for thereby the
erroneous notion will be dispelled
that it is magnificent salaries
which are attracting young men
to the Reform ministry.”
For sometime there has been a
movement on foot in St. Louis to
merge three leading congregations.
But after long-drawn-out negotiations
the merger failed. Not being familiar
with the conditions in St. Louis, 1 am,
of course, in no position to state
whether or not the merge would have
been advantageous to the community.
But an interesting sidelight is thrown
on the subject by Mr. A. Rosenthal,
editor of the “Modern View” who sug
gests that there has been considerable
comment to the effect that the alleged
snobbishness of an element in one of
the Congregations which considered
itself socially superior to the others.
W hether that is true or not, the fact
remains that the social side of con
gregational life—and I mean the So
ciety side (with a large “S”)—does
play an important part, an all too im
portant part in our congregational
life. The influx of the more liberal
element among the Conservative Jews
in Reform congregations has on more
than one occasion been the subject of
discussion among the Society group
who deplore the fact “that there are
so many people they don’t know who
attend services with them.
I note where “Honest” Sol Levitan,
Treasurer of Wisconsin (and the most
popular man in the state), dropped in
on his old friend Jacob Epstein in
Baltimore on Seder night. Now here
we have two interesting characters in
American Jewry. Both self-made men
who earned every dollar they have.
Men of sterling integrity whose word
is a* good as bond. Each has achieved
distinction in his own state and won
high honors from Jew and non-Jew.
Each is outspoken and prepared to
take a stand for the truth. Mr. Levi
tan has been elected, I think, three
times as State Treasurer by record
majorities usually running far ahead
of his ticket. He is a devout Jew and
still clings to the traditions of his
faith. Mr. Epstein is known nation
ally as an outstanding merchant, a
philanthropist, and a leader in civic
life. I don’t know Mr. Levitan, though
1 have received letters from him. But
1 believe that I understand him and I
appreciate those qualities in him that
have made him what he is. I am well
acquainted personally with Jacob Ep
stein, and if we had more Jews like
him there would be less prejudice in
this country.
Well, I promised to tell you the Jew
for whom I voted to receive the Rich
ard Gottheil Medal. This medal is
awarded annually by the Zeta Beta
Tau fraternity to the Jew, who in the
opinion of a group of Jewish editors,
has done most for Jewish life during
the preceding year. 1 have had the
privilege of serving on the Committee
since its inception and the first Jew’ to
be honored was Rabbi Stephen Wise,
then came Aaron Sapiro and the
third was David A. Brown. This time
the medal goes to Julius Rosenwald,
and he was my first choice. I h id 0 n]
one second choice and that was S l
mon Levinson, of Chicago, who
the originator of the plan to outlaw
war, which found its fruition in th
Kellogg Peace Pact. I believed that
Mr. Rosenwald had rendered extraor
dinary service to every phase of Jew
ish life in this country, and equally
had enhanced the prestige of the Jew
as a progressive-minded citizen of the
nation, and a believer in the brother
hood of man by going beyond the
boundaries of his own people in pro-
moting the welfare of society at large
Mr. Rosenwald is an outstanding
philanthropist who gives not alone
with his heart but with his intelli
gence. He is not merely a “relief"
giver but thinks, too, in the more con
structive way of helping society in his
belief that an ounce of prevention is
frequently worth a pound of cure. He
has been an inspiration in showing
the way to help the cause of Jewish
leadership and scholarship by his
generosity to the Hebrew Union Col
lege; he has encouraged the estab
lishment of Jewish schools; I am not
even considering for the moment the
generous support he gives to the Jew
ish charities of his home city, Chica
go. But I am thinking of the millions
he has given for the re-establishment
of the Jews of Russia on a self-re
specting basis of living. He created
the Julius Rosenwald Fund of some
twenty million dollars to be expended
for the welfare of society at large
within the next twenty-five years; he
gave millions to the Chicago Museum;
who can evaluate the wonderful work
he has done for the colored people of
this country? In this he has shown a
breadth of vision and an understand
ing that have made him such a valu
able citizen of this country. But it
seems to me that even more than the
money he has given has been the per
sonal service he has contributed tc
these various causes. A man of vast
business responsibilities, yet he finds
time to consider and to investigate the
thousand and one important social
welfare problems that are presented
to him. In business he has shown
himself to be the highest type of mer
chant, mixing sentiment with busi
ness, giving of his own means when
necessary to protect the interests of
When in Chicago
Enjoy Your Stay
at the Superb New
MORRISON
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