The Southern Israelite. (Augusta, Ga.) 1925-1986, May 18, 1929, Image 8

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Page 8 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 HOTEL Comer Madison and Clark Sts. zll vA tfor .^'ce\- e * c/l C ** b £ c Ct on •■m £ Ik; 2*^ nriJ !» >i»;S : j- it:'.? r Usele ^en rr ' i G ^' sZ- Ootej ^ce - Ilro *4 5^6 £ st °» oSp Ces l 3bl f °u Se **•25 the world, containing 3,400 rooms