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Atlanta, Ga.
CANTOR JOSEF ROSENBLATT'
... A Suggestion of Caruso. . . .
Cantor Josef Rosenblatt, who for many
years has pleased the audiences of two
continents, will appear in Atlanta on Jan
uary 15, 1933.
Born in the Russia of the Czars,
the musical world has seen him leap
from the "Wonder Child” of Vienna to a
position of preeminence as an artist of
tunned stature in the sinning firmament.
Josef Rosenblatt celebrates four dec
ades of song, during which time he has
given hundreds of sacred concerts and
conducted religious services in the four
corners of the earth. The great cantor
and tenor has been acclaimed not only
for his rare voice, but also for those
characteristics that stamp him as a man
of principle and conviction, for during
his many years of activity he has never
violated the precepts of the synagogue.
Having mastered a stupendous reper
toire of compositions in six languages in
addition to llelnew and Yiddish, the
opera has fought vainly for his services,
offering stellar roles and fabulous re
tainers, but of no avail.
The story of Cantor Rosenblatt’s prog
ress in the synagogue and upon the con
cert stage reads like fiction. At the age
of four he had already begun to imitate
his father and the choir in synagogue
chants. When eight, Josef toured Cen
tral Europe, conducting religious services
and giving sacred concerts, and when
he was twelve, influential people sought
to bring him before the Austrian Em
peror, Franz Josef, but he refused on re
ligious grounds. When he was fourteen,
Josef Rosenblatt began composing, and
he now has over four hundred religious
compositions, a patriotic anthem, a lul
laby, and other musical pieces to his
credit.
Josef Rosenblatt, at nineteen, became
Chief Cantor of Pressburg, and five years
later he occupied the same high post at
Hamburg.
In 1912, Cantor Rosenblatt came to
America, where he immediately became
the leading Cantor, assuming his duties
at the Congregation Chab-Zedek. Six
years later, in May, 1918, he made his
concert debut at Carnegie Hall, in New
York City, where he received the un
stinted praise of both the public and the
press. Since then, he has earned the
highest acclamation of critics in both
America and on the continent.
The following quotations will show
the regard with which Cantor Rosen
blatt is held. The New York Times
says, “Josef Rosenblatt is the possessor
of a phenomenal tenor voice—in his
operatic airs there was more than a sug
gestion of Caruso.” The Musical
Courier: "Throughout, his program was
a sheer delight, and his versatility was
pronounced in the various types of songs
he presented. From the old opera aria
through the Jewish folk songs and re
ligious chants to the appealing lullaby
sung in English, Mr. Rosenblatt was
interpretatively and artistically satisfy
ing and wholly at ease.”
IIadassah News
The victory luncheon, the culminating
event of the membership campaign being
conducted by the Atlanta chapter of
Senior Hadassah was postponed till Tues
day, January 3. The luncheon will be
held at 1 o’clock at the Jewish Progressive
Club on Pryor Street.
The luncheon will be in the form of a
box luncheon, each member bringing her
own sandwiches and enough for the
guests she invites; the membership com
mittee will invite as their guests the new
members made during the campaign.
Members are permitted to bring as many
guests as they wish.
The recent monthly meeting of the
Atlanta Unit of Junior Hadassah showed
that much gratifying progress is being
made by this organization. Miss Bessie
Geffen, cultural chairman, reported that
the dramatic group is now working on
a one-act comedy and proposes to pre
sent it at the next regular monthly meet
ing of the Unit. The Young Judaean
chairman, Miss Lottie Goncher, an
nounced that this Southern Conclave of
Young Judaea will be held in Atlanta
late in December, and requested the
cooperation of all Junior Hadassah
members. Miss Rose Cherkas, chairman
of the parliamentary law class, under
the instruction of Miss Rebecca Shuman,
reported splendid attendance at the meet
ings of this group. A special drive for
new members is being made under the di
rection of Miss Polly Gershon, member
ship chairman, who outlined plans for
the drive. Welcome was extended to the
following new members who were pres
ent at the meeting: Misses Rose Tesler,
Men Eplan, Frances Hoffman, Dora
Taffel, Esther Siegal, Bessie Silverboard,
Fannie Sicro, Sara Sinkoe, Dora Zion,
Anne Bromstein, Sara Rice, Esta Clein,
Bess Goldstein, Elsie Lichtenstein and
Regina Weinberg. Miss Helen Balser
was appointed chairman of the commit
tee in charge of writing to Meier Shfevah,
the school for Jewish children, located
in Palestine and maintained by Junior
Hadassah. Miss Perle Bokritsky was ap
pointed chairman of the Follies to be
given in February. A talk on the pur
poses and importance of the Jewish Na
tional Fund was given by Miss Anna
Raiser, who is on the National J. N. F.
Committee. A report bv Miss Frances
Heilman, J. N. F. chairman of the At
lanta Unit, stated that Maccabean Day,
the day when little Jewish flags are sold
for the purpose of raising money for the
Jewish National Fund, will be observed
by the Atlanta Unit. An enjoyable pro
gram was presented with Miss Bess Lut-
skv presiding. Mr. Julian V. Boehm, a
well-known local amateur magician, de
lighted the members with his sleight-of-
hand tricks, and Mr. Mendel Segal, ac
companied by Mrs. Fannie Segal Gold
stein, rendered two musical numbers
which were well received by everyone
present. After adjournment, a social hour
was enjoyed and refreshments were
served. The attendance prize was won
by Miss Celia Weinberg.
The Mrs. Nathan Strauss Unit of the
Junior Hadassah, in Augusta, has been
the sponsor of two of the season's most
successful affairs, the first being a
“Gypsy Bridge,” during which entertain
ment was furnished by many novelties,
and the second being a "Bohemian-Studio
Party.” This party, the culmination of
an extensive membership drive, was very
informal, and guests indulged in various
enjoyable games, with prizes being given
to the winners. Many varied and unu
sual methods are being resorted to by the
Junior Hadassah members in a determined
effort to raise their quota in the "(Jive
or Earn” project, as those reaching the
goal by the end of December will l>e in
vited to a delicious luncheon. The Cul
tural Group, under the direction of Mrs.
Anna Averbuck, is receiving the full
support of the organization. The last
meeting of this group featured a very
unique idea, The Battle of News, which
was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
A. Z. A.
The Atlanta Chapter observed Inter
national A. Z. A. Day, recently, with
the presentation of the Judas Mac
cabeus Degree at the Hebrew Benevolent
Temple. Rabbi Abraham Shusterman, of
Athens, Georgia, was the principal
speaker.
Phis year marks the fourth time that
the Atlanta Chapter has given this Sec
ond, or Judas Maccabeus, Degree, and
it was quite fitting that Rabbi Shuster
man be the guest speaker, since his close
contact with the students of the Uni
versity of Georgia places him in a po
sition to recognize and deal with the
problems of the Jewish youth.
Those who took part in the degree
work were: Joe Blass, Nace Cohen, Ar-
thus Gottesman, Leonard Greenbaum,
Raymond Hirsch, Irwin Krick, Meyer
Levy, Sidney Parks, Helvin Pazol, Na
than Smith and Simon Wender.
Following the usual custom, new
Alephs were presented to the Supreme
Advisory Council. They were: Alephs
Moses Abelsky, Alex Epstein, Manuel Ep
stein, Aaron Rose, Morris Siegel and
Nathan Smith.
Athens, Ga.
I)r. Max Cutler, famed Chicago cancer
specialist, is now heading the free pub
lic clinic in Athens, 'l'his action is in
the form of a repayment of a debt of
gratitude to the town that received him
as an immigrant boy from the Ukraine,
taught him to speak English, and sent
him on to fame as a cancer specialist.
Mastering the English language in a very
short while, finishing grammar and high
school work with honors in six years,
and taking off honors at the University
of Georgia in three years proved a just
forerunner for the excellent work Dr.
Cutler has turned out in the fight against
humankind's most dreaded ailment.
Athens and all Southern Jewry is proud
of Dr. Max Cutler.
Speaking on "Religion and the Lay
man,” Harold Hirsch. Sr., delivered a
stirring address to the students of the
University of Georgia at the semi-monthly
open forum in the Stern Community
House in Athens. This open forum is
under the direction of Rabbi Abraham
Shusterman, and is given in the effort to
promote better religious understanding
among the University students. Mr.
Hirsch’s talk proved to be one of the
highlights in the history of the forum.
Augusta, Ga.
The activities of the Jewish popular
tion in Augusta are such that great ef
forts have been made and maintained it
keeping the spirit of cooperation in thr
forefront. One of Augusta’s leading citi
zens who is always willing to lend
helping hand is David Slusky, Sr., vice
president of one of the largest banks ir
Augusta, and senior member of the firrr |
of David Slusky Sc Son. The recent erec
tion of his building shows a distinct con j
tribution to the city’s business center,
'lire building in its simplicity reacts to j
David Slusky’s character and his abilitv
as a builder to progressive Augusta
Honor has been bestowed upon David]
Slusky by the mention in the "Teller," a
magazine published by the First Nationa
Bank of Atlanta. Southern Jewry is proud]
of David Slusky.
Jackson, Tenn.
Addresses by Mr. Alexander Klein, ofj
Cincinnati, Ohio, and Mr. Philip Levitch
of Memphis, Tenn., were the features of]
the program given in conjunction with!
the Sixth Annual Tour of the Union of
American Hebrew Congregations. A j
large attendance was drawn, and thr
program was highly praised by all.
E ttiory Vniversity
The Beta Nu Chapter of the Phi Delta
Epsilon Medical Fraternity of Emory
University recently held its first initiation
and Banquet in Atlanta. The initiate*
were: Mr. James Weinberg and Mr
Irving Greenberg, of Atlanta.
Following the initiation, the member* j
of the Fraternity and its pledges enjoyed]
an elaborate banquet in honor of its new
members. Dr. Joseph Yampolsky, facul
ty member of the Emory University Medi
cal School, read a most interesting and
instructive resume on the "History of|
Medicine.”
Those present were: Alfred Citrynell.
Noah Feldman, Ralph Cohen, Harr
Parks, Dr. Joseph Yampolsky, Irving
Greenberg, James Weinberg, Aleck Smith
Edward Greber, Clarence Scheinbaum
Harvey Cummins, David Gillman, Isa
dore Cohen, Jack Levine, and Al Fried
man of the Emory University Medical
School; Julian Jarmowlosky and Milton
Blum of the University of Georgia Chap
ter; and Dr. Nathan Regal, resident a?
the Grady Hospital of the University of
Tennessee.
Miss Annette Geffen, daughter ofj
Rabbi and Mrs. Tobias Geffen, of At
lanta, and who is now attending Emon
University, has received the highest
honor possible to attain at that school,
the election to Phi Beta Kappa, the na-j
tional honorary fraternity. Miss Geffen
formerly attended Girls’ High School in
Atlanta, where it will be remembered
that she carried off the highest honors.
Charleston, S. C.
The young people are showing a ten-j
dtney toward the journalistic field
throughout the South at the different!
schools and colleges, where honors a re |
being bestowed upon them, as is the cast'
in Charleston, S. C., where Hannah Pry
stowskv, who is editor-in-chief of the I
Memminger High School paper, “Thr j
Clarion.” This young lady also was thr
recipient of a gold medal at the timr
of her graduation from the grade school
Honors, however, are to be divided in]
Charleston, because Abe Banov, another
youngster, is editing “The Bantam,” the j
Boys High School paper.
(Continued on page 15)
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* THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE