Congregation Beth Israel

Camden is well known for its ethnic communities. The large Polish, Italian, Irish, German, and Jewish communities played a great role in Camden’s history in the 19th and first part of the 20th century, while Black and Puerto Rican families have given the city much of its recent flavor. There are other, lesser known ethnic groups that have made up the fabric of the city’s life over the years. Greeks, Armenians, and Ukrainians grouped together in the city in Camden’s growth years. More recently, Mexicans, Vietnamese, Jamaicans, Dominicans, Haitians, and Koreans have come to the city to live and seek the American dream.

Congregation Beth Israel was organized in 1929 and to my knowledge was the first synagogue to be built in East Camden. By the early 1920s the Kotlikoff family was doing business along Federal Street, the Zeff’s owned the Rosedale Inn at 36th and Federal, and there were some other families, but the real Jewish migration to East Camden came when the area along Baird Boulevard and south of Marlton Pike was developed in the 1920s and 1930s. I’m not sure if Congregation Beth Israel predated that, but the building at 208 North 28th Street certainly did. It was used, according to the 1929 Camden City Directory, as the home of the Washington Camp No. 27 of the Patriotic Sons of America (P.O.S.A.). City directories also show this address for the Socialist Library Society in 1924 and 1929.

Founding members of Beth Israel included the Kotlikoff family and Mr. and Mrs. Samuel and Mayme Rosen.

By 1956 Congregation Beth Israel erected a new, modern synagogue at 315 Grand Avenue, the corner of Grand and Benson Street, just off of Marlton Avenue.

When I moved to East Camden in the mid 1970s, most Jewish families had left the city and the building had been long closed, but the signs of its use as a synagogue were obvious. A Christian group acquired the property on North 28th Street in the 1980s, and efforts to rehab the building have continued in fits and starts. The newer building on Grand Avenue has been used as a Christian school and as a day care center at various times since Beth Israel left Camden.

December 2005

The last of a series of charity card parties will be given by the Beth-Israel Sisterhood in the Beth-Israel Synagogue, 205 North 28th Street, tonight, at 8 o’clock.

The committee in charge includes Mrs. Samuel C. Rosen, Mrs. David Esterman, Mrs. Morris Josselson and Mrs. Albert Taylor.

Committee to Raise $10,000 for Aid, Told of Hardships in Germany

At an executive meeting of the United Committee for Relief of German Jews, held at Beth El Synagogue last night, the captains who will be in charge of teams for the purpose of raising $10,000 for relief of German Jews, were announced by Leon H. Rose, general chairman. In urging the appointees to intensive efforts, Rose said:

Six hundred thousand Jews are in distress. They are ousted from office, discharged from employment, denied civil and economic rights, persecuted and systematically forced to starve to death.

“There is raging in Germany one of the coldest and cruelest pogroms against the Jews ever known to history.

“We must help. We must rescue those helpless ones. Our weapon for immediate retaliation is money, and we must supply those arms. By the widest stretch of the imagination, it is inconceivable how any Jew in this community can exclude himself from this cause.

“Thousands of German Jews, especially among the young, see a prospect of restarting their lives in Palestine to which some of them already have made their way. Determined, concerted Jewish effort can make it capable of providing a permanent home for a considerable part of German Jewry to whom the rest of the world, with few exceptions, is closed.

“Immediate funds are needed. I appeal to you as self-respecting Jews who understand the suffering of your own race to come to the aid of your stricken brothers and sisters. Give them all you can.

Those named and the organizations they represent are: Jacob Leventon, Congregation Beth El; David Lefkowitz, congregation Sons of Israel; Morris Josselson, Congregation Beth Israel; Benjamin Friedman, B’nai Brith; Mrs. I.S. Siris, Hadassah; Philip Miller, Hebrew Parent Teachers Association; Herman Odlen, Federation of Jewish Charities; Mrs. Rose Goldstein, Independent Social; Harry W. Markowich, Zionist Organization; Norman Heine, Junior Council; Julius Samson, Upsilon Lambda Phi.

Mrs. William Laub, Council of Jewish Women; A. David Epstein, Sigma Alpha Rho; Mrs. Aaron Heine, Beth El Sisterhood; Samuel Shane, Talmud Torah; M. Snyder, Workmen’s Circle; M. Bard, F. of S. U.; Louis Tarter, Independent Progress Lodge; Mrs. Zelda Lutz, Jacob J. Hernfeld Link; Dr. I.S. Siris, Jewish Welfare Society; Mrs. M. Shapiro, Hebrew Ladies Charities.

Saul Lippman, Mizrachi; Mrs. Samuel Litow, Welfare Social Club; D. Breslow, Gordonia.; Dr. Reuben Cutler, Mizpah Lodge No. 245; F. & A. M.; Meyer Adelman, Camden Level Club; Mrs. Etta Rosen, B’nai Brith Auxiliary; Mrs. L. Weiss, Ladies Auxiliary of Progress Lodge; Miriam Morris, Junior Charity Workers; Mrs. A. Stoolman, Deborah Society; Mrs. M. Leider, Welfare Social.

Moses Bord was appointed captain of the workers. A mass meeting will be held June 20, at the Talmud Torah building, Seventh Street and Kaighn Avenue, and will be addressed by members of national, state and municipal governments, as well as outstanding Jewish leaders from New York and Philadelphia.

Twenty-one students of the school of Beth Israel Congregation were graduated last night at exercises in the school at North 28th Street and High Street.

Diplomas were presented by Morris Josselson, president of the synagogue and prizes were awarded by Herman Kessler, a member of the faculty.

Addresses were given by the honor students, Irving Sackoff, Harry Gartzman, Bernard Adler and Paul Rothman.

At 2:00 PM on February 21, 1943 a service flag was raised at Westfield Acres to honor the many men who had already gone off to serve in America’s armed forces. Attendees of the day’s events included Camden Mayor George E. Brunner, Camden County Clerk Frank J. Suttill, Rabbi F.D. Plotke of Congregation Beth Israel, a small synagogue located at 205 North 28th Street in Camden, and the Reverend Francis J. Hagerty of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Federal Street.

It has been said that every man should step to the music of his own drummer. Such a man is Rabbi Weine. He has an abiding love of learning and compassion for all men.

He epitomizes the word ‘rabbi’ in its true meaning — a man whose unassuming, soft-spoken manner belies his firm conviction, his steadfast adherence to the principles which guide his beliefs and action.

In the confusion of our times, Rabbi Weine has set his sights on the path most closely aligned with his own ‘drumbeat.’ In a period when integrity and humility are rare qualities, he has become, quite unintentionally a man unique in his time.

Rabbi Weine has kept pace the issues of our time, serving his urban community in the interests of equality and the tranquil coexistence of races and religions based on education and understanding.

While his gentle ways and humble concern for the welfare of others might seem out of step among today’s clerical masters of oratory, bonvivant personalities and astute businessmen, this man is consummately respected by his peers and well loved by his friends and congregants.

Alice Bellitz

The Crown of a Good Name Exceeds All Others. (Pirke Avot)

GUESTS

• Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Adleman
• Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Adleman
• Mr. Stanley Adleman and Guest
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Adleman
• Mr. and Mrs. Michael Albert
• Reverand Samuel Appel
• Mr. and Mrs. James Artz
• Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Asbell
• Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Back
• Mr. and Mrs. Henry Becker
• Mrs. Jeanette Bell and Escort
• Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Bellitz
• Mrs. Samuel Bellitz
• Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Berlin
• Dr. and Mrs. Harold Berlin
• Mrs. Miriam Bitman
• Cantor and Mrs. Philip Blackman
• Mrs. Sigmund Blass
• Dr. and Mrs. Albert Bonier
• Mr. and Mrs. William Bryen
• Dr. and Mrs. Stephen H. Davis
• Mr. and Mrs. Maurice Denbo
• Monsignor Joseph W. Devline
• Mr. and Mrs. Allen Dolgin
• Dr. Jacob Drossner
• Mr. and Mrs. Charles Drourr
• Mr. and Mrs. Howard Drourr
• Mr. Bernard Dubin
• Dr. and Mrs. I. Eisenberg
• Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Eisenberg
• Mr. and Mrs. Max Gerald Elkins
• Mr. A. David Epstein
• Mr. Irving Epstein
• Mr. and Mrs. Sig Ettinger
• Mrs. Bernice Fein
• Mrs. Elizabeth Feinstein
• Mr. and Mrs. Louis Feinstein
• Mr. Leonard Feldman
• Mr. Morris Baer Finkelstein
• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Fleigleman
• Mr. and Mrs. Russel Forman
• Mr. and Mrs. Louis Fox
• Mr. Philip Fox
• Rabbi and Mrs. Isaac Furman
• Miss Ellen Gartzman
• Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Gartzman
• Dr. and Mrs. N. Harry Gartzman
• Dr. Joel Geffen
• Mr. Irving Gitomer
• Cantor Mordecai Goldstein
• Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Goodwin
• Mr. William Gordon
• Mr. and Mrs. Leon Gottlieb
• Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gould
• Mr. and Mrs. Barry Gratz
• Rabbi William Greenburg
• Mr. and Mrs. Al Haiken
• Rabbi and Mrs. Lester Hering
• Mrs. Minna Harris
• Rabbi and Mrs. Arthur Haselkorn
• Cantor and Mrs. Louis Herman
• Mr. Russel Janoff
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Josselson
• Rabbi and Mrs. Howard Kahn
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Katman
• Mrs. David Kaufman
• Dr. and Mrs. Mark Kauffman
• Rabbi Harry B. Kellman
• Dr. and Mrs. Harold Kirsh
• Judge and Mrs. Albert Klein
• Mr. James Klein and Guest
• Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Koche
• Mr. and Mrs. Ike Koff
• Mr. Kotlikoff
• Mr. and Mrs. Max Kramer
• Mr. and Mrs. Irvin Kress
• Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Krouse
• Mr. Louis Kushner
• Mrs. Morris Kutner
• Mr. Moses Lavinsky
• Rabbi and Mrs. Robert Layman
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Leonard
• Rabbi and Mrs. Albert L. Lewis
• Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Levin
• Mr. Sidney Levy
• Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Lieberman
• Rabbi Louis Lieberworth
• Mr. Leslie Lipschutz
• Mr. and Mrs. Nathan Mazo
• Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Mandel
• Mr. and Mrs. Max Milask
• Mrs. Harold Miller
• Mr. Joseph Miller
• Mr. and Mrs. Reuben Miller
• Miss Judith H. Moore
• Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Naden
• Mayor and Mrs. Joseph M. Nardi, Jr.
• Mr. Irving Natkow
• Rabbi and Mrs. Fred Neulander
• Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Norwitz
• Mr. and Mrs. David Novack
• Mr. and Mrs. Morris Novack
• Mr. and Mrs. Martin Odlen
• Mr. and Mrs. Louis Paul
• Dr. and Mrs. Harry Pinsky
• Mrs. Yetta Pinsky
• Mrs. Mary Plasky
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Plasky
• Mr. and Mrs. Y. D. Plotnick
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Reichman
• Mrs. Dora Rose
• Dr. and Mrs. Leonard Rosen
• Mr. and Mrs. Leon Roseman
• Mr. and Mrs. Morris Liebman
• Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Roseman
• Mr. and Mrs. Martin Rosner
• Mr. and Mrs. David Rosoff
• Mr. Larry Rosoff
• Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Ross
• Mr. and Mrs. Manuel Ross
• Mr. and Mrs. Milton Ross
• Mr. and Mrs. Milton Rothbaum
• Mr. and Mrs. Julius Rothlander
• Mr. and Mrs. Jack Rothman
• Mrs. Jennie Rothschild
• Mr. and Mrs. Leon Savage
• Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sbar
• Miss Malkah Sbar
• Mr. and Mrs. Abe Schnapf
• Dr. and Mrs. Norman Shaen
• Mr. and Mrs. Louis Shefsky
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Shensa
• Dr. Harold Shpeen
• Mr. and Mrs. Martin Silverstein
• Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Singer
• Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Skoboloff
• Mr. and Mrs. Emanuel Smith
• Mr. and Mrs. I. Snegaroff
• Mr. and Mrs. Martin Snyder
• Mr. Joel Soffer
• Miss Helen Spiegel
• Mr. and Mrs. Melvin Starker
• Mr. and Mrs. Ben Zion Steinberg
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel L. Supnick
• Mr. and Mrs. Philip Tannenbaum
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Tapper
• Mr. and Mrs. Albert Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry W. Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Victor Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Charles Toplan
• Mr. Arnold K. Weber
• Mr. and Mrs. Barry Weinberg
• Dr. Burton Weiser
• Miss Mary Weiss
• Rabbi and Mrs. Herbert Yarrish
• Dr. Paul G. Zackon
• Mr. and Mrs. Julius Zinman
• Mr. and Mrs. Charles Zitomer
• Dr. and Mrs. Paul Zonies
• Rabbi Harry S. Zwelling

* list incomplete

PROGRAM

Greetings

Dr. Harold Berlin, Chairman Rabbi Max Weine Tribute Dinner
Toastmaster Rabbi Albert J. Lewis, Temple Beth Sholom
Invocation and Hamotzi Rabbi Herbert Yarrish, Temple Emanuel

DINNER

Birkat Hamazon

Tributes

Monsignor Joseph W. Devlin, Interfaith Dialogue
Ellen Gartzman, Youth Representative
Rabbi Robert Layman, President, Tri-County Board of Rabbis
Rabbi Albert J. Lewis, Rabbinical Assembly of Philadelphia
Honorable Joseph Nardi, Jr., Mayor of the City of Camden, N. J.
Larry Rosoff, Youth Representative
Dr. Harold Shpeen, President of Jewish Federation of Camden County
Rabbi Harry S. Swelling, New Britain, Connecticut, Rabbi’s Classmate
Mr. Arnold K. Weber, Director Camden Economic Development Office

Musical Program

Hazzan Phillip Blackman, Congregation Beth Israel
Hazzan Mordecai Goldstein, Temple Beth Sholom

Speaker

Dr. Joel S. Geffen, Director of Department Community Education, Jewish Theological Seminary of America.

Presentation

Mr. David Rosoff, President of Congregation Beth Israel

Response

Rabbi Max Weine

A GRATEFUL COMMUNITY PAYS TRIBUTE…

• Mr. and Mrs. Meyer Adleman
• Mr. Stanley Adleman
• Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Aronberg
• Dr. and Mrs. Eugene Bass
• Miss Hene Bercovich
• Mr. and Mrs. Jack Beilowitz
• Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Bellitz
• Dr. and Mrs. Harold Berlin
• Mr. and Mrs. Henry Budowsky
• Mrs. Naomi Floch
• Mr. and Mrs. Harold Frankel
• Dr. and Mrs. N. Harry Gartzman
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry Goldstein
• Mr. and Mrs. Abraham Greenberg
• Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Harris
• Mr. and Mrs. Robert Josselson
• Rabbi and Mrs. Louis Kaplan
• Mrs. Bertha Kapnick
• Judge and Mrs. Albert J. Klein
• Mr. and Mrs. Moses Lavinsky
• Mr. and Mrs. Sam Lear
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry Lemerman
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Leonard
• Mr. and Mrs. S. Nathan Lev
• Dr. and Mrs. Irvin B. Levin
• Mr. and Mrs. Myron Levin
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Lutz
• Mr. and Mrs. David H. Markowitz
• Mr. and Mrs. Leon Mickleman
• Mr. and Mrs. Abe Molotsky
• Mr. and Mrs. Julian Moore
• The Naden Family
• Mr. and Mrs. Morris Novack
• Mrs. Mary Plasky
• Dr. and Mrs. Alexander Price
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Price
• Mr. and Mrs. George Rhodeside
• Mr. and Mrs. David Rosoff
• Mr. and Mrs. Milton Rothbaum
• Dr. and Mrs. Norman Shaen
• Mr. and Mrs. Leon Synder
• Mr. and Mrs. Louis Sobel
• Mr. and Mrs. Edward Spector
• Mr. Mitchell Stern
• Mr. and Mrs. Albert Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Harry Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Victor Taylor
• Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Vilkomerson
• Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Werner
• Mr. Jacob Wiener
• Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Wolinsky
• Dr. and Mrs. Paul Zackon
• Dr. and Mrs. Martin Zelnick
• Dr. and Mrs. Paul Zonies

* List Incomplete

COMMITTEE

Chairman Dr. Harold Berlin
Co-chairman Mr. Bernard Bellitz
Tribute Chairman Dr. N. Harry Gartzman
Program Chairman Mrs. Milton Rothbaum
Community Laison Hon. Albert J. Klein
Program Book Mrs. N. Harry Gartzman, Mrs. Paul Gould
Arrangements Chairman Dr. Paul Zonies
Invitations Chairman Mrs. Paul Zonies
Publicity Mrs. Bernard Bellitz
Souvenir Book Mrs. Irwin Taylor

Committee Members

• Mr. James Artz
• Mrs. Henry Becker
• Mr. Henry Becker
• Dr. Stephen Davis
• Mrs. Max Elkins
• Mr. Aaron Fleigelman
• Mrs. Gerald Gartzman
• Mr. Martin Gitomer
• Mr. Leon Goldberg
• Mr. Paul Gould
• Mr. Al Haiken
• Mr. Robert Josselson
• Mr. David Novack
• Mr. Louis Paul
• Mrs. Louis Paul
• Mr. Sam Reichman
• Mr. Leon Roseman
• Mrs. Leon Roseman
• Mr. Ted Roseman
• Mrs. Ted Roseman
• Mr. David Rosoff
• Mr. Manuel Ross
• Mr. Milton Rothbaum
• Mr. Louis Shefsky
• Dr. Leonard Rosen
• Mr. Samuel Weiss
• Mrs. Martin Zelnick

ADDITIONAL GUESTS

• Mr. & Mrs. David B. Berschler
• Mr. & Mrs. Harold Frankel
• Mr. & Mrs. Morton Jacobs
• Mr. & Mrs. Maurice J. Lichtman
• Judge Norman Heine
• Mr. Max Rosenfeld
• Rabbi Bernard E. Rothman

ADDITIONAL TRIBUTES

• Mr. & Mrs. Henry Bloom
• Mr. & Mrs. Tom Borman
• Mrs. Mildred Gelfand
• Mr. & Mrs. Leon Goldberg
• Dr. & Mrs. Milton Gordon
• Mr. & Mrs. William Greenberg
• Mr. & Mrs. Milton Herman
• Mr. & Mrs. Morton Jacobs
• Mr. & Mrs. Herbert Kirschner
• Mr. & Mrs. William Remer
• Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Rosner
• Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Segan
• Mr. Joseph Smith
• Mr. Mitchell Stern
• Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Silverstein
• Mr. & Mrs. Albert Weine
• Mr. & Mrs. Leonard Zelnick