Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-11-21
Four Adventures In Israel

one July evening vi looo, % 9
ficult Journey along the highways VI
Judaism. Theirs was the great re-
snonsibility of bringing together ne
form Judaism and American Je"ry.
And they hardly guessed at the Cd
stacles that lay ahead. A chary wei
come awaited them, for the comfhlV-
flies to which they were to come were
still enchained to age-old TRADITION
were uniformly hostile to religion 1of-
mulated by modern thought. MoIe
than all else, their task was "
Justify the existence of the Hebrew
Union College, for they were the 1lfs3
to call the new and much-critlclsed
theological school "Alma Mater.
DR.. Isaac NJ. Wise, founder ana
president Of the Hebrew Union Col
Iepe. conferred the degrees and pre-
scented the diplomas when these tour
adventures set out on their llte-lone
pilgrimage. Rabbi Henry BerkoWltz,
Rabbi Joseph Kraushopf, RaDDi
David Philipson, and the late RABBI
Israel Aaron, were the irst Jour
men to graduate from the Heore"
Union college. Their names are
among the most illustrious IN modern
Jewry. Their achievements 1of
Israel. for America, and for their
own communities in thlrty-eignC
years of ministry are the unmstak-
able answer to those who argue "ihe
Rabbits calling is futile. Nothing
can be accomplished by the ministry
for God or man. Why then support
the Hebrew Union college?' Theirs
has been notable attainment III
spreading the message OF Judaism
and promoting the welfare Of hu-
manity.
AS proof of the Encouragement
that heset the Rabbits career IS the
fact that of sixteen men VINO enroll
cd in the HebrcwUnton college IN
lS75-1S7G, only the above named tour
we're in the first graduating class.
They met for their studies IN tne
basement school rooms OF Tempe
B'nai Israel for two years, ana lor
four years after that in Bene lesh-
urun Temple. 1t was not until 1851
that a residence was purchased to be
rcmodcled into the Hebrew Union col
lepe. Dr.. Isaac NJ. Wise and Rev
erend Solomon Eppingcr, Dr.. Max
Liiicnthal, Emanuel, Loewcnthai,
Abraham Harris, Louis Aufrecht and
Miclziner, instructed this first class,
and Dr.. Kaufman Kohler, Rabbi b.
Sold, Reverend George Jacobs, and
Rabbi A. Moses conducted the oral
examinations. Philipson was valedlc-
torian.
On the evening Of July 18th, 1883,
historic night in American Judaism
these four adventures set out, and
you shall hear how they Jared:
At Mobile, Ala, Rabbi BerkowltZ
first sought to examplify his ideals
of religious devotion and social serv-
ice. There, in addition to his rab-
bincal duties, he organized the hu.
name movement for the protection OF
children and animals from cruelty At
Kansas City, where he next was call
ed, he organized the first, bureau OF
charities and was appointed, by the
governor of Missouri to represent the
state at the National Conference OF
Charities and Corrections. lmmedl-
atcly after, the young Rabbi came
to Temple Rodeph Sholom in Phll-
adclphia-a synagogue enriched with
a century Of tradition, where he be-
gan his great work of spreading the
message of Judaism. The rabbits
task-he and the three others who
graduated with him believed-is not
merely to cXpound the ideals OF
Israe! in the word Of God from the
pulpit on Sabbath and holidays. 1t
is the larger task of carrying Juda-
ism TO every Jew everywhere by
word of mouth, printed page and
force of example. Accordingly, IN
1898, he founded the Jewish Chau-
tau0ua society. which has for more
than a quarter Of century by lee
turc and publication carried Jewish
education throughout the land. III
addition, he helped to found and be-
came the first secretary Of the Cen
trial Conference OF American Rabbis.
He was appointed on the Publication
society was member of the
Committee Of the Jewish Publication
which compiled the Union Pray
or book, and was chairman of the
committees which compiled the Union
Haggadah and the Book of Prayers
for Private Devotion, respectively.
The college which has helped to make
his ministry possible, is hcncfitin2
by his presence on the board of gov
ernors. He has also been president
of the Alumni association. While
Rodcph Sholom grew in prestige and
influence, the Jewish Chatauqua So
ciety developed correspondence
schoo! for the study o: Jewish sub
jects and the education of teachers
and university extension lectures or
Jewish TOPICS at leading American
colleges. Rabbi Berlowitz has beer
vice president of the PHILADELPHIA;
Playground association, on the boarc
of recreation, vice president OF the
Universal Peace Union, and active