Trenton's Jews

My Father. Our Father Many well-known Jewish songs are based on words from the Bible. While a vast majority of them are based on Tehillim (Psalms) one of the most famous is almost a direct quote from Genesis: Od Avinu Chai, “Our Father Still Lives.” In this song, however, an inferred meaning of the words is utilized, rather than the actual meaning in the Torah. “Ha’od avi chai?” “Is my father yet alive?” (Genesis 45:3) is the question asked by Joseph to his brothers after he reveals his identity. In fact, other than saying, "I am Joseph,” these were the first words that Joseph spoke to his brothers after revealing his identity. Twenty-two years earlier, he had been separated from his father when his brothers sold him into slavery. When the singer/composer Shlomo Carlebach attached a modified version of this verse to the phrase: Am Yisrael Chai, “The Nation of Israel Lives,” the understanding of “avi,” my father, changed from a reference to Jacob to a reference to God: “The nati

Bobashela - THS Yearbook Bobeshela Staff Football Basketball Baseball Tennis (not listed for most years) 1922 Afred Habas Edgar Fiestal Sidney Wolberg not listed Milton Konovitz Edgar Fiestal Nathan Lavine Solomon Klein 1923 not listed Sidney Beck Levin Edgar Fiestal Eckstein 1924 Milton Konovitz Bert Lefkowitz not listed Sidney Stark M. Rosenthal Seymour Aronson Sidney Beck Sidney Beck Morris Forer Edgar Fiestal Robert Pinerman Sidney Greenwald Henry Levin Adele Wolf Aaron Axelrod 1925 Sidney Stark Simon Sloshberg Morris Robinson Robert Pinerman Louis B. Singer Philip Albert Sidney Geenwald Henry Levin Aaron Axelrod Morris Forer 1926 Lester Finkle not listed Joseph Deitz Sidney Siegel Leo Goldman Samuel Lavine Joseph Forer Bobeshela Staff Football Basketball Baseball Tennis (not listed for most years) 1927 Josep

Downtown Trenton Harry Podmore 1929 Although there were a disproportionate number of professionals (Physicians, Attorneys, Certified Public Accountants, Dentists), most reverted to the family business of selling merchandise. However, they did it on a much larger scale. Trenton was known for its ‘downtown.’ Between Willow and City Hall, there were 100’s of stores, both small and large. The interesting fact is that most of them were owned by the sons and daughters of ‘Jewtown.’ During the era of the 1920’s, Jews had difficulty getting onto college, if for no other reason that they were Jewish. If they were ‘lucky’ enough to attend college from 1929 on, they returned home to support a Depression-starved family. Downtown Trenton had been a busy commercial district after the Greene St. (Broad St.) overpass forded the Assinpink Creek. In addition, it originally housed the most prominent families of Trenton, such as the Roebling’s, the Kuser's, etc. The retail trade in Trenton saw its h

  What Are Hamantaschen? Theories How the Popular Purim Cookies Were Named Print Al Barry/Stringer/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Judaism Important Holidays Basics Culture Prayers and Worship By   Ariela Pelaia Updated on April 26, 2019 Hamentaschen are triangular-shaped pastries that are traditionally eaten during the Jewish holiday of Purim.  The Purim tradition is rich with feasting . A big part of Purim is and the custom of making Purim baskets and gifting food to others during the holiday ( mishloach manot).  Hamentaschen are a popular basket-stuffer. The Naming of Hamantaschen "Hamantaschen" is a Yiddish word meaning "Haman’s pockets." Haman is the villain in the  Purim story , which appears in the Biblical Book of Esther. The word "hamantash" is singular. "Hamantashen" is the plural form. Regardless, most people refer to the pastry as hamantaschen, whether you are referring to one or several.  There are a number of theories as to how the popu

  An Early Millner/Vine Connection   We all know there is more than one Millner/Vine connection in Trenton. Louis Vine married Sarah Millner in about 1902. Frank Millner married Rose Leah Vine in 1911. But it also appears that in 1908, a joint Millner-Vine effort was to start a new synagogue.   I searched Ancestry.com with no specific goal but to find something interesting about our great-grandfather Samuel Millner and his life in Trenton. There were year after year listings in Trenton's City Directory, which provided a history of who lived with whom, when, and where they moved. Then, there was a reference to an article in the September 19, 1908 issue of The Times of Trenton. It's a small article, but it is right there on the front page. It was fascinating:   WILL ERECT NEW SYNAGOGUE HERE   "The Keneseth Israel has filed articles of incorporation at the office of County Clerk. The organization will establish a congregation for the Hebrews of this city and w

      Karl J. Flesch Top Contributor   · November 30 at 7:11 AM     · Karl J. Flesch November 30 at 7:08 AM   · Meet George Washington this Sunday at the Trenton City Museum at Trenton City Museum at Ellarslie Mansion.  Talk starts at 2pm. History Talk with George Washington: The Dark Days of the American Revolution - Trenton City Museum ELLARSLIE.ORG History Talk with George Washington: The Dark Days of the American Revolution - Trenton City Museum General George Washington will give spellbinding accounts of the Battles of New York, Battles of Trenton, and the Battle of Princeton. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3 | 2 pm $5 General Public; $3 TMS Members     JCC Abrams Camps November 2     · Hello! Did you go to Abrams as a child? Were your parents or grandparents JCC members years ago? Did your child start when they were little and is now a counselor? We are looking for your best throwback pictures for a feature! Please send them to jccpmb@jccpmb.org