Mailbox March 2019
Seeking information About Rabbi Kantrowitz and
Congregation Poale Emes of Trenton
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Thu, Mar 28, 5:24 AM (1 day ago)
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Dear Mr. Finkle,
I am a journalist for
Hamodia, a newspaper in New York with the largest circulation of any Orthodox
Jewish newspaper in America. I am preparing an article about Rabbi Jacob
(Yaakov) Kantrowitz, who served in Congregation Poale Emes of Trenton from
1928 until his death in 1946. He was originally buried in their cemetery
on Cedar Lane, but eventually his remains were transferred to Israel. His son
in law, Rabbi Lev, took over his position, and served there until the mid 60s,
when the Jewish community began to wane.
I was wondering if you
might know where I could get a picture of the Poale Emes Synagogue to go
along with my article. I did get a picture of Rabbi Kantrowitz from his
great-grandson, but he did not have a picture of the synagogue. I assume that
it no longer exists, since it was in 'Jew Town', which was knocked down to
create the government buildings. [Rabbi Kantrowitz lived at 110 Lamberton.]
I own some property in
Trenton, and I spent quite bit of time in the city while I worked on
building up the business. I would like to write about the rabbi, since I became
friendly with his great grandson over the years. If you know anyone who might
be able to supply me with a picture of Poale Emes, I would really appreciate
it.
Thank you,
Ben Karman
Hamodia
Edith
Heyfetz Gordon showed her families Kosher Butcher shop. Estelle Rabstein Bogad
reminisced:
I was raised in Trenton until l946. , at which
date I married Milt Bogad. I lived on Perry Street. I did not live in any
Jewish section because my Dad first had a soda factory and when prohibition was
repealed, we had a liquor store at that location.
I had two sisters, one was
Ruth Rabstein Pellettieri, who defended the "Trenton Six" My other
sister was Rose Rabstein Hirsch who was married to Sam Hirsch. I graduated from
Trenton High School in "39, graduated Temple University in "43, and
taught at Trenton High "from "43 to "46.
I wanted to fill you in
on Trenton before the 40"s. There were three shuls [synagogues] on Union
Street. The first one from Market Street was one of the smallest [Anshei Fife –
Workers of Truth] and one of the poorest. My family was a member there forever.
My Dad was responsible for building the house for Rabbi Kantorowitz.
25
To
give you more on Trenton - the BEST Jewish bakery on Market Street was Kohn’s.
Mae Kohn, one of the daughters, ran it for years. [The Kunis Bakery owners may
disagree]. A dairy store was on the corner of Market and Cooper. Coming toward
Union you had Siegel’s Deli. You haven’t eaten deli until you had it from there.
We all went to the Y. We had a Girl’s social
club that met there. Our senior advisor was Edith Citroen. What fun!!! Name of
the club was Cleophas Club.
Trenton’s first-generation of Russian Jewish immigrants
struggled to adapt to American (secular) norms. The second generation, rejected
their parents’ ‘otherness’ and normalized themselves in a secular society,
generally retaining their Jewish cultural heritage.
After World War II, Jews perceived Jewish birth as a matter
of course, even if they did not prize it. Neither did they engender negative
attitudes towards Judaism. The relationship was best characterized as
indifferent.
Congregation
Workers of Truth (Orthodox- Anshei Fife, 1919)
Congregation of the Workers of Truth filed incorporation
papers in 1919. The Anshe Fife, ‘the small shul,’ sat a few doors down from
Anshei Emes. A few years later the organization purchased two dwellings on
Union Street, near Market Street, and remodeled them into a house of worship.
Anshe Fife (Workers of Truth)
The first officers of
the People of Truth congregation were: S. Silverman, president; Jacob Fein,
vice-president; Isaac Gutstein and Solomon Kohn, secretaries, and Zushman Fein,
treasurer. The trustees of this congregation were Jacob Albert and Mr. Saperstein.
Although there is
little evidence of this small shul, Rabbi Eliezer Mayer Preil (later to move to
Elizabeth), Rabbi Kantorowitz and his son-in-law, Rabbi Mordchai Lev provided
rabbinic leadership. Its 1955, officers were President, Morris Forman; vice
president; Jess Fagelman; treasurer; David Binder; and trustees Joseph Reil,
Morris Rubin and Sam Cohen.
Malcolm
Drezner
When I used to get hair cuts, I went to Jug Heads on Fuld
St. And then always drop a few on the ponies. Can't forget.
Gabe
Garber Went to Jug Heads also
Mike
Kuzma Malcolm Drezner Skippy When ever I return to NJ I make sure I stop at
Juggy's who is now located on Nottingham Way in Hamilton to get a good Trenton
Styling.
I was born in Trenton in 1946. At an early age, my grandfather Benjamin Kantor and I would walk to the Union Street Schul on Saturday mornings and during these walks I learned everything I ever needed to know. I know that my grandfather was a leader of the Workers of Truth and if you wanted an aliyah, you went to Mr Kantor.
ReplyDeleteI read the above article and am trying to put pieces together. My grandfather was the first of siblings to come from Russia and at Ellis Island changed his name from Kantorovitz to Kantor. He was responsible for bringing over his siblings, many of whom were rabbis. i believe that the above referenced Rabbi Kantorowitz was one of his brothers. I did know cousin Rabbi Lev. He lived in a house my grandfather owned and my grandfather partially supported his family. When Rabbi Lev's son was a Bar Mitzvah, our family's relative, the esteemed Rabbi Moshe Feinstein came from New York to attend. My father and I brought him from the train station.
At some time later, Rabbi Lev and my grandfather had a disagreement (I know my grandfather's side of the story) and Rabbi Lev and family left Trenton for Israel. Some years later the congregation moved to West State Street a block past Jr 3. My grandfather lived virtually across the street.
If anyone's interesting in reminiscing further, please contact me. Joel Sommer