Comments, May, 2024
May 2024
Trenton Jewish Historical Society
Sopsrnoetd50a43 g5ltMhyu0tc iga:193a9t036f il Ma585Pt31063c2 ·
Kramer's Bagels, Tyler St
Loved Kramer’s bagels! Going Saturday nights for hot, fresh bagels was the
best!
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1w
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Saturday night run down to Kramers and get warm bagels hot off the conveyor
belt. Come back to somebody’s house and enjoy the company. Enjoy the bagels so
delicious what great memories only in Trenton.
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What a great memory. Late night Saturday pick up for a dozen or two and
often, I’d finish off one before I even got home ! I know I wasn’t alone.
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Anybody know anything other then the obvious about this
department store???
Christopher just found a box of these in his base
ment, in Trenton, NJ
Julian
Grilli
Shopped there often. Men's wear
IX. The Jews - 1860 BY HARRY J. PODMORE 24 24
The material embodied here is in the main abridged from articles published by
Mr. Podmore in the Community Messenger. THE first organization in the life of
Trenton Jewry was the Har Sinai Cemetery Association, formed in 1857. Prior to
the beginning of the Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation, which was the outgrowth of
the cemetery association, religious services were held in the homes of
individuals. An early mention of Jewish worship here is given in the State Gazette,
April 30, 1856, relative to the Passover observance. The following is an
extract from the item published on that day: There is quite a large number of
the Hebrew race in Trenton who adhere to their ancient worship of the one,
only, and true God. The nearest syna¬gogue, we believe, is at Philadelphia. In
connection with the observance of the Jewish New Year of 5619, which fell in
September of 1858, services were held in Temperance Hall. According to an item
in the Daily True American, September 10, fifty-two persons participated in the
ceremonies of the first day. HAR SINAI HEBREW CONGREGATION (REFORM) - 1860
Formal services, regularly conducted, began in Trenton about 1860 with the
formation of the Har Sinai Hebrew Congregation. In the summer of that year
meetings were held in the old Chancery Building which stood on the site of the
Trenton Trust Building, West State Street and Chan¬cery Lane. At a meeting held
on July 22 the congregation decided to incorporate and the following were
elected trustees: Simon Kahnweiler, Isaac Wymann, Henry Shoninger, Herman
Rosenbaum, Marcus Aaron, L. Kahnweiler and David Manko. Soon after this time
the body was incorporated with the trustees named as the incorporators. Nearly
all of the founders of the Har Sinai Temple congregation were of German
extraction. For many years the services were conducted in German and Hebrew
only. In 1865 Simon Kahnweiler, credited as the first president of the
congrega¬tion, purchased from the Lutherans a little brick chapel on North
Montgomery Street, known as Christ Church of the Evangelical Lutheran
Congregation. The edifice was refitted as a temple and on March 23, 1866, it
was dedicated with appropriate ceremonies, the Rev. D. Frankel, of
Philadelphia, officiating, assisted by the Rev. Isaiah Gotz and the Rev. Reuben
Straus. Judge David Naar delivered the dedicatory address. The Rev. Isaac
Lesser made a few remarks appropriate to the occasion, and the ceremonies were
brought to a close by the singing of the 150th Psalm by the choir. The year of
1872 was a dark one for the small congregation. Evidently the benefactor had
not deeded the temple to the congregation and there seems to have been some
dissension among the members. Matters went from bad to worse, reaching a climax
on March 16, when Kahnweiler's holdings, including the little house of worship,
were sold at public auction held at the Trenton Home, with Ex Mayor Napton
acting as auctioneer. D. P. Forst became the new owner of the temple building.
Left without a permanent place of worship the congregation drifted. The
prospects for the future were far from bright. However, there was one member
who was not disheartened. Mrs. Toretta Kaufman, mother of S. E. Kaufman, saw
the possibilities for securing the building and through her tireless activities
in making a personal canvass she collected a fund and aroused such an interest
in the project that when autumn had arrived the property was owned by the
congregation. It is said that the contributor of the largest amount to the fund
was the late Joseph Rice who made up the balance needed after all the money
that could possibly be collected had been brought in. In July 1903 the
congregation sold the little temple on Montgomery Street to Bayard Post, No. 8,
G.A.R. In the same year a lot was purchased at the southwesterly corner of
Front and Stockton Streets and upon it a house of worship was erected. On the
evening of October 7, 1904, the building was dedicated. The officers of the
congregation at that time were: Sigmund Baron, president; Abraham Siegle,
vice-president; Louis Cohen, treasurer; and Jonas D. Rice, secretary. In 1925
the congregation purchased a lot on Bellevue Avenue where a new temple will be
erected in the near future. The present rabbi of the temple is Abram Holtzberg.
Some of the others who have served in that capacity are: M. Lessler, Simon
Rosenberg, Israel Goldvogel, Morris Ungerleider, Wagenheim, Schomberg, Kahn,
Joseph Gabriel, L. Weiss, Bloch, Nathan Rosenau, Louis B. Michelson, Nathan
Stern, Harry K. Jacobs, Joel Blau and Jacob Goldstein. BROTHERS OF ISRAEL
(ORTHODOX) -1883 The second oldest religious body in the life of Trenton Jewry
is the Congregation of the Brothers of Israel. This organization, which was
founded by Jews of Polish and Russian extraction, was incorporated in 1883, but
it seems that the group was not fully established until three years later. In
August 1887 the Union Street M.E. Church was purchased and converted into a
synagogue. On September 11, 1887, the remodelled edifice was dedicated. In 1900
the building was demolished and a new one was erected upon the site. In 1885
the congregation established a place of burial on Vroom Street, adjoining Har
Sinai Cemetery. In 1907 the place was enlarged by the purchase of an additional
lot, and in 1913 an auxiliary cemetery was established near Cedar Lane,
Hamilton Township. THE CONGREGATION OF THE PEOPLE OF TRUTH (ORTHODOX) - 1891
The third organization, the Congregation of the People of Truth, was organized
either in the late ‘8o’s or in the early ‘90’s. The group filed papers for
incorporation in December of 1891. In 1902 the Second Presbyterian Church, on
Union Street, was purchased by the congregation and refitted for a synagogue.
On March 15, 1903, the edifice was dedicated to the worship of Jehovah. In 1893
the congregation established a cemetery near Cedar Lane, Hamilton Township. THE
CONGREGATION OF AHAVATH ISRAEL (ORTHODOX) - 1909 The fourth religious body, the
Congregation of Ahavath Israel, was incorporated in December 1909, In May 1910
the body purchased the Wesley Methodist Church on Centre Street. The edifice
was then remodelled and dedicated to Jewish worship. The founders of the
Congregation of Ahavath Israel were in the main of Austro Hungarian extraction.
The first officers and trustees of the congregation were: Samuel Goldmann,
president; Leo Eisner, vice-president; Peter Littman, secretary; Henry
Wirtschafter, Herman Lefkowitz, Jacob Blaugrund, Louis Warady, Nathan Fuchs,
Adolf L. Moskowitz and Armin Bonyai, trustees. THE CONGREGATION OF THE WORKERS
OF TRUTH (ORTHODOX) - 1919 The fifth religious body, the Congregation of the
Workers of Truth, filed incorporation papers in 1919. A few years later the
organization purchased two dwellings on Union Street, near Market Street, and
remodelled them into a house of worship. THE ADATH ISRAEL CONGREGATION
(CONSERVATIVE) - 1923 The Adath Israel Congregation was organized at a meeting
held on September 30, 1923. On October 15 the congregation was incorporated.
Services were held in the Community Home on Stockton Street until the time of
the erection of the temple on Bellevue Avenue. The formal opening of the temple
was on Friday evening, July 23, 1926, and in October of that year it was
dedicated. JEWISH SCHOOLS Next in importance to the synagogue in the religious
life of a Jewish community is the Talmud Torah, or school where the youth are
taught Hebrew and the traditions and religious precepts of the race. Dr.
Herzl's Zion Hebrew School on Union Street serves the local community in this
capacity. The institution, under its present name, had its beginning as a
school maintained by the Congregation of the Brothers of Israel. Prior to this
time there was a Hebrew school which held sessions in a rented hall on Union
Street near Fall Street. This body in 1904 erected a school house (the first of
its kind in Trenton) on Union Street, opposite the temple, which was named in
memory of Dr. Theodor Herzl, father of political Zionism, who died during the
same month that the cornerstone was laid (July 1904). The institution did not
come up to the anticipations of its sponsors. The building was subsequently
sold to tile city for a public school house. The new Dr. Herzl's Zion Hebrew
School stands on the upper part of Union Street. This institution is supported
by the entire Jewish community. THE SHELTERING HOME Another institution that is
part of every Jewish community is the sheltering home where meals and lodging
are furnished the traveller who is without funds. The local home at the comer
of Mill and Market Streets is conducted by the Hebrew Benevolent Society whose
members purchased it in October 1904. The organization applied for
incorporation papers in 1894. Harry Haveson and the Rev. Max Gordon are
prominently identified with the body. JEWISH CEMETERIES Har Sinai Cemetery Association
was organized at a meeting held November 19, 1857. In the same year a lot was
purchased for burial purposes at the corner of Vroom and Liberty Streets and
the body became incorporated. The founders of this association were: Marcus
Marx, Julius Schloss, Isaac Wymann, Morris Sanger, lgnatz Frankenstein, Lantos
Golheim, Isaac Sanger, Joseph Rice, Ephraim Kaufman, Marcus Aron and Gustavus
Cane. Among other Jewish places of burial are several congregation and small
lodge cemeteries which are located near Cedar Lane in Hamilton Township. SOME
RELIGIOUS LEADERS Simon Kahnweiler, one of the incorporators of the Har Sinai
Temple Hebrew Congregation, was born in Bavaria, Germany, August 26, 1820. He
was the first prominent Jewish merchant of Trenton, member of the Common
Council 1863-64, president of the Protection Hook and Ladder Company, and a
member of several local military companies. During the time that he was a
member of the temple congregation he served as president and head of the Sunday
school. He died in Philadelphia, May 4, 1890, Joseph Rice, prominent member of
Har Sinai Temple, was one of Trenton's most highly-respected citizens. Born at
Riechen, Baden, Germany, June 26, 1834, he served in several public offices,
was made a director of the Mechanics National Bank, January 13, 1891, and was
vice-president and director from August 5, 1909, up to the time of his death,
July 14, 1913. For many years he was a clothing merchant. Mrs. Amelia Kaufman
Block, for many years an active worker in the Har Sinai Temple Sisterhood, was
born in Trenton. She is the daughter of Ephraim and Toretta Kaufman. Toretta
Kaufman, one of the early active workers of the Har Sinai Temple Congregation,
was born in Germany. She died May 25, 1887. Among those who have been active in
the religious life of the Orthodox congregations are the Rev. P. Turman, the
Rev. Mr. Prail, the Rev. Max Sufnoss, the Rev. Meyer Rabinowitz, the Rev.
Israel Price, Rabbi Isaac Bunin, the Rev. Joseph Konvitz, David Lavine, Isaac
Levy (Levie), who was one of the founders of the Talmud Torah, Hyman Levy
(Levie), first president of the congregation of the Brothers of Israel, Max
Gordon and Rabbi Issachar Levin. SOME LEADERS IN CIVIL LIFE Most of the early
Jewish settlers in Trenton were of German extraction, the outstanding exception
being the Naars, whose remote ancestors came to the West Indies from the
Iberian peninsula in very early days. Besides the Naar family who came to
Trenton in 1856 and their contemporaries, who incorporated the Mount Sinai
Cemetery and founded the Hat Sinai Congregation, the pioneer Jewish group
included Isaac Wymann, Daniel Piexotto, Marcus Marx, Samuel Rosenthal, Julius
Schloss, Emanuel Kahnweiler, A. Rosenblatt, David Manko and Marcus Bohn.
Practically all of these are representatives of the ‘5o’s and ‘60’s. The Jewish
colony here naturally attracted others of the race to the city, and in the
‘70’s a considerable number of Jews of various extractions made Trenton their
home. These may be classified as members of a second Jewish group. The third
and largest group, which came here in the years following 1880, mainly
comprised members of the race who came from Russia to escape the Czarist
regime. Then three groups define, generally, the Jewish immigration to Trenton.
It was the members of this third group who established the Jewish com¬munity in
South Trenton with its Orthodox synagogues, Hebrew School and Sheltering Home.
Their descendants constitute the majority of the present Jewish population. The
others are German, Austrian, Hungarian and Roumanian Jews and their
descendants. The early Jews were mainly merchants. Among them may be mentioned
Simon Kahnsweiler, who was the first Jewish manufacturer (bricks) and also one
of the prominent merchants of his day in the city. His brother, Emanuel,
operated a soap factory near the Assunpink bridge on South Broad Street. S. E.
Kaufman, for many years the proprietor of the Kaufman department store, is a
native of Trenton. He was one of the leaders of Trenton's Board of Trade, now
the Chamber of Commerce. He is a member of the interstate bridge commission and
the executive board of the Boy Scouts of America. Joseph Rice came to Trenton
in the '5o's. He established a clothing business on South Warren Street, and
later removed to North Broad Street. His sons, Alexander and Jonas, succeeded
him in the business. Joseph Rice was a director of the Mechanics National Bank
Bernard Tobish, who has conducted a men's furnishing shop hem for nearly half a
century, came to Trenton in 1877 and opened a store on State Street. He is one
of the earliest members of the Har Sinai Temple. Associated with him in
business are his son, Abram, and his brother, Joseph. Another son, Theodore,
was at one time county engineer. Other merchants were: the Fuld brothers, Jonas
A., Manus A., and Louis A., who came to Trenton in the '90's; Sigmund Kahn, who
was senior member of the firm of S. Kahn and Sons in the old Washington Market
Building; Simon Samler, who was in the clothing business on the same site;
Isidor Levin, who conducted a department store at the "Five Points,"
as did Isaac Goldberg on South Broad Street; Morris and Paul Urken, who now
have a department store in Chambersburg, as do Israel Kohn and Solomon Urken;
and Henry Wirtschafter, who maintains a large department store on South Broad
Street. JEWISH PROFESSIONAL MEN One of the first Jewish professional men in
Trenton was Moses D. Naar, lawyer and journalist, who came to Trenton in 1856.
His brother, Samuel Grey Naar, studied law in his office and was admitted to the
Bar in 1880, becoming a counsellor in 1894. Later he was assistant prosecutor
and at one time was a city police justice. Among the lawyers admitted to the
Bar during the present century are Henry H. Wittstein, J. Irving Davidson,
Maxwell Kraemer and William Reich. Philip Forman, who was appointed United
States attorney for the District of New Jersey, was admitted to the Bar in
1917, and became a counsellor in 1920. He was appointed assistant United States
district attorney in 1923, He is a Major in the Judge Advocate General's
Department of the New Jersey National Guard, and was commander of the American
Legion, Department of New Jersey, in 1923-24. Dr. Samuel Freeman, the first
Jewish physician in Trenton, began his practice in 1900, and the first dentists
were Dr. James S. Miller and Dr. William Julian.
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