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Hurewitz, Isaac S. , 1868-1935 (Rabbi)

 Person

Biographical Note

Rabbi. Born in Kovno, Russia, Oct. 9, 1868, son of Joseph Dov and Beila Hurewitz, he studied at the Yeshivot of Volozin and Slabotka. In 1892, he received his s'miha (rabbinical ordination) from the world re¬nowned scholar, Yitzhok Elhanan Spector of Kovno. He came to Hartford in 1893 and, in his long ministry of over 40 years, served the following congregations: Adas Israel, Agudas Achim, and Beth Hamedrash Hagodol (Garden St. Syngogue). In 1905, he was the editor of a bi-weekly, Yiddishe Shtimme (the Jewish Voice) which, in 1908, became a monthly publication. A recognized talmudic scholar, he was the author of the book Sefer Harrlitzvot which was published in Jerusalem in 1926.

Rabbi Hurewitz was the first East European Orthodox rabbi in Hartford and was instrumental in establishing its Jewish charitable and educational institutions. He was a charter board member of the United Jewish Charities in 1912 and of Mt. Sinai Hospital in 1923.

He died Dec. 30, 1935. Survivors: widow, Chana Hurewitz; sons, Dr. Herman M., Atty. Joseph, Aaron, Jacob (professor at Columbia Univ.), and Samuel M.; daughters, Mrs. Morris (Bessie) Sheketo, Mrs. Max (Rebecca) Feldman, Mrs. Abraham (Anna) Goldstein, Mrs. George (Rae) Ganz, Mrs. Walter (Freda) Jacobson, and Mrs. Rose Zelzer (Mrs. Herr, Tel Aviv). His first wife, Ida Aaronson Hurewitz, died in March 1932.

Grandfather to Joseph Huriwitz

From the Hartford Times editorial, Jan. 1, 1936. There is a void in the orthodox Jewish community today. A leader is gone a man of gentle nature who brought peace into many hearts and homes.

For more than 40 years Rabbi Isaac S. Hurewitz ministered to his people. He was not only their spiritual adviser but also their confidante. He was the scholarly Talmudist to whom they came for interpretations of law. He was arbiter and coun¬sellor for those who had business disagreements or domestic problems.

He came here in immigrant times, before the days of organized charities. Upon him fell the burden of obtaining help for newcomers. If an immigrant needed a pack to peddle; a poor man lost the horse that he needed to earn a living; a family was hungry it was to Rabbi Hurewitz that all turned. It is well known that he opened his home to many a needy wayfarer even when he had little for himself and his own. His family and his people may well be proud of his unique service, for it embodied those principles which make for a better community for all.

Citation:
Silverman, M. (1970) Hartford Jews 1659-1970. Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, CT.

Found in 8 Collections and/or Records:

Hurwitz Family (Rabbi Isaac, David, Jacob, and Morris, Raymond), 1891 - 1998

 File — Folder 3
Scope and Contents This file has a variety of items, from newspaper articles to passports to oral histories of the Hurwitz Family. Note that it seems like there may be two different Hurwitz families, one connected to Rabbi Isaac Hurewitz/Hurwitz and another consisting or Morris and Raymond and their families. Most of the information is connected to Isaac Hurewitz/Hurwitz's family. This Hurwitz family has several family trees that map out the generations.The oral history focuses on life in the home...
Dates: 1891 - 1998

Kellin, Samuel, March 21, 1973

 File — Folder 3
Scope and Contents

Topics covered in this interview include: B'nai Brith, Ararat Lodge, Jewish community (relations with German vs. Russian Jews, Jewish education, Jewish students at UCONN and Trinity (Hillel), family history, Great Depression, World War II, Hartford Circus Fire & death of his daughter Shirley and a nephew in it, adoption, politics, flood of 1955, antisemitism, McCarthy Era and it's effects on local Jews, Jewish women, Jewish humor/entertaining.

Dates: March 21, 1973

Kellin, Samuel_1973/3/21, Oral History, March 21, 1973

 Item — Box OHC-2, Box: 15, Box: 1-2
Identifier: 45
Scope and Contents Topics covered in this interview include: Growing up Jewish in Hartford, Working organizations, collecting money, B'nai Brith, Ararat Lodge, Jewish community (relations with German vs. Russian Jews, Jewish education, Jewish students at UCONN and Trinity (Hillel), family history, Great Depression, Home during World War II, son in navy, Hartford Circus Fire & death of his daughter Shirley and a nephew in it, adoption, politics, flood of 1955, antisemitism, McCarthy Era and it's effects on...
Dates: March 21, 1973

Klau, Sadie (Mrs. Joseph E.)

 Digital Record
Identifier: klau, sadie_1976, oral history
Dates: 1976 - 2002

Klau, Sadie (Mrs. Joseph E.), 1976 - 2002

 File — Flat_file_folder 4
Scope and Contents Sadie Klau reflects on her childhood and young adult years growing up in Hartford. She talks about her parents and family’s life in Russia before they immigrated to Hartford when she was an infant. She also speaks about the roll of Yiddish in the immigration/assimilation process, how her grandmother was much more observant than the rest of her family, shared memories with Emma Cohen about their school days, meeting her husband Judge Joseph Klau, her time at Connecticut State Agricultural...
Dates: 1976 - 2002

Klau, Sadie_1976/5-7, Oral History, May 12, 2016, July 6, 1976

 Item — Multiple Containers
Identifier: 129
Abstract GREATER HARTFORD JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTIONTape No.: #129 No. of Tapes: Name of Interviewee: Sadie Klau (Mrs. Joseph E. Klau) Date of Interview: 05/12/76, 07/6/76 Occupation: Date of Birth: Place of Birth: Minsk, Russia Transcript (yes/no): No. of Pages: Abstract: Sadie Klau (mee Palten), who is the wife of Judge Joseph E. Klau, has been a participant in many Jewish organizations including the founding of the Jewish Historical...
Dates: May 12, 2016, July 6, 1976

Meetings and Programs/1976 May 12/Sadie Klau interview

 Digital Record
Identifier: sadie klau interview
Dates: May 12, 1976

Meetings and Programs/1976 May 12/Sadie Klau interview, May 12, 1976

 File — Box 20
Scope and Contents Sadie Klau reflects on her childhood and young adult years growing up in Hartford. She talks about her parents and family’s life in Russia before they immigrated to Hartford when she was an infant. She also speaks about the roll of Yiddish in the immigration/assimilation process, how her grandmother was much more observant than the rest of her family, shared memories with Emma Cohen about their school days, meeting her husband Judge Joseph Klau, her time at Connecticut State Agricultural...
Dates: May 12, 1976

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