Hurewitz, Isaac S. , 1868-1935 (Rabbi)
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 24 Collections and/or Records:
Dambrov, Judy_1973; Kellin, Sophie_1973, Oral History, May 13, 1973
Subjects of interview include: Family life in Hartford, teaching at a Hebrew school
Hurwitz Family (Rabbi Isaac, David, Jacob, and Morris, Raymond), 1891 - 1998
Hurwitz, Joe_2006, Oral History, December 4, 2006
Hurwitz, Joe_2008, Oral History, March 4, 2008
This interview focuses on Joe's grandfather Rabbi Isaac Hurewitz (also spelled Hurwitz), an early leader of the Hartford Jewish community. He also reflects on life growing up in Hartford, particuialrly focusing on Keney Park. He also touches on his war service in Korea and that of some of his other family members.
The interview is somewhat disjointed and repetitious, in part because of the way it was transcribed, but also because Hurwitz started repeating himself.
Hurwitz, Joseph, 1955 - 2008
Hyman, Louis, October, 1968
Hyman, Louis_1968, Oral History, October, 1968
Filtered By
- Subject: oral histories (literary works) X
Additional filters:
- Subject
- Immigrant(s) 23
- Immigration 23
- Family History 22
- Family Life in Hartford 22
- Hartford, CT 21
- Jewish Community 21
- Family Life 20
- Religious Life 19
- Israel 18
- Jews, Russian 18
- Zionism 18
- Emanuel Synagogue 17
- Growing up in Hartford 17
- Jewish Education 17
- Jewish Life in Hartford 17
- Growing up Jewish 16
- Growing up Jewish in Hartford 16
- Life in Russia 16
- Education 15
- Religious Celebration 15
- Russia 15
- Pleasant Street, Hartford, CT 14
- Yiddish 14
- Agudas Achim (Rumanishe Shul) 13
- Hartford Public High School 12
- Hartford Public Schools 12
- Keney Park (Hartford, Conn.) 12
- Palestine 12
- Pogroms 12
- Religious Education 12
- Weaver High School 12
- Barnard-Brown Schools 11
- Bellevue Street, Hartford, CT 11
- Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford 11
- Politics 11
- Beth Hamedrash Hagodol (Garden Street Synagogue) 10
- Mount Sinai Hospital 10
- Talmud Torah 10
- World War, 1939-1945 10
- American Jewish Congress 9
- Hebrew Ladies' Old People's Association 9
- Jewish War Veterans 9
- Keeping Kosher/Kashrut 9
- Trinity College 9
- War Veterans 9
- World War, 1914-1918 9
- rabbis 9
- Agriculture & Farming 8
- Colchester, CT 8
- Depression Era 8
- Great Depression 8
- Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford 8
- Jewish families 8
- Peddlers 8
- Zionist Organization of America 8
- Anti-Semitism 7
- Family 7
- Front Street, Hartford, CT 7
- Jewish Community Center 7
- Jewish life in Europe 7
- Market Street, Hartford, CT 7
- Music 7
- Rabbinate 7
- Windsor Street, Hartford, CT 7
- Yale University 7
- Albany Avenue, Hartford, CT 6
- B'nai B'rith 6
- Businesses & Professions -- Teaching 6
- Businesses -- Clothing/Tailors 6
- Growing up Jewish in Russia 6
- Growing up in Russia 6
- Hadassah 6
- New York 6
- Teaching Hebrew in Hartford 6
- Temple Beth Israel 6
- Theatre, Yiddish 6
- United Jewish Charities of Hartford 6
- Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford, CT 5
- Businesses & Professions -- Builders 5
- Businesses & Professions -- Judge, Legal 5
- Businesses & Professions -- Lawyer 5
- Chesed Shel Emeth (Hebrew Burial Association) 5
- Connecticut State Agricultural College 5
- Eastern European Jews 5
- Genocide 5
- Governer Street, Hartford, CT 5
- Hartford Seminary 5
- Holocaust 5
- Jewish Daily Forward [Forverts] 5
- Law 5
- Northeast School 5
- Philanthropy 5
- Russian Revolution 5
- Six Day War, 1967 5
- Socialism 5
- Women's Auxiliary 5
- Wooster Street, Hartford, CT 5
- Asylum Avenue, Hartford, CT 4
- Bar Mitzvah 4