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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 41 Collections and/or Records:

Hyman, Louis_1968, Oral History, October, 1968

 Item — Box OHC-1, Box: 12, Box: 1-2
Identifier: 19
Scope and Contents This interview covers Hyman's life as a weaver in Shisluwitz(?) and Bialystock, his immigration to join his parents in North Daktota, and his move to Hartford to join his wife's family who settled there. He also discusses his involvement in peddling and wholesaling, as well as his participation in the Jewish community at the Garden Street Synogogue and through oxies. His parents made Aliyah sometime before 1914, fulfilling the dream they had when Hyman's father initially left Europe....
Dates: October, 1968

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

Kellin, Sophie

 Digital Record
Identifier: dambrov and kellin_1973
Dates: May 13, 1973

Kellin, Sophie

 Digital Record
Identifier: kellin_1973
Dates: May 13, 1973

Kellin, Sophie, May 13, 1973

 File — Folder 3
Interview with Rabbi Okolica

Subjects of interview include: Family life in Hartford, teaching at a Hebrew school



Interview with Mike Kellin

Subjects of interview include: Parents, Growing up Jewish in Hartford, family, Religious celebration, Zionism

Dates: May 13, 1973

Kellin, Sophie_1973, Oral History, May 13, 1973

 Item — Box OHC-3, Box: 2, Box: 1
Identifier: 57
Scope and Contents

Subjects of interview include: Parents, Growing up Jewish in Hartford, family, Religious celebration, Zionism

Dates: May 13, 1973

Kellin, Sophie_1973/5/13, Oral History

 Digital Record
Identifier: kellin, sophie_1973/5/13
Dates: 1973 - 1973

Kemler, Leonard M.D., 1920 - 2001

 File — Folder 3
1993 Interview The topics covered in this interview are: Childhood/growing up Jewish in Hartford, being raised by grandparents after the death of his mother, founding of Emanuel and discussion of some of the spiritual leaders, served in Navy in WWII and was unofficial Jewish chaplain, medical residency/medical school, meeting his wife Joan, talks about his two children David and Louise, opening practice in Hartford as thoracic surgeon, work in various area hospitals, bias against Jewish doctors at Hartford...
Dates: 1920 - 2001

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Immigrant(s) 28
Immigration 28
Family History 25
Zionism 25
Family Life in Hartford 24
oral histories (literary works) 24
Hartford, CT 23
Israel 23
Jewish Community 22
Agudas Achim (Rumanishe Shul) 21
Religious Life 21
Emanuel Synagogue 20
Family Life 20
Jewish Education 20
Jews, Russian 20
Jewish Life in Hartford 19
Growing up Jewish in Hartford 18
Growing up in Hartford 18
Yiddish 18
Education 17
Growing up Jewish 17
Life in Russia 17
Religious Celebration 17
Russia 17
Beth Hamedrash Hagodol (Garden Street Synagogue) 15
Palestine 15
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Talmud Torah 15
Bellevue Street, Hartford, CT 14
Hartford Public Schools 14
Religious Education 14
Barnard-Brown Schools 13
Hartford Public High School 13
Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford 13
Keney Park (Hartford, Conn.) 13
Pogroms 13
Politics 13
Weaver High School 13
World War, 1914-1918 12
rabbis 12
American Jewish Congress 11
Jewish War Veterans 11
Mount Sinai Hospital 11
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World War, 1939-1945 11
Hebrew Ladies' Old People's Association 10
Market Street, Hartford, CT 10
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Zionist Organization of America 10
Colchester, CT 9
Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford 9
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Agriculture & Farming 8
Anti-Semitism 8
Businesses & Professions -- Teaching 8
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Albany Avenue, Hartford, CT 6
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Blue Hills Avenue, Hartford, CT 6
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Connecticut State Agricultural College 5
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Governer Street, Hartford, CT 5
Hartford Seminary 5
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Jewish Daily Forward [Forverts] 5
Jewish National Fund 5
Korean War 5