Hyman Wolf List of honorees Louis Rose Society Jewishsightseeing home
Writings about Hyman S. Wolf
-1922-
September 20, 1922—1) L.A. Blochman, "Lasker Lodge, The
Jewish Community News, page 11: In the year 1887, San Diego was visited by a
"boom" and with the prosperity that took place at that time came an
influx of Jews. With the added Jewish population, naturally came added Jewish
activities, and then was found the need of an organization—representative of
the entire Jewish population. A movement was then started, with the result that
the active Jewish workers of that time banded themselves together and organized
Lasker Lodge, 270, I.O.B.B. On June 26, 1887, Grand President Marcus Levy
came to San Diego and assisted by Past Presidents Schoenfeld and Linoberg,
initiated into the order Albert Herz, H.J. Wurzburg, J.S. Schiller, Isaac Levi,
Wm. Cline, Louis Speyer, L.A. Blochman, L. Epstine, Adolph Levi, A.
Fortlouis, F. Brown, M. Pearlstone, Chas. Wolfsheimer, Abe Spring and Louis
Lemline. At that time the order did not cover the scope of the present
organization. In addition to its fraternal character it also was a beneficiary
order. It paid a stipulated benefit to the family of deceased brethren. This
necessitated a strict medical examination and kept out of the order many who had
the interests of Judaism at heart, but who could not be admitted on account of
the age limit or their physical condition. Also it necessitated the payment of
high monthly dues which kept out of the order many who were financially unable
to pay the amount charged, and many unmarried men having no family
responsibilities who did not feel like paying the insurance on the lives of
their more fortunate brethren. Eventually all of this changed and the insurance
feature was eliminated, the scope of the order enlarged and broadened and put
upon the footing we find it today. The history of the local lodge is a series of
ups and downs. The growth and stagnation of the City is reflected in the members
hip of the Lodge and it has had its fat years and its lean years. The Jew has
always been regarded as progressive and one who flocks to cities where business
is good, and so at times became worse and business slack, many left San Diego,
and when times got better returned. The changing membership roll of Lasker Lodge
is a mirror of San Diego's varied career. The minutes show that from January
1899 to December 1904, only 36 meetings were held, and that from April 1905 to
July 22nd, 1980, was a lapse where not a single meeting was recorded. From 1908,
however, a steady growth is shown. All during the period of darkness and gloom,
to a handful of faithful members goes the credit of holding the organization
together. Many a night the faithful few met together and saw the meeting
adjourned for the lack of a quorum. Still undaunted they held the charter
and on the old foundation, stronger than ever before is built the present
prosperous structure. the first President of the Lodge was Simon Levi. Our
late and highly beloved brother had the distinction of s(te)ering Lasker Lodge
in the capacity of President at various times for a period of eight years.
Brother Levi, though a very busy man, and one who in addition to his large
business interests held offices in many clubs and orders and was prominent in
civic and social activities, always found time for his brethren at the B'nai
B'rith. He considered it a duty of all Jews to give of their time to
elevate and to instruct Jews less fortunate than he was, and to realize that the
acts of all Jews in the community reflected on the individual. Our late Brother
Julius Nauman had the distinction of filling the Presidency for four consecutive
years and was also one of those whose precept and example stands before us today
as a guide to our fraternal duty. Adolph Levi has served faithfully
for three years. The late brethren, I. Kaufman and Isaac Kuhn, each served two
consecutive terms and we find amongst our list of Past Presidents the following;
some of them removed to the other parts, some of them still active for the good
of the order, others resting on their laurels, but all having played an active
part in the history of the Lodge: E. Lownstein, A. Lippman, S.I. Fox, Sam Brust,
R. Schiller, Gus Kuhn, H.S. Wolf, H. Lischner (two terms), M. Binnard, Harry
Goldberg, I.T. Davidson, J. Weinberger, A. Rosenthal, L.A. Unger, M.E. Meyer,
E.H. Samisch, and Nate Baranov (our present incumbent). Though the I.O.B.B
may look with pride on its past achievements and the part it has been called
upon to perform in the upbuilding of Judaism, and the protection of the Jewish
interests, never before in its history did it occupy the position it does today.
It is the one organization where all Jews, irrespective off ritual, nationality
or personal belief can meet upon a common ground, all for one and one for all.
Never, since the United States has been established, has there been the open
attacks on the Jews that there is at present, not only individual attacks but
organized anti-Semitism, and in no way can the Jew defend himself to better
advantage from such attacks than by giving his support and encouragement ot the
order that is his benefactor and protector. Lasker Lodge today fills a more
important place than it has ever occupied before and it is the duty of every
Israelite to become a member and work for the good of all.
2) "The Tifereth Israel Synagog," The Jewish Community News, page
18: Many tasks, at first seemingly insurmountable, are overcome through hard
work on the part of those interested in the successful completion of that task.
So it was when a building to house the Tifereth Israel synagogue was first
proposed. At first considered an impossibility, in time, thanks to the zeal and
devotion of a few conscientious workers, the dream of an Orthodox Synaogog for
San Diego became a reality. For many a day the Orthodox Community felt the
need of a permanent building to house the Congregation. Service were held now at
one home, then at another, but as is often the case, under such circumstances,
little interest was manifested. Today, the Congregation Tifereth Israel, in
addition to having its own building, conducts a modern Talmud Torah or Hebrew
School. Thanks for the growth of the Congregation are due to Mr. Jacob
Goldgraber, its former president. Associated with Mr. Goldgraber, who by their
contributions and time made possible the present building, are Mr. Wrottenberg,
Mr. I. Frank, Mr. Abraham Pomeranz, Mr. I.T. Davidson, Mr. H.S. Wolf, Mr. Wm
Frieden, Mr. Wm. Plame and Mr. Breitbard.
-1949-
April 1949— "Cavalcade to trace
record of Lasker Lodge," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 2: An open
public meeting to which all members of the Jewish faith are invited will
highlight the B'nai B'rith "Cavalcade" sponsored by San Diego Lasker
Lodge No. 370 at the Temple Center, 3rd and Laurel, on Monday night, April 11th.
Tracing the long history of the order's record of service to the Jewish
community and the world at large, Lasker Lodge's "Cavalcade" will
trace a century of progress for the order, and a half century of sensational
growth for the local chapter. Tracing the long history of the order's record of
service to the Jewish community and the world at large, Lasker Lodge's
"Cavalcade" will trace a century of progress for the order, and a half
century of sensational grrowth for the local chapter. Under leadership of William Schwartz, Lodge
president, and Edward Solomon, chairman of the evening, a veritable 'Who's Who' of San Diego Jewry,
past-presidents of Lasker Lodge will be singled out for special honors in the
course of the evening. Hyman Wolf, Jacob Weinberger, L.A. Unger, M.E. Meyer, Nathan
Baranov, L.A. Frank, Sam Smith, Rabbi M. H. Dubin, Henry Weinberger, Samuel Brooks, Leo
Loeffler, Frank Pomeranz, Paul Nestor, Ted Rosenfield, Nathan Schiller, Alvin B.
Baranov, Robert M. Stone, Abe Dubin, Carl Essenoff, Morey Levinson, Harry Mallen, Victor
Schulman, Lou Solof, William
Starr, Sidney Goldstein, Eli Levinson, Morris Douglas, and Edward Breitbard are
all expected to be present on this gala occasion. . More than 60 25-year or more
members of the lodge also will be complimented on their long service.
Significant B'nai B'rith activities will be graphically demonstrated.
Refreshments and entertainment are offered without charge to all who attend the
"Cavalcade" meeting, April 11th, 8 p.m., Temple Center, 3rd and
Laurel.
-1951-
June 8, 1951— "Israel
Bonds Chairman Appoints Strong Committee," Southwestern Jewish Press, page
1: Louis Steinman, Chairman of the San Diego Committee, Bonds of the Israel
Government, today announced the appointment of many of San Diego's leading
community workers to the executive committee. Several meetings of the
executive committee have already been held to plan activities and procedures
necessary to fulfill San Diego's share of the $500,000,000 Israel Bond
Drive. Those who have been appointed to date are: Abe Abramson, Mrs.
Gabriel Berg, M.S. Berlin, Ed Bland, David A. Block, Ed Breitbard, Lawrence
Cantor, Sol Chenkin, Rabbi Morton Cohn, Al DeSure, I.L. Domnitz, Morris Douglas,
Carl M. Esenoff, Harry Farb, Arthur Gardner, Mickey Goldfarb, Mr. Muriel
Goldhammer, M.D. Goodrich, Leon Heiman, Dr. F. Hollander, Dave Horowitz, Rodin
Horrow, Al Hutler, Joseph J. Kaplan, Maxwell Kaufman, Allen Lame, Arthur C.
Lavine, Rabbi Monroe Levens, Dick Levi, Julius Levin, Louis Moorsteen, Mrs. Rose
Neuman(n), Sol Price, Mrs. Sol Price, Nate Ratner Mrs. Sally Ratner, Dr. Oscar
G. Ravin, V.J. Schulman, Mrs. Pearl Slayen, Abe Snyder, Dr. George Solomon,
Rabbi Baruch Stern, Isadore Teacher, Rubin Umansky, Henry Weinberger, Frank
Winicki, Hyman S. Wolf and Fred Yaruss.
-1952-
February 8, 1952—"Lasker
Lodge B.B.," Southwestern Jewish Press, page 5: The highlight of the
last meeting was the honoring of Past Presidents. More than 20 former leaders
were at hand to accept certificates to B'nai B'rith from toastmaster Morris
Kraus. David A. Frank (1923) was the earliest office holder present. Judge
Jacob Weinberger (1917) and Nathan F. Baranov (1922) were unable to appear
because of illness. Hyman S. Wolf (1911) was also too ill to attend. New
members elected were Rabbi Nathan Addleson, Ben Snyder, Al Rosen, Max Israel and
Victor Silverstein.