CAMDEN NJ - The Talmud Torah School - Masonic Center

Camden is well known for its ethnic communities. The large Polish, Italian, Irish, German, and Jewish communities played a great role in Camden's history in the 19th and first part of the 20th century, while Black and Puerto Rican communities have given the city much of its recent flavor. There are other, lesser known ethnic groups that have made up the fabric of the city's life over the years. Greeks, Armenians, and Ukrainians grouped together in the city in Camden's growth years. More recently, Vietnamese, Jamaicans, Dominicans, Haitians, and Koreans have come to the city to live and seek the American dream.

Between 1918 and 1924 the Jewish community of Camden built three new buildings. Two were synagogues, Sons of Israel at South 8th & Sycamore, and Beth El on Park Boulevard at Belleview Avenue. The other building was the Talmud Torah School at 621 Kaighn Avenue. Built in 1924, the building later also housed the Camden Jewish Center and the offices of the Jewish Federation of South Jersey.

The Talmud Torah School was established to ensure that the American-born children of Jewish immigrant parents would receive a good religious education. Many gifted teachers worked there over the years including Ezekiel Jacob Levin, who taught there in 1926 and 1927. He would return to South Jersey in 1960 to become the director of the Bureau of Jewish Education of Camden, New Jersey, a position he held until his retirement in 1971.

As the Jewish population of Camden began to move to the suburbs, the need for a building in Camden diminished. In 1966 the building became a Masonic Center under the aegis of the Masonic Association of Camden, N.J.

The building seems to have fell out of use by the Masons in recent years, but was for the most part well kept up, until the fall of 2003, when a broken window went un-repaired. In the spring of 2005 the building began being utilized as a church.

Camden Courier-Post * October 29, 1931

BAIRD TO ADDRESS HEBREW LEAGUE

David Baird, Jr., Republican nominee for governor, will make his final appearance in the current election campaign Monday night, in his "own home town," when he will address a monster rally at the Hebrew Republican League, at the Talmud Torah, 621 Kaighn avenue.

The Hebrew league reorganized formally at a luncheon in the Hotel Walt Whitman. Lewis Liberman, assistant city solicitor, was elected president; Sig Schoenagle, Samuel Shaner, Israel Weitzman, vice-presidents; L. Scott Cherchesky, secretary, and Samuel Label, treasurer.

Trustees of the league include Hyman Bloom, Mitchell E. Cohen, Benjamin Friedman, Jacob L. Furer, Isadore H. Hermann, Carl Kisselman, Edward Markowitz, Louis L. Markowitz, Harry Obus, Maurice L. Praissman, Samuel Richelson, Meyer L. Sakin, Julius Rosenberg, Jacob Rosenkrantz and Jack Weinberg.

In addition to former Senator Baird, speakers at the Jewish rally will include Mrs. Elizabeth C. Verga, Republican state committeewoman and vice chairman of the county committee; Congressman Charles A. Wolverton, Congressman Benjamin Golder, of Pennsylvania, and State Senator Samuel Salus, of Pennsylvania.

Camden Courier-Post - June 4, 1933

Funds to Aid Women's Home, Talmud Torah and Free Loan

A campaign to raise funds for the Federation of Jewish' Charities of Camden was launched yesterday under the chairmanship of E. George Aaron. The drive will continue a week.

Funds raised will be contributed to the support of the Hebrew Ladies' Sheltering Home, the Talmud Torah, and the Free Loan Fund.

The campaign, Aaron' announced, will be aided by the Jewish charitable organizations of Camden and the following have been named team captains:

Rabbi N, Riff, Samuel Shane, L. Tarter, S. Lippman, A. Barbell, J. Grossberg, H. Odlen, Leon Rose, Lewis Liberman, Mrs. S. Litow, Mrs. M. Shapiro, Mrs. H. Kaplan, Mrs. S. Shane, Mrs. R. Bukstel. Mrs. F. Bloom, Mrs. V. Gerber and Mrs. S. S. Lewis.

There will be a meeting in the Talmud Torah tonight, when Rabbi B. L. Levinthal, of Philadelphia, will speak in support of the campaign.

Camden Courier-Post - June 7, 1933

JEWISH CHARITIES RAISE $1500 HERE
Camden Federation to Continue Campaign All This Week

More than $1500 in pledges and in cash have been received in the campaign of the Camden Federation of Jewish Charities, it was announced last night by E. George Aaron, chairman of the campaign committee. The drive will continue through this week.

Campaign workers seeking funds for the Hebrew Ladies' Charities, Sheltering Home, Camden Talmud Torah and Free Loan Fund follow: Rabbi N. Riff, Mr. and Mrs. S. Shane, Mrs. R. Bukstel, Mrs. S. Litow, Mrs. M. Shapiro, Mrs. H. Kaplan, Mrs. L. Creskoff, Mrs. B. Ostroff, Mrs. S. Goldstein Mrs. A. Goodman, Mrs. S. Masel, Mrs. M. Koll, Mrs. F. Bloom, Mrs. M. Cornrich, Mrs. V. Gerber, Mrs. L. Weiss and Mrs. S. Soloff, Leon H. Rose, Lewis Liberman, A. Barbell, S. S. Lewis, J. Grossberg, B. Greenberg, S. Lippman, J. Ruttenberg, S. Stein. H. Odlen, J. Block, O. Praissman, S. Naden, D. Lefkowitz, and David Epstein.

Camden Courier-Post - June 12, 1933

$3000 IS PLEDGED IN JEWISH CAMPAIGN
Charities Federation Extends for One Week Drive to Raise $5000

Pledges of more than $3000 in a campaign for $5000 by the Camden Federation of Jewish Charities were announced by E. George Aaron, general chairman.

The campaign, in which leaders in Jewish circles and Women's Auxiliaries are participating, will be extended to include this week to enable workers to cover thoroughly their respective areas.

The drive, according to Aaron, has met with hearty cooperation from all groups, and he expressed his appreciation of the efforts of the workers.

"The drive," he said. "which opened June 4 will meet with complete success if the receipt of pledges to date may be used as a measure. The scope of the work leads us to extend the period of the campaign for an additional week, closing June 18."

Included among the groups for whom funds are being sought are the Hebrew Ladies' Charities, Sheltering Home, Camden Talmud Torah and Free Loan Fund.

Camden Courier-Post - June 15, 1933

CAMDEN JEWS PICK CAPTAINS FOR DRIVE
Committee to Raise $10,000 for Aid, Told of Hardships in Germany

At an executive meeting of the United Committee for Relief of German Jews, held at Beth El Synagogue last night, the captains who will be in charge of teams for the purpose of raising $10,000 for relief of German Jews, were announced by Leon H. Rose, general chairman. In urging the appointees to intensive efforts, Rose said:

"Six hundred thousand Jews are in distress. They are ousted from office, discharged from employment, denied civil and economic rights, persecuted and systematically forced to starve to death.

"There is raging in Germany one of the coldest and cruelest pogroms against the Jews ever known to history.

"We must help. We must rescue those helpless ones. Our weapon for immediate retaliation is money, and we must supply those arms. By the widest stretch of the imagination, it is inconceivable how any Jew in this community can exclude himself from this cause.

"Thousands of German Jews, especially among the young, see a prospect of restarting their lives in Palestine to which some of them already have made their way. Determined, concerted Jewish effort can make it capable of providing a permanent home for a considerable part of German Jewry to whom the rest of the world, with few exceptions, is closed.

"Immediate funds are needed. I appeal to you as self-respecting Jews who understand the suffering of your own race to come to the aid of your stricken brothers and sisters. Give them all you can."

Those named and the organizations they represent are: Jacob Leventon, Congregation Beth El; David Lefkowitz, congregation Sons of Israel; Morris Josselson, Congregation Beth Israel; Benjamin Friedman, B'nai Brith; Mrs. I.S. Siris, Hadassah; Philip Miller, Hebrew Parent Teachers Association; Herman Odlen, Federation of Jewish Charities; Mrs. Rose Goldstein, Independent Social; Harry W. Markowich, Zionist Organization; Norman Heine, Junior
Council; Julius Samson, Upsilon Lambda Phi.

Mrs. William Laub, Council of Jewish Women; A. David Epstein, Sigma Alpha Rho; Mrs. Aaron Heine, Beth El Sisterhood; Samuel Shane, Talmud Torah; M. Snyder, Workmen's Circle; M. Bard, F. of S. U.; Louis Tarter, Independent Progress Lodge; Mrs. Zelda Lutz, Jacob J. Hernfeld Link; Dr. I.S. Siris, Jewish Welfare Society; Mrs. M. Shapiro, Hebrew Ladies Charities.

Saul Lippman, Mizrachi; Mrs. Samuel Litow, Welfare Social Club; D. Breslow, Gordonia.; Dr. Reuben Cutler, Mizpah Lodge No. 245; F. & A. M.; Meyer Adelman, Camden Level Club; Mrs. Etta Rosen, B'nai Brith Auxiliary; Mrs. L. Weiss, Ladies Auxlliary of Progress Lodge; Miriam Morris, Junior
Charity Workers; Mrs. A. Stoolman, Deborah Society; Mrs. M. Leider, Welfare Social.

Moses Bord was appointed captain of the workers. A mass meeting will be held June 20, at the Talmud Torah building, Seventh Street and Kaighn Avenue, and will be addressed by members of national, state and municipal governments, as well as outstanding Jewish leaders from New York and Philadelphia.

Camden Courier-Post - June 15, 1933

Mrs. Michael Shapiro Heads Hebrew Charities

Mrs. Michael Shapiro has been installed as president of the Camden Hebrew Ladies' Charities with headquarters at the Talmud Torah, 621 Kaighn Avenue, for the coming year.

In addition to Mrs. Shapiro the following members of the executive board were installed: Mrs. Rose Bellitz, first vice president; Mrs. Sarah Seidman, second vice president; Mrs. A. Bitman, treasurer; Mrs. Rose Worthrich, financial secretary; Mrs. Louis Creskoff, correspondlng secretary; Mrs. Benjamin Ostroff, recording secretary.

The following committees have been named: Mrs. Hyman Kaplan, chairman of the investigations committee; Mrs. W. Waldman, chairman of the meal tickets committee; Mrs. Kaplan and Mrs. Samuel Litow, co-chairmen in charge of food orders.

Rabbi N. Riff, of the Congregation Sons of Israel, addressed the group at the installation and urged harmony and co-operation in the organization as a means to the greatest accomplishment in its work..

Camden Courier-Post - February 8, 1936

Committees Named For Charity Carnival

Committees have been announced for the Five and Ten Cent Carnival and Dance which members of the Junior Welfare Social Club will hold in the Talmud Torah building, 621-23 Kaighn Avenue, on Sunday, February 16.

Miss Julia Shapiro is chairman of the general committee and sub-chairmen are Miss Isabella B. Ostroff, games; Miss Rose Greenstein, orchestra and dance; Miss Gertrude Zimmerman and Miss Greenstein, publcity; Miss Mildred Redlus, tickets; Mrs. Albert Morwitz, refreshments; Miss Florence Cooper, decorations.

Prize awards will be made for all groups. Proceeds will be used for the club's various charity projects.

Camden Courier-Post - October 2, 1936

Words of Wisdom in Hebrew Greet Pupils at Talmud Torah
Children Acquire Lore of Race While Learning Letters Backward;
New Classes in Jewish Culture Planned for Adults

Little boys, teachers and school officials alike wear their hats to the Talmud Torah, the Hebrew school, in the 600 block of Kaighn Avenue, where the ancient Hebrew language is taught along with the modern Yiddish and all Jewish culture from the prophets to the present. Top photo shows Morris Ozer, 1103 Morton Street, reading, while Instructor Solomon Brody listens, and Leon H. Rose (right), president of the Hebrew Board of Education, also listens for correct inflection. The Hebrew alphabet hangs on the wall and a section of the 1B class is visible. Bottom photo shows four pupils holding the letters of the alphabet that spell "ezra" which means help. They are preparing for the annual drive of the Federation of Jewish Charities, which has the slogan "Help the Helpless." From left to right: Solomon Cohen, 576 Chestnut Street; William Schwartz, 2007 Woodlynne Avenue; Eleanor Miller, 1270 Morton Street; and Rita Barag, 1131 Locust Street. While not a charity institution, the Talmud Torah is one of the institutions supported by the $15,000 drive.

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