The Short Vort by Rabbi Eisenman

I present to you a column that appeared in the Passaic Daily News this week 94 years ago.It appeared on Wednesday, November 14, 1928. As you can read, Rabbi Shapiro has “inaugurated” a junior congregation. It is interesting to note that the davening was only boys (no girls allowed) and the boys themselves davened and lained!

The davening lasted only an hour and a half, and Rabbi Shapiro spoke on “some important subject.” Many people would still appreciate a ninety-minute davening. We thank Mrs. Morris Broom (was Morris her first name? Or did women back then have no first names?) for “furnishing refreshments” last Saturday.

In truth, it is amazingly inspirational that eighty boys gathered for the davening. I wonder how many of their children and grandchildren are Jewish.

A bit of nostalgia to ponder. These Jews did their best to foster the continuity of Yiddishkeit. Unfortunately, the Yeshiva Day School idea was not on their radar screen.

Enjoy