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The Curious Origins of Thanksgiving
Story
Thanksgiving is typically thought of as a day where we watch a parade of large floating creatures, eat ourselves silly and then gather around the television again to enjoy grown men chasing each other in pursuit of a ball. But not too many people know its strange history.
East Midwood Jewish Center
Post
East Midwood Jewish Center, 1929. East Midwood Jewish Center was founded in 1924. Despite a influx of Jewish citizens, the surrounding neighborhood was still sparse, with dirt roads and wide open fields. The new Jewish community wished to have a local Hebrew school, and this Jewish Center was established for the education, spiritual, and social needs of community. The Renaissance Revival style building was begun in 1926 and completed in 1929. The Conservative synagogue included not only space for religious services but also an auditorium, kitchens, restaurant, classrooms, gymnasium, and a swimming pool. The architect of the building is a mystery. The documents for the National Register nomination suggest that the architect was Louis Abramson, based on visual evidence in the design and a single document. The 1957 obituary for architect Maurice Courland claims that he designed the building. The building has been preserved remarkably over the last nearly 90 years, with very few, if any, architectural alterations.
Photos
(27)
East Midwood Jewish Center
Thanksgiving good turn Caption: "Thanksgiving good turn--Scouts of Troop 500 prepare food baskets for needy after windup of successful Thanksgiving drive by members of the troop, which is sponsored by the East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Ave. Shown, left to right, are Joe Satz, 1144 22d St.; Dennis Krim, 2157 Ocean Ave.; Pete Nossal, 982 E. 23d St.; Bob Lovinger, 2515 Avenue I, and Joel Kaplan, 1911 Avenue L."
East Midwood Jewish Center
Dedicate Hebrew school Caption: "Dedicate Hebrew school--Left to right, Rabbi Harry Halpern, Mrs. Jacob Goodman, Jacob Goodman (with trowel), Borough President Cashmore, Harry Abrams (in background), president, East Midwood Jewish Center, and Dr. Louis Finkelstein, president, Jewish Theological Seminary, at dedication and cornerstone laying ceremonies of the new $1,000,000 Hebrew school and youth activities building of the East Midwood Jewish Center."
East Midwood Jewish Center
Ocean Avenue between Avenue K and Avenue L. Midwood Jewish Center.
East Midwood Jewish Center
East Midwood Jewish Center Caption: "The Flatbush Youth Zionists of the East Midwood Jewish Center and other youth groups will have an outing ... at Kiamesha Lake, N. Y. On the arrangements committee are Barbara Charney, Bertram Podell, Bernice Posen, Arthur Kock and Bunny Cohen."
East Midwood Jewish Center
For the U. J. A Caption: "For the U. J. A.--The East Midwood Jewish Center raised $750,000 for the United Jewish Appeal during its annual campaign. The center's drive was climaxed by a dinner at which guests included, left to right, Aubrey S. Eban, Israel's United National representative, Harry Abrams, president of the center, and Sidney L. Schiff \[holding framed certificate], chairman of the center's U. J. A. committee."
East Midwood Jewish Center
Conference Caption: "Conference--Committee for the annual loyalty luncheon of the Sisterhood of the East Midwood Jewish Center met yesterday to discuss final plans. ... Left to right are Mrs. Harry Pitkow, 1601 Beverly Road, co-chairman; Mrs. Charles Pincus, 973 E. 28th St., chairman, and Mrs. Morris Berger, 601 E. 19th St., journal chairman. ..."
East Midwood Jewish Center
25 years at East Midwood Jewish Center Caption: "25 Years at East Midwood Jewish Center--Rabbi Harry Halpern, in the midst of some of the younger members of his congregation, observes an exercise in non-objective \[watercolor] painting. The congregation will celebrate its 30th birthday and the rabbi's 25th year with it on April 9, 10, and 11. Children are, left to right, Barton Gershbein, 4, of 1620 Ocean Ave., Beth Anne Shapiro, 4, of 1070 E. 13th St., Janet Horowitz, 4, of 3214 Avenue M, and Lynne Rosenbaum, 3, of 1896 Gerritsen Ave."
East Midwood Jewish Center
This 1929 photograph shows the founding members of Sisterhood, the women’s organization of the East Midwood Jewish Center (1924 to date). While their husbands were busy in the spring of 1924 creating the legal framework and obtaining a mortgage for their synagogue/community center in the new Midwood section of Brooklyn, their wives were equally busy creating their own autonomous organization, recruiting members, and raising thousands of dollars for the construction.
East Midwood Jewish Center
New Hebrew school Caption: "New Hebrew school--Participating in signing of contract for erection of $1,000,000 Hebrew school and youth activities building for East Midwood Jewish Center, 1625 Ocean Ave, are, seated, Harry L. Abrams, left, president of center, and Jules Shapiro of contracting firm of M. Shapiro & Co. Standing, left to right, are Irving Schwartz, attorney, Max Newman, James Wolfson, Saul Rothstein, honorary president of center, Max Helman, chairman of building committee, Robert Shapiro, Maurice Courland, architect, Frank Courland and M. M. Loinger, center, treasurer."
East Midwood Jewish Center
Spring finery Caption: "Spring finery--Some of the entirely new clothing distributed to needy children of more than 100 families is examined at East Midwood Jewish Center by Mrs. Rose Gottesman, left, president of the sponsoring orgaqnization, the Borough Park Big Sisters, and Mrs. Shirley Pollock, vice president."
East Midwood Jewish Center
East Midwood Jewish Center Caption: "Hebrew school for East Midwood--An architect's drawing of the new Hebrew school and youth activities building of the East Midwood Jewish Center for which ground will be broken Sunday."
East Midwood Jewish Center
This photo shows the East Midwood Jewish Center in 1929, newly completed at a cost of one million dollars. EMJC is a five-story building in the style of a Renaissance palazzo. It has a sanctuary seating 850 people, 12 stained glass windows and a dome in the Tiffany style, ballrooms, meeting rooms, a gym, and a pool. East Midwood was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006, because of its well preserved exterior and interior, and because of its contribution to the development of urban Jewish life.
Ocean Avenue and Avenue L
Ocean Avenue and Avenue L. H.A. Faber residence.
Ocean Avenue and Avenue L
Ocean Avenue and Avenue L. H.A. Faber residence.
1497 Ocean Avenue
\[Ocean Avenue at Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY] Ocean Avenue at Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY. Eastward view of Ocean Avenue trolley line, showing cars, a truck, trees and buildings.
1497 Ocean Avenue
\[Ocean Avenue at Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY] Ocean Avenue at Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY. Southward view of Ocean Avenue trolley line, showing cars, trees and buildings.
2003 Avenue J
\[Ocean Avenue at Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY] Ocean Avenue at Avenue J, Brooklyn, NY. Northward view of Ocean Avenue trolley line, showing cars, taxicabs and pedestrians.
Public School 193
Steady as she goes, mate Caption: "'Steady as she goes, mate!'--From his crew to his ability at the sheel, Lawrence Merrill of 1620 Ocean Ave., a third grader at Public School 193 \[located at 2515 Avenue L], is all Navy. Tutored by Capt. Niels H. Olsen, skipper of the U.S.N.S. Geiger, Merrill was one of 32 children aboard the Military Sea Transportation Service ship."
Public School 193
School victory garden Caption: "School victory garden--Students of P. S. 193 are busy raising vegetables and are shown here at the start of their task. Simon Grolnick and Andy Gunselman turn the ground."
1624 Avenue L
\[#1624 Avenue L (at left) on corner of East16th Street.] \#1624 Avenue L (at left) on corner of East16th Street.
1264 East 17 Street
1262-1264 East 17 Street Two two-story stone or stucco houses on East 17th Street in Midwood; house at right with gabled roof, house at left with flat roof; house at left has climbing vines on front porch; hedges, fence, tree, and fire hydrant in foreground. Inscription: "1262-1264 East 17 Street. This area was the town of Greenfield about 65 years ago."
1612 Avenue L
\[#1612 Avenue L.] \#1612 Avenue L, between East 16th Street and East 17th Street.
1801 Avenue M
Affiliated Laundry Owners Club Exterior view of the Affiliated Laundry Owners Club located at 1801 Avenue M., at the intersection of East 18th Street. Image includes street light in foreground, several pedestrians on the sidewalk, and one truck in right background.
1506 Avenue L
\[#1506 Avenue L, between East 15th Street and East 16th Street.] \#1506 Avenue L, between East 15th Street and East 16th Street. Brighton Beach BMT train in background. House has a fair sized garden to the right (not shown.)
1705 Avenue M
\[North side of Avenue M between East 17th Street and East 18th Street.] North side of Avenue M between East 17th Street and East 18th Street.
1701 Avenue M
\[Northeast corner of Avenue M and East 17th Street.] Northeast corner of Avenue M and East 17th Street.
1057 East 15th Street
\[View of east side of E. 15th Street.] View of east side of E. 15th Street between Avenue J and Avenue K. First house (partially obscured to right of large apartment house is #1057 E. 15th Street. View looking south.
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