Author: Archivist

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Zev Amiti

Veteran News Journal reporter BIll Frank was in the newspaper business for more than 60 years and was employed by every paper published in Wilmington. Frank began his newspaper work after graduating from Wilmington High School in 1923. He became the city editor of the Evening Journal. For a time, he tried radio news broadcasting, but returned to the News Journal as a columnist and reporter. Frank took two trips to Vietnam to report on the war from a local angle. He wrote for the Jewish Voice under the name of Zev Amiti. Frank was one of the founders of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware.

[flipbook pdf=”http://jhsdelaware.org/Jewish%20Voice/Binder1.pdf”]

Bill Frank, journalist.
Jack Jurden cartoon of Bill Frank
Jack Jurden cartoon of Bill Frank

The article, “AKSE Cornerstone Dedication Kicks off Centennial Celebration”,  highlighted in the February 2018 issue of the Jewish Voice is over the byline of Zev Amiti.  Who was Zev Amiti?  None other than, “Bill Frank, legendary journalist,” as he was described by John Sweeney of the News Journal in an April 2012 article in Delaware Today.

William P. Frank was Delaware’s best-known journalist of the 20th century. His career spanned 65 years, during which he became the state’s foremost newspaper columnist and radio commentator. He was a Delaware historian, a Judaic scholar, a Shakespearean actor, and a social activist. Although he was listened to by powerful people, he made the concerns of ordinary people his concerns. Mr. Frank was born in New York City in 1905, but he grew up in Wilmington. He died in Wilmington on August 21, 1989. Most people knew him as simply “Bill Frank” or as Zev Amiti, his Hebrew name.

Bill Frank’s Delaware: Six Decades Through the Eyes of a Working Newspaperman, by Bill Frank.
Published to commemorate the Bicentennial of the U.S. Constitution in cooperation with The News-Journal Co., (Middle Atlantic Press, Wilmington, Delaware, 1987).

 

Reporter is honored

 

Dick Codor cartoon of Bill Frank
Dick Codor’s cartoon of Bill Frank included in Zev Amiti Author Laureate of the Jewish Federation of Delaware, a commemorative scrapbook containing tributes to and articles by William Penn Frank.

William P. Frank, a Morning News reporter and columnist, received a special award at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Delaware last night [June 17, 1979] at the Jewish Community Center. Frank has been a regular contributor to the federation’s newspaper, The Jewish Voice, under his Hebrew name, Zev Amiti, for the past five years. Simon Steinberg, chairman of the Voice newspaper committee, presented the award for Frank’s “significant contribution to the successful cultural growth of The Jewish Voice.” “Zev Amiti’s input has inspired The Voices‘ dynamic and varied coverage of local and national Jewish events,” Steinberg said. The award included a bound volume of Frank’s columns and stories that have appeared in the Voice during the last five years. There was also a compilation of letters of congratulations from friends and colleagues.

 

The Morning News, June 18, 1979, Wilmington, Delaware, page 10

 

Jewish Historical Society
to Honor Bill Frank

On May 22, [1986] at 7:30 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware will honor someone who is not only well recognized by the State of Delaware but well known by the Jewish community as a leader in the need to preserve the history of the Jewish community.

Bill Frank is now in his 80th year, and has spent 62 of those years working as a reporter for the local newspapers. He still carries on a radio program as a commentator on Station WILM.

During all those years he has championed many issues, but the one issue that he never gives up is how to make the Delaware Jewish community become more aware of its history and its contributions both in manpower and actual deeds to the Jews and the general citizenry of Delaware.

The existence of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware is due in great part to Frank’s efforts to preserve that history for generations to come. He is a charter member and past president of the Society.

The Jewish Voice, May 16, 1986, Wilmington, Delaware, page 1 

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Battle of the Bulge

The Battle of the Bulge, also known as the Ardennes Offensive, was the largest battle fought on the Western Front in Europe during World War II; it is also the largest battle ever fought by the United States Army. 

The Battle of the Bulge was almost entirely an American battle. Over one million German and Allied combatants were engaged—600,000 of them Americans and about 50,000 British. Nineteen thousand Americans were killed, 47,000 wounded, and 15,000 captured.

The battle’s impact on the Delaware Jewish community was also considerable.

KIA

Five Jewish Delawareans were among those killed in action during the battle.

May their souls be bound up in the bond of life eternal.
May their souls be bound up in the bond of life eternal.
Corporal Max Victor Schwitzgold, US Army (Photo from Delaware Public Archives)
Corporal Max Victor Schwitzgold, US Army

MAX VICTOR SCHWITZGOLD, Corporal, U. S. Army, son of Jacob and Becky (Achnebaum) Schwitzgold, husband of Ethel (Rosevich) Schwitzgold. Killed in action December 17, 1944, in Belgium while serving with a Field Artillery unit. He served one year, five months.

Morton Topkis Wolson, Photo from the collections of the Delaware Public Archives
PFC Morton Topkis Wolson, US Army

MORTON TOPKIS WOLSON, Private First Class, U. S. Army, son of Julius and Zipporah (Topkis) Wolson. Killed in action December 17, 1944, near Obergailbach, Germany while serving as a medical corpsman with Company A, 346th Infantry Regiment, 87th Division. He served one year, one month and was decorated with the Purple Heart with one Oak Leaf Cluster. He is interred in the Lorraine American Cemetery in France.

Pvt. Herbert Rubenstein, US Army

HERBERT RUBENSTEIN, Private, U. S. Army, son of Morris and Mary (Astrin) Rubenstein. Killed in action December 19, 1944, in Belgium while serving as a medical corpsman with the 106th (Lion) Division. He served two years and was decorated with the Purple Heart.

Technical Sergeant,Charles Kenneth Goldstein, U. S. Army Air Corps
Technical Sergeant,Charles Kenneth Goldstein, U. S. Army Air Corps

CHARLES KENNETH GOLDSTEIN, Technical Sergeant, U. S. Army Air Corps, son of Nathan and Lillian (Abramson) Goldstein. Killed in action January 4, 1944, in a raid over Flensburg, Germany while serving as a radio operator in a bomber. He served about nine months.

BERNARD GOODLEVAGE, Private First Class, U. S. Army, son of Morris and Sophie (Wasserman) Goodlevage. Killed in action January 20, 1945, in Germany while serving in Company E of the 301st Infantry of the 94th Division of the Third Army. He served one year, six months and was decorated with the Purple Heart. No photograph is currently available.

Prisoner of War

Dr. Ralph Tomases, a Captain in the U.S. Army Dental Corps, he was captured at the Battle of the Bulge with the 106th Infantry Division and spent the remainder of WWII as a German prisoner of war, until being liberated by the Russian Army in April, 1945.  A 2001 interview Dr. Tomases is part of the Veterans History Project, a project of the American Folklife Center of the Library of Congress.

Ralph Tomases Collection (AFC/2001/001/67859), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress

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Pearl Harbor Hero

Did you know that the first Japanese plane shot down at Pearl Harbor was brought down by a Jewish Delawarean? In a 1974 article in the Sarasota Journal, Stephen ‘Salty’ Ginns Saltzman describes the morning of December 7, 1941.

“I ran outside with a rifle and emptied five rounds at the front of a plane straffing toward us. If he hadn’t had to pull up to miss a high wire he would probably have hit us.”

Saltzman, 22, had time to reload and fire again at the plane which was only 100 feet away. The pilot was hit and the plane crashed.

“Our regional commander claimed it was the first plane brought down in World War II,” said Saltzman, who received the Silver Star for gallantry in action. Second Lieutenant Saltzman voluntarily and on his own initiative without regard for his own safety, left the shelter of the Command Post in the face of heavy fire from enemy planes. He coolly waited in an exposed position until one of the enemy planes approached within 100 yards, and then delivered armed automatic rifle fire at one of the two enemy planes. His fire, combined with that of Sergeant Klatz, caused the plane to crash, resulting in the destruction of the ship and crew. The cool determination and disregard for his personal safety displayed was an inspiration to members of his regiment.

He later joined the Air Force to become a fighter pilot. He flew twenty-two missions before being injured over the French and Belgian border. He managed to fly back to the south of England with one hand and earned a Distinguished Flying Cross.

Saltzman died December 20, 2000, and is buried in Arlington National Cemetary.

If you know some of the names from Delaware’s Jewish history, you’ll recognize the Ginns surname. It turns out that Stephen was the son of Ralph and Rebecca Ginns Saltzman and the grandson of James N. and Sallie Topkis Ginns.

The story of ‘Salty’ Saltzman is just one of the fascinating tales about the ‘Greatest Generation’ of Delaware’s Jewish Community.

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Jewish Historical Society of Delaware – A Treasure Trove Of Memorabilia

Jewish Historical Society of Delaware – A Treasure Trove Of Memorabilia

By GEORGE SHTOFMAN

(from The Jewish Voice, November 4, 1983)

What do you know about the status of Jews in Delaware during the Colonial days? Who was the first Jewish office holder in the State of Delaware? What prominent member of the Jewish community was responsible for Wilmington’s slogan, “The First City of the First State?”

Do you know when the Moses Montefiore Society was founded and when the first synagogue was formed here? Do you remember when Second Street was the center of Jewish marketing, especially on Saturday nights? Do you recall the old Y.M.H.A. when it was located at Third and King Streets and also the Avoda Club?

Memorabilia of these events are well documented and preserved through the patience and efforts of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware, representing the achievement of a goal of Rabbi David Geffen, then of Temple Beth Shalom, upon its formation nine years ago.

For two years prior to its organization, Rabbi Geffen worked for the formation of Jewish Historical Society, dedicated to research and Jewish history in the State of Delaware dating back some 320 years.

Rabbi Geffen’s dream of a Jewish Historical Society in Delaware was realized late in 1974 when Judge Charles K. Keil of the Family Court became its first president and Rabbi Geffen a vice-president.

Since Judge Keil’s presidency, others who have headed the organization are: William P. Frank, Lillian Robertson, Dr. Ralph Tomases, Helen Goldberg and Jacquelin Rofel, the present presiding officer.

The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware, a constituent agency of the Jewish Federation of Delaware, occupies space in the quarters of the Historical Society of Delaware at 505 Market Street. There are two tables, shelves and over 100 boxes of manuscripts, books, pictures, documents, clothing, tools, old family records, synagogue and organization papers, letters, etc.

All of this material is very carefully documented and handled by Myrtle E. Kurland, archivist of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware.

An idea of some of the materials which Mrs. Kurland has on hand for the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware are two hand made carpenter planes made by Max Paikin in London and brought to Wilmington in 1910; the famous “Dear Mollye” letters, representing correspondence by Mollye Sklut with Jewish servicemen from this area during World War II; Temple Beth Shalom records dating back to 1922; Jewish Welfare Society records dating back to 1934; a large ledger type book containing a history in Yiddish of Machzikey Hadas, and many, many others of extreme interest.

Those desiring to inspect and view any of the Jewish material at the Historical Society of Delaware between Mondays and Fridays can arrange for a definite time by contacting Myrtle Kurland at her home number.

Over the years since its organization, officials of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware have cooperated in the direction of gathering together any and all material that can be of value as far as the history of the Delaware Jewish community is concerned.

Yetta Chaiken has been interviewing many of the older residents regarding their recollections of the Jewish community and has quite a large number of cassettes revealing interesting and delightful insights as to incidents and experiences of bygone years.

Several members of the community have contributed to the history of Jewish background of the State, in-eluding Emile V. Topkis, a thorough researcher who has turned over all his notes to the Society; the late Harry Bluestone, formerly director of the Jewish Community Center who wrote several important historical booklets about various Jewish organizations; Rabbi Elihu Schagrin, formerly of Wilmington, who authored a three-volume Delaware history published in 1947, and others. Some “Old Timers” may not have even heard of some Jewish groups, such as: Ohabe Shalom Synagogue, Ahavath Schim Synagogue, Hebrew Library Association, Kallah, and William Topkis Benevolent Society.

From a personal point of view, an interesting experience was to see a picture postcard of the Centennial of Delaware Jewry showing three Market Street stores, including that of Sample Clothing Co. at 726 Market Street, which was owned by the writer’s father, the late Morris Shtofman, who opened it in 1914, and the adjoining tobacco store of the late Charles K. Breuer, who was the father of Mrs. Samuel Shames.

Undoubtedly, large numbers of historical material are stored away in the attics of many Jewish homes here. It would really be a mitzvah to collect these items and make them available to the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware.

The purpose and work of the Jewish Historical Society of Delaware can be furthered only through the cooperation of those in the community who can furnish more historical material to this enterprising organization.

Originally published in The Jewish Voice, November 4, 1983, p. 12

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‘A Touch Of Broadway’

A hard working committee under the guidance of Judy Mellen, Chairperson, has been busy putting all the final arrangements into place for the benefit concert.
“A Touch of Broadway,” to be presented at the Playhouse on Sunday, November 22, will feature a variety of entertainers from the state, television and film.
Hosts for the dinners, to be held prior to the show are: Linda Et Stephen Cook, Harriet Et Edward Engel, Ruth Ann & Errol Ger, Lolly & Kevin Gross, Debbie & Jerome Grossman, Doris & Albert Heisler, Reiko & Barry Kane, Deane & Howard Kattler, Ellen & Garth Koniver, Denyse & Efrem Lieber, Marilyn & Richard Levin, Judy & Allan Levy, Sandra & Martin Lubaroff, Judy & David Mellen, Doris & Irving Morris, Renee & Stephen Spiller and Lean & Joel Tenenbaum.

touchofbroadway
“A Touch of Broadway” Committee

Seated left to right: Nan Lipstein, Renee Spiller, Judy Mellen, Ellen Koviver, Deane Kattler with grandson, Matthew. Standing: Judy Levy, President and Toby Weiner, Staff. Committee members not shown: Sonia Bernhardt, Diane Gross, Danyse Lieber and Doris Morris.

The above article appeared in the November 13, 1987 issue of The Jewish Voice, p. 34.

The Jewish Historical Society of Delaware is pleased to announce that copies of The Jewish Voice have been scanned and a digital record is now available for volumes 17-23, August 1983-August 1990, are now available.  We appreciate the support of the Jewish Federation of Delaware and our members for making this resource available.