I
who
must
at this place
at that time
made an
pay a debt of gratitude to my friend B. earnest and strong effort to bring about
Z.
my
Eosuiibaum, election.
I
acknowledge this fact with all my heart. On January 1, 1893, I was installed in office and I assumed my work with zeal and thankfulness to Him who had so mercifully guided my steps and had finally granted the desire of my heart and the ambition of my soul. Ten weeks later my then intended. Miss Anna Lapidus, arrived from the old country accompanied by one of her sisters and, March 19th, we Avere united in marriage in the synagogue of my assumed activities before my own congregation by the then cantor of the same place of worship. Seventeen years have now passed since then. These were years of hard work and steady application, since I had to cope with the difficulties of a strange language I had never heard before besides my many daily duties. These were also years of some cares, worries and troubles of which we cannot and must not complain. These variations constitute an inevitable, indispensable and very important part of life itself. •Sunshine and light would be but little appreciated if there were no shadows, no complete darkness, nor would joy and happiness be properly valued if there were no grief, no troubles. But I may state with gratification that these years were by no means years of disappointment. Those who uphold the banner of tradition and struggle for the perpetuation of unaltered Judaism have a difficult task in this Life is here by no means easy and smooth, and the average man thinks country. that under the burdens which religion imposes life is almost intolerable. It requires something stronger than the flow of eloquence to convince the people at large that the more readily and more willingly the burdens of religion are borne, the easier, the sweeter, the happier is life with all its material drudgeries, labors and sufferings. However, this truth is slowly but steadily spreading, and this is It is a satisfaction to be on the side of the truth, a great cause for satisfaction. although I am far from Ijeing so conceited as to believe that my exertions had in any way helped to bring about the change in the general convictions. No less gratifying is the fact that the congregation is steadily growing, both in number and in importance. It commands the respect of the whole community of this city and it can be safely stated without exaggeration that it also stands as a model of its kind among all orthodox congregations of this country. It cannot but exercise a strong and beneficial influence and incite others to follow its example and to adopt its methods both in the management and in the mode of conducting the services. The relations between the congregation and myself are in every respect harmonious and most cordial. I love the congregation and I have strong proofs that this feeling
is
fully reciprocated.
Outside of my work for the congregation I also find time to take a lively interest in Zionism, which I cannot separate from Judaism, I am blessed with a happy family life, with five good children the oldest, :
who after
bears the
my
name
of
father-in-law,
my is
father,
is
fifteen years old; the youngest,
who
is
named
eight years old, and three promising girls, Grace, Molly
and Eose, are between the two. I am happy and grateful to
Him who
61
protects us
all.