Congrégation

TWO TYPED LETTERS SIGNED BY ZIONIST AND FORT WORTH TEXAS RABBI JOSEPH JASIN.

1919 · 36425 — Gloversville NY: September 10 and October 8 1919. 1919. Very good. - Two typed letters each filling most of a sheet of 11 inch high by 8-1 /2 inch wide New Jewish Chronicle letterhead with a decorative heading in black. Both letters are signed "Joseph Jasin". In the September letter a red ink decorative arrow draws attention to 1 paragraph. There is some soiling to the bottom edge of the October letter as well as a pencil note and a "date answered" stamp. Folded three times for mailing. Very good <p>Following an interview with the Pond Lyceum Bureau in New York City Jasin writes to the bureau about his interest in giving his lecture "Modern Myths and Miracles". In October he follows up with a second letter both times emphasizing that the materials he left with the staff should be returned to him.<p>Joseph Jasin 1883-1968 a native of Poland and an early Zionist arrived at a young age as a newly ordained rabbi at the Reform Jewish Congregation Beth-El formed in 1902 in Fort Worth Texas. He reinvigorated the religious school and doubled the membership of the congregation. He remained in Fort Worth until 1908 when he was drafted to New York as secretary of the Federation of American Zionists the forerunner of the Zionist Organization of America. At that time Zionism seemed like an impossible dream and Jasin and fellow Reform Zionists found themselves denounced by all but a very few American Reform rabbis and by Orthodox and Conservative Zionists as a turncoat for following Reform. Later in life Jasin went on to a pulpit in Pasadena California where he established a prison chaplaincy and developed an interest in parapsychology. He remained an organizer editor and innovator throughout his career. Gloversville, NY: September 10 and October 8, 1919. unknown