Forest Avenue Synagogue (k/n/a Golf Manor Synagogue), Cincinnati, Ohio - Golden (50th) Anniversary Book, 1904 - 1954

1954

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GENERAL CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE

In these few paragraphs I will try to bring a message and express my feelings and hopes for this great congregation.
Fifty years is a long time, it represents half a century and I don't know many people who are one hundred years old. Yet when you look back, this is only the twentieth century of the modern civilization, while our peoples heritage goes back a little over fifty-seven centuries. Then fifty years represents just one fortieth of modern history, one hundred and fourteenth of the story of our people.

A little over a decade ago this world of ours was locked in a death struggle between the forces of Democracy and totalitarianism. Naturally, we Jews and the forces of Democracy fought side by side, because Judaism and Democracy are synonymous. It was then that I became a member of this congregation, therefore I have only seen a small portion of the fifty years heritage that is the foundation of this marvelous Synagogue.

In accepting the General Chairmanship of this our Golden Jubilee Year, I did so with great humility. With that humble feeling was the desire to make this year the greatest and most eventful in the fifty years of our existence. As our plans progressed I felt sure that we would arrive at a level of greatness which you now see before you, the colossal success of our Golden Jubilee.

To our distinguished Rabbi and to the President, I express my appreciation for their tremendous inspiration. To the officers and committees, my heartiest thanks for your cooperation and for a great job well done. To the Executive Vice Chairman, just thanks, this book is evidence of his accomplishments.

MONROE E. BERKOWITZ
General Chairman