90 Years Ago
(From the March 8, 1935 issue of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle)
In accordance with a proposal made by Louis B. Greenberg, Chronicle Associate Editor, K.C., Mo. Chapter No. 2, will conduct a fundraising campaign among the junior groups of the city, simultaneously with the Annual Jewish Welfare Federation Drive in May. This decision was made Sunday at The Center. The AZAs plan to approach younger groups and individuals in an organized effort to obtain their participation as solicitors and as larger contributors than in previous drives, when the juniors were not intensively canvassed. All subscriptions will be turned over to The Federation Drive. Aleph Godol Nate Stein, who will be in active charge, will name his committee later. Teams will canvass not only club groups as a whole, but individual members. This decision for a Junior Federation Drive was made after a thorough discussion. Mr. Greenberg’s challenging call for a leader in the work of raising funds among the junior groups met with a prompt response among the AZA members. It was felt that in no other way could the purpose of the founders of the AZA be so well realized. This work marks the third major project undertaken by the AZA group for the coming six months. The other two include the raising of a Scholarship Fund for a worthy Jewish high school graduate, and the joint sponsorship with the Center Council of Clubs of an Inter-Club Cultural competition. New members: Louis Yeddis, Jack Mable, Max Weiner. A determined drive for new members is now being made. In connection with the National Membership Campaign honoring Alfred M. Cohen, international head of B’nai B’rith. … A patriotic radio program was presented February 24 over Station WLBF. Nathan Stein acted as chairman. Aleph Frank Schlozman spoke on “Jewish Patriots in Washington’s Day.” Aleph Alvin Goldberg played a piano solo. Aleph Jack Sokolov spoke on “Jewish Patriots in Lincoln’s Day.” … A well-attended Friday night service was held March 1 at S.I.D. Synagogue, 924 Olive, services being conducted entirely by AZA members. Aleph Lester Peltzman was Cantor; Aleph Hanan Wedlan, English reader; Aleph Raymond Peltzman, Hebrew reader. The chapter choir assisted. Aleph Leon Sedler spoke on “The Jew as a Citizen.” … The chapter, co-operating with the Center Council of Clubs, announced the forthcoming Inter-Society Literary Contest. The event will offer competition in Poem, Essay, Oration and Declamation. … Nathan Aaron, son of Mr. and Mrs. M. Aaron, has just returned home from Europe, after completing a trip around the world. Mr. Aaron (AZA #2 alumnus) left Kansas City in September 1934, and his travels have taken him more than 40,000 miles, during which he visited not only the usual tourist stops but numerous out of the way points. He traveled extensively through the interior of Japan and China. Relatives in Harbin, Manchukoa and London, England, were visited. Mr. Aaron also toured the Philippines, India, Egypt, Palestine and Europe. He has made tentative business connections in the Orient and may return there later to take up his residence in the Far East.
75 Years Ago
(From the March 3, 1950 issue of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle)
AZA No. 2 will meet Sunday, March 5. A cultural meeting is planned for a later date. The team remains at the top having dropped only one game to the Nordaunians.
40 Years Ago
(From the March 8, 1985 issue of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle)
Bradley A. Weiner, 18, of 4300 W. 110th St., was killed in a car accident Friday, March 1. He was a lifelong area resident. He was a member of Temple B’nai Jehudah and AZA Chapter No. 2. … Funeral services were held Sunday at Temple B’nai Jehudah; burial in Rose Hill Cemetery.
20 Years Ago
(From the March 4, 2005 issue of The Kansas City Jewish Chronicle)
Jacob “Jack” Brown, age 95, (AZA #2 alumnus) an attorney and leading member of the Jewish community, died Tuesday, March 1, at the home.
In addition to founding the prominent local law firm originally known as Brown & Koralchik, Brown was a leader of the Zionst movement in greater Kansas City and a founder of the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City and the Jewish Community Foundation.
Funeral services were to be held Thursday, March 3, at The Temple, Congregation B’nai Jehudah; interment at Mount Carmel Cemetery.
Jacob Brown was born Feb. 12, 1910, In New York City. He was the youngest of three brothers. After his birth, the family migrated west, ultimately arriving in Kansas City, where Jack attended Karnes School and Manual High School. He attended the University of Kansas and the University of Michigan, graduating in 1933 from the latter with a law degree. In 1940, he married Frances Becker, a marriage that was In Its 65th year when Jack died.
In the late 1940s, Brown and his partner founded the law firm Brown and Koralchlk, which today ls a part of Lewis, Rice & Fingersh, one of the largest law firms in Missouri. Brown served on boards of many civic organizations, was a member of the board of directors of Congregation Beth Shalom and was president of the board of Oakwood Country Club.
He is survived by his wife, Frances; two sons and daughters-in-law, Michael and Eva Brown and Howard and Edith Brown, all of Guilford, Conn.; and three grandchildren, Cadence, Gustav and Justin. Jack Brown was preceded in death by his brothers, Louis and Henry.
The family suggests contributions to The Jewish Community Foundation in memory of Jacob Brown.
‘A big loss’
Jewish leaders around town reacted with sadness this week upon learning of Jack Brown’s death.
“It’s just a big loss,” said Lauren Hoopes, executive director of the Jewish Community Foundation, which Brown helped to incorporate as a founding member In 1959 and of which he was a life trustee. “He was someone able to have a successful career In a very competitive environment, and yet was able to maintain not only his dignity, but his fairness and personal warmth throughout that. No matter whom you talk to, In whatever context they knew him, they seemed to all have the same view of him.”
Hoopes said that not only were Brown and his wife philanthropists in their own right, “but he was really a great believer in endowments – building them for the Jewish community – and he always encouraged his clients to consider philanthropy for the Jewish community.”
The history book of Jewish Kansas City, “Roots in a Moving Stream,” published in 1982 and edited by Dr. Joseph Schultz, contains several listings for Brown in connection with the local Zionist movement. Brown was one of four Kansas City delegates to a 1943 conference of American Jews designed to develop a common approach to post-war problems, including Palestine.
He later became vice president of the pro-Zionist American Jewish-Christian Palestine Commission.
“Probably he and A.J. Granoff were the heart and the soul of the Zionist movement in Kansas City,” said Morris B. Margolies, rabbi emeritus of Congregation Beth Shalom, who counted Brown among his dearest friends. “In my Chronicle column several years ago, I listed three or four of the most Important Jews, In terms of their contributions to the strength of the Jewish community here in town, and Jack Brown was prominent amongst them. … We have some quiet men and women who don’t get the recognition they deserve because they are too modest to push for it. But justice requires we should know what they achieved.”
Rabbi Margolies said Brown preferred to stay behind the scenes.
“He never sought the limelight,” said Rabbi Margolies. “He was one of my favorite people. He did so much and asked for so little kovod (honor).”
Todd Stettner, executive director of the Jewish Federation, said Jacob Brown’s commitment to Zionism continued throughout his life.
“He cared deeply about Israel,” Stettner said. “When the Israel Emergency Campaign came about a couple of years ago, without even asking, he stepped to the plate with a very nice gift.”
Stettner said: “There are people who give, and people who give with heart. Jack was a guy who gave with heart. You didn’t know If you would always get a yes, but you knew you would have a good conversation. He was such a gentleman.”
Gentleman was a word also used by Brown’s law partner of over 30 years, Lewis Rice & Fingersh’s Managing Partner Bill Carr.
“He was the last vestige of the type of lawyer who might represent an Individual from the time they started their business to the time they sold it; back when there was a lot of loyalty,· before law firms got so big,” Carr said. “He represented a lot of closely held corporations and private businesses. He had a solid following, and he liked to work. He worked every day until he was 85, when he had open-heart surgery. Then he slowed down, but he still came In about twice a week until he was 89 or 90.”
