Racie Adler

Racie (Friedenwald) Adler (August 5, 1872 - March 20, 1952) was a Jewish community leader in Philadelphia and a major officer of Philadelphia Red Cross during and after World War I.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life

Adler was born to Moses and Jane (Alborn) Friedenwald of Baltimore.[6][7] Her grandfather was German immigrant Jonas Friedenwald, her uncle was prominent physician Aaron Friedenwald, and her brother was librarian and historian Herbert Friedenwald.[8]

Adler was educated at Goucher College.[7]

In September 1905, when Adler was 33, she married Cyrus Adler, then 42. They corresponded frequently, and through these letters it is proved that Adler assisted her husband in his work, including proofreading his manuscripts and accompanying him on travels to Egypt, Palestine, and throughout Europe.[9][10][11][12]

Adler and Cyrus had one daughter, Sarah.[6][7]

Career

In conjunction with the Jewish Welfare Board, during World War I, Adler served in many roles. She was the Chairman of the North Philadelphia Liberty Loan Drive Committee to help fund war efforts.[6][13] Under her leadership, her committee raised millions of dollars for the war.[7] She was also a supervisor of the North Philadelphia workrooms for the American Red Cross knitting clothing and surgical dressings for the American armed forces in World War I.[14] Her work also included repair of soldiers' clothing as well as appeals for donations and funds for equipment. She held this post until 1918.[14]

In 1918, Adler was one of the founding members and directors of the Women's League of the United Synagogue of America.[15][6]

She was also President of the Hebrew Sunday School Society.[6]

In 1924, Adler was the original chair of the weekly radio Jewish educational program on New York's WEAF-WIN station. The show focused on ritual instructions, Jewish and classical music, poetry, and lectures.[15][16]

Adler was a founder of the Jewish Students' Houses (now "Hillel") at University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.[6]

In 1944, Adler was part of the founding leaders of the American Jewish Committee chapter in Philadelphia.[2]

In 1949 she was awarded a plaque from the Armed Services Committee of the Jewish Welfare Board for completion of 25 years of service.

End of Life

Adler died at age 79 after suffering from an illness.

References
  1. Robinson, Ira (2008). Translating a Tradition: Studies in American Jewish History. Academic Studies PRess. ISBN 978-1-934843-06-2.
  2. "July 28, 1944 - Image 5". The Detroit Jewish News Digital Archives. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  3. Finkelstein, Louis. They Dared to Dream: A History of the National Women's League, 1918–1968. New York: National Women's League of the United Synagogue of America, 1967.
  4. "Mrs. Cyrus Adler 70, Led Women's League" The New York Times, March 21, 1952.
  5. Women's League Outlook Magazine 22, no. 4 (May 1952): 8–9.
  6. s, Slecial to Tm Nzw Yo (1952-03-21). "[MRS. CYRUS ADLER 79, LED WOMEN's_LEAGUEI". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  7. "Racie Adler". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2022-07-28.
  8. McCormick, Thomas C.; Schneiderman, Harry; Fine, Morris T. (August 1944). "The American Jewish Year Book 5704, September 30, 1943 to September 17, 1944". American Sociological Review. 9 (4): 454. doi:10.2307/2086014. ISSN 0003-1224. JSTOR 2086014.
  9. Ben-Horin, Meir (1965). "Solomon Schechter to Judge Mayer Sulzberger: Part II. Letters from the Seminary Period (1902-1915)". Jewish Social Studies. 27 (2): 75–102. ISSN 0021-6704. JSTOR 4466149.
  10. Adler, Cyrus (1983). Cyrus Adler, Selected Letters: 1883-1919. Jewish Publication Society of America. ISBN 978-0-8276-0224-3.
  11. Jacobson, Maxine (2008-07-01). "The Correspondence of Cyrus Adler and Racie Friedenwald Adler: New Perspectives on the Development of American Jewry in the Early Twentieth Century". Translating a Tradition. Academic Studies Press. pp. 157–184. doi:10.1515/9781618110336-009. ISBN 978-1-61811-033-6. S2CID 213683567.
  12. "Dr. and Mrs. Adler in Jerusalem". timesmachine.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  13. "Liberty Bonds | Federal Reserve History". www.federalreservehistory.org. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
  14. philadelphia in the world war 1914-1919. 1922.
  15. Kogen, Lisa. "Hand in Glove".
  16. "A League of Their Own: The Untold Story of the Women's League for Conservative Judaism by Raysh Weiss". Zeramim. Retrieved 2022-08-03.
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