TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Organization
Conditions of Access and Use
Related Material
Administrative Information
Search Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Series A. General Files, 1915-1967.
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Manuscript Collection No. 105
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| Repository: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
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| Creator: |
Fink, Joseph Lionel,
1897-1964.
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| Title: |
Joseph L. Fink Papers. |
| Dates: |
1950-1954. |
| Quantity: |
2.0 linear feet (5 Hollinger boxes) |
| Abstract: |
Correspondence, minutes, reports, scrapbooks, photographs and
other materials relating to Fink's career in the rabbinate and his involvement in
the
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
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| Collection Number: |
MS-105 |
| Language: |
Collection material in English. |
Joseph Lionel Fink, the only son and fifth child of Rabbi Mendel and Tillie Kagen
Finkelstein, was born in Springfield, Ohio, on 12 May 1895. He was raised in Dayton,
Ohio.
Fink received a B. A. from the University of Cincinnati in 1915, an M.A. from the
University
of Chicago in 1918 and a Ph.D. in Philosophy from Niagara University in 1919. That
same
year, he was awarded the rabbinical degree from Hebrew Union College.
Fink's first pulpit was at the United Hebrew Congregation in Terre Haute, Indiana
where he
served from 1919 to 1924. While chairman of the Community Chest, he agitated the local
Ku
Klux Klan chapter who kidnapped him and brought him to their rally. Fink then addressed
the
rally, calling the masked Klan members cowards. He was released and the Klan wrote
a check
the following week to the Community Chest for $1800.
In 1924, Fink stopped in Buffalo, New York while on his way to Germany to begin graduate
studies. He became the rabbi at Temple Beth Zion and remained there until his retirement
in
1958. Fink was the leading Reform Jewish spokesperson for the Buffalo community. From
1930-1956 he had a weekly radio program entitled "The Humanitarian Hour."
Fink was also a president of the B'nai B'rith lodge and a founder of the local Board
of
Jewish Education. Fink was also involved in other community affairs. He served as
a chaplain
to the police and fire departments and as a mediator of civic disputes. Fink was on
the
board of the University of Buffalo and served on several New York state commissions.
Fink was elected president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis in 1952. Joseph
Fink was also one of the founders of the CCAR Journal and
edited CCAR position papers while working on the Committee on Church and State.
Joseph Fink died in Buffalo, New York in 1964. He married Janice Gutfreund in June
1932.
They had two children: Arnold and R. Toby Fink.
The Joseph L. Fink Papers consist of the papers of Joseph L. Fink, a rabbi and activist,
who served in Terre Haute, Indiana and Buffalo, New York. Fink was a leading spokesman
of
Reform Jewry.
The papers include correspondence relating to Fink's tenure as the president of the
Central
Conference of American Rabbis, together with sermons and scrapbooks about his Buffalo
civic
activities. Fink was elected president of the Central Conference of American Rabbis
in 1952,
following the completion of the convention held in Buffalo. Much of the correspondence
relates to this convention and his years as president. A series of scrapbooks contain
newsclippings about various events and individuals concentrating on but not limited
to
Fink's CCAR involvement. The Buffalo scrapbook contains newsclippings about various
activities, including those of fellow rabbi Israel Aaron and Temple B'nai Zion. Other
scrapbooks focus on the activities of Fink himself.
The sermons included in this collection are primarily transcripts from his Buffalo
radio
program, "The Humanitarian Hour." Some sermons from the 1930s discuss the evils of
Nazism.
The papers are organized into a single series.
Terms of Access
The collection is open for use; no restrictions apply.
Terms of Reproduction and Use
Copyright restrictions may apply. Authorization to publish, quote, or reproduce, with exceptions for fair use,
may be obtained through the American Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio. Please address
queries to the Executive Director of the American Jewish Archives. For more information,
see
the American Jewish Archives copyright information webpage.
- Central Conference of American Rabbis Records. MS-34.
- Fink, Joseph L. Nearprint Biographies File.
- Fink, Joseph L. PC-1225.
- Morgenstern, Julian. MS-30.
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Joseph Lionel Fink Papers
and
the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as
follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-105. Joseph Lionel Fink Papers. American
Jewish
Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Joseph Lionel Fink Papers were received from Arnold G. Fink, Alexandria, Virginia,
in
1982.
Processed by Kevin Proffitt and Melinda McMartin, August, 2002.
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| Series A. General Files, 1915-1967. |
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Scope and Content Note: The papers are organized into a single general file of
correspondence, photographs and newsclippings. The collection consists primarily of
correspondence relating to Fink's rabbinical career and involvement in rabbinic
organizations.
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Arrangement Note: Files are arranged alphabetically by subject, and chronologically
within folders. There are multiple boxes of correspondence relating to the Central
Conference of American Rabbis which are subdivided alphabetically by
names/organizations.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
1 |
General correspondence. A-M. |
| 1 |
2 |
American Jewish Tercentenary. 1953-1954. |
| 1 |
3 |
Brav, Stanley R. 1952-1953. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1. |
4 |
Brickner, Barnett R. 1952-1954. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 1 |
5 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Applications for membership. 1952-1954.
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| 1 |
6 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Arbitration and Ethics
Committee. 1952-1954.
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| 1 |
7 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. [Leo] Baeck School (Haifa,
Israel) 1952-1953.
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| 1 |
8 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Chaplaincy Equalization
Fund. 1950-1953.
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| 1 |
9 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Committee on Church and
State. 1950-1954; 1965-1967.
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| 1 |
10 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Committee lists. |
| 1 |
11 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Constitutions. 1944; 1952-1953.
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| 1 |
12 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Convention. 1954.
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| 1 |
13 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Election as president. 1952.
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| 1 |
14 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Executive
Board. 1950-1951.
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| 1 |
15 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Executive
Board. 1952.
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| 1 |
16 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Executive Board
. 1953-1954.
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| 1 |
17 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Finances. 1950-1951.
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| 1 |
18 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Finances. 1952.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 2 |
1 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Finances. 1953.
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| 2 |
2 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Finances. 1954.
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| 2 |
3 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis Institute for International
Order.. 1954.
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| 2 |
4 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis Institute in
Israel. 1950;
1953-1953.
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| 2 |
5 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis Journal. 1952-1954. |
| 2 |
6 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Commission on Justice and
Peace. 1951-1954.
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| 2 |
7 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Kaufman,
Jay. 1952-1953.
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| 2 |
8 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Liturgy. 1951-1954.
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| 2 |
9 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Marcuson,
Isaac. 1951-1952.
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| 2 |
10 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Marriage, Family and Home
Committee. 1952-1953.
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| 2 |
11 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Miscellaneous. |
| 2 |
12 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. National
Federation of Temple Brotherhoods. 1952-1954.
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| 2 |
13 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis Offices in HUC-JIR New
York. Lease. 1954.
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| 2 |
14 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Placement
Committee. 1952-1956.
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| 2 |
15 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. President's message.
1952-1954.
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| 2 |
16 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Projects in Israel.
1952-1953.
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| 2 |
17 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Psychiatry
Committee. 1951-1954.
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| 2 |
18 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Rabbinic Pension
Board. 1952-1954.
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| 2 |
19 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Relief
Fund. 1952-1954.
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| 2 |
20 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Resolutions
Committee. 1953.
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| 2 |
21 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis.
Responsa. 1952-1953.
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| 2 |
22 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Solicitation of
Funds. 1952-1954.
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| 2 |
23 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Subvention
Fund. Freed, Abraham. 1953.
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| 2 |
24 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Subvention Fund
.Marcuson, Mrs. Isaac. 1953-1954.
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| 2 |
25 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Synagogue Council of
America. 1952-1954.
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| Box |
Folder |
| 3 |
1 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Committee on Synagogue
Music. 1950-1954.
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| 3 |
2 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis. Committee on the
Unaffiliated. 1952-1953
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| 3 |
3 |
Chaplaincy. 1950-1951. |
| 3 |
4 |
Egelson, Louis I. 1953-1954. |
| 3 |
5 |
Eisendrath, Maurice N. 1952-1953. |
| 3 |
6 |
Eisenstein, Ira. 1953. |
| 3 |
7 |
Glueck, Nelson. 1952-1954. |
| 3 |
8 |
Heller, Bernard. 1952; 1954. |
| 3 |
9 |
Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion -
Union of American Hebrew Congregations Combined Campaign
1952-1953.
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| 3 |
10 |
Hebrew Union College- Jewish Institute of Religion.
Unification Plan. 1953.
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| 3 |
11 |
Lefkowitz, Sidney M. 1953-1954. |
| 3 |
12 |
Liner, Paul. 1950-1951. |
| 3 |
13 |
Marriage certificates. Undated |
| 3 |
14 |
Millstone, Dorothy. 1952-1954. |
| 3 |
15 |
National Jewish Welfare Board. Division of Welfare
Activities. 1952-1953.
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| 3 |
16 |
General correspondence. O-Z. |
| 3 |
17 |
Pilchik, Ely. 1953-1954. |
| 3 |
18 |
Plaut, W. Gunther. 1952; 1954. |
| 3 |
19 |
Polish, David. 1953. |
| 3 |
20 |
Polish, Jacob. 1953. |
| 3 |
21 |
Postal, Bernard. Jewish Tourists Guide to
America.
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| 3 |
22 |
Publications. 1951-1954. |
| 3 |
23 |
Scouting. 1951-1952. |
| 3 |
24 |
Seidler, Judah. 1953-1954. |
| 3 |
25 |
Silver, Samuel. 1953. |
| 3 |
26 |
Snyder, Herman E. 1953-1954. |
| 3 |
27 |
Taxay, Joseph. 1952. |
| 3 |
28 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Executive Board
. 1951-1952.
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| 3 |
29 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Commission on Jewish
Education. 1952-1953.
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| 3 |
30 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Commission on Social
Action. 1952-1954.
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| 3 |
31 |
Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Commission on Synagogue
Activities. 1952-1953.
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| 3 |
32 |
World Union for Progressive Judaism. |
| Box |
Folder |
| 4 |
1 |
Photographs. Undated |
| 4 |
2 |
Scrapbook. Aaron, Israel. Undated |
| 4 |
3 |
Scrapbook. Buffalo, New York. Undated |
| Box |
Folder |
| 5 |
1 |
Oversize scrapbook. 1915-1946. |
| 5 |
2 |
Scrapbook. 1949-1967. |
| 5 |
3 |
Sermons; addresses. A-L. |
| 5 |
4 |
Sermons; addresses. M-Z. |
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the
AJA Online Catalog.
Persons and Families
Fink, Joseph Lionel -- 1897-1964
Institutions
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Temple Beth Zion (Buffalo, N.Y.)
Subjects
Jews -- New York (State) -- Buffalo
Genres and Forms
Photographs
Occupations
Rabbis -- New York (State) --
Buffalo
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