TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Biographical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Organization
Conditions of Access and Use
Administrative Information
Search Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Series A. Correspondence and Nearprint, 1928-1983
Series B. 1930-1972
Series C. Confirmation Class Notes, Sermons and Scrapbooks, 1920-1979
Series D. Professional Development and 1943-1979
Series E. Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 1932-1968
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Manuscript Collection No. 693
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Repository: |
The Jacob Rader Marcus Center of the American Jewish
Archives
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Creator: |
Shankman, Jacob Kestin,
1904-1986
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Title: |
Jacob Kestin Shankman Papers |
Dates: |
1920-1983 |
Quantity: |
4.4 linear feet (11 Hollinger boxes) |
Abstract: |
The Jacob K. Shankman papers relate to the professional career
of Jacob K. Shankman, who was a rabbi and leader of the New Rochelle, N.Y., Jewish
community for nearly 50 years. The papers include correspondence, newsclippings,
photographs, scrapbooks, sermons (including Shankman's detailed notes and sermon drafts),
poetry, notes on confirmations and material on his professional involvement both within
and
beyond the New Rochelle Jewish community.
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Collection Number: |
MS-693 |
Language: |
Collection material in English. |
Jacob Kestin Shankman was born on October 22, 1904 in Chelsea, Massachusetts to Isaac
and
Dina Shankman. At the age of 14 he was admitted to Harvard University where he received
a
bachelor's degree in 1923 and a master's degree in 1925. In 1930 Shankman graduated
from
Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he was ordained as a rabbi. During
his
studies at HUC, Shankman served as president of
the student body and awarded honors for having the highest scholastic record.
Shankman began his rabbinical career at Berith Sholom in Troy, New York before coming
to
Temple Israel in New Rochelle, New York in 1937. After twenty years at Temple Israel
Shankman was granted life tenure in November of 1957. In 1962, the Temple moved from
their
synagogue on Webster Avenue to their current location at 1000 Pinebrook, a move encouraged
and lobbied for by Shankman.
During World War II, Shankman took leave from Temple Israel to serve as a chaplain
with the
U.S. Naval Reserve from 1943-1946. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and
remained
interested in the military chaplaincy throughout his life.
Shankman was involved with the New Rochelle Council of Social Agencies, Community
Chest,
Salvation Army, Red Cross, Council for Unity, PTA and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. He served
as President of the Association of Reform Rabbis of New York, the Westchester Council
of
Rabbis, and the Alumni Association of Hebrew Union College.
As a member of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, Shankman served as a member
of
its executive board, its Commission on Ceremonies, and as chairman of its Committees
on
Church and State, Relations of Rabbis and Congregations, Meditations and Ethics. He
was the
American director of the World Union for Progressive Judaism from 1957-1964, being
chairman
of the American board at the same time. In 1959, he became chairman of the World Union's
Executive Committee.
Shankman was included in Who's
Who in America and the Encylopaedia Judaica. He wrote a history of Temple Israel, a
history of his mother's family--the Kestins–to the 1400s, and was published in numerous
periodicals including American
Judaism, Liberal
Judaism, and The
Jewish Layman.
In 1937, he married Miriam Frankenstein. Together they had two daughters: Judith and
Diane,
as well as one son Michael.
Jacob K. Shankman died on February 6th, 1986.
The Jacob K. Shankman papers are comprised of materials collected by Jacob Shankman
over
the course of his rabbinical career. The nearprint contains biographical material
and
photographs of the rabbi. There is also one box of correspondence – both personal
and
professional – that chronicles Shankman's continued involvement with HUC-JIR and professional
organizations such as the Central Conference on American Rabbis and the World Union
for
Progressive Judaism.
Sermons over the course of Shankman's tenure at Temple Israel, as well as those given
while
he was a chaplain in the U.S. Naval Reserve, can be found among Shankman's other writings.
Shankman was a prolific reader and his readings often led to private meditations and
notes
that would transform into sermons. A substantial portion of the writings is Shankman's
own
notes and drafts or articles and sermons. Much of the material in this portion of
the
collection is not dated, though researchers should be able to surmise dates from the
newsclippings and articles on which Shankman began his initial writings. Whenever
possible,
sermons and writings are put into chronological order. When this is not possible,
the
sermons and writings have been put into order by title, with untitled material – including
Shankman's poetry – placed at the end of the series.
An extensive portion of the collection is dedicated to the day-to-day functions of
Temple
Israel in its various forms, as well as material covering Shankman's active participation
in
professional organizations and his life-long interest in military chaplaincy.
The collection spans the dates 1920-1983.
The Jacob K. Shankman papers are divided into five series:
- A. Correspondence and Nearprint
- B. Sermons, Writings, Poetry, and Meditations
- C. Confirmation Class Notes, Sermons, and Scrapbooks
- D. Professional Development and Chaplaincy Involvement
- E. Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
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.
Footnotes and bibliographic references should refer to the Jacob Kestin Shankman Papers
and
the American Jewish Archives. A suggestion for at least the first citation is as
follows:
[Description], [Date], Box #, Folder #. MS-693. Jacob Kestin Shankman Papers. American
Jewish Archives, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The Jacob K. Shankman papers were originally donated by Mrs. Jacob K. Shankman, New
Rochelle, N.Y., in 1986. An additional supplement of papers was donated to the American
Jewish Archives by Sue Shankman of Cincinnati, Ohio, in June, 2001. All materials
donated
prior to February, 2003 have been arranged and described in this inventory.
Processed by Jeff Brown and Rachel Howse, February,
2003.
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Series A. Correspondence and Nearprint, 1928-1983 |
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The correspondence and nearprint series consists of two Hollinger boxes of
correspondence, biographical information, newsclippings, and materials relating to
Shankman's community activism, as well as two scripts of radio and television
broadcasts.
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The papers are arranged initially by correspondent or subject and then chronologically
within the corresponding files.
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Box |
Folder |
1 |
1 |
General correspondence, A-Z |
1 |
2 |
Braude, William G. 1928-1983 |
1 |
3 |
British closing of Palestine (Telegrams) 1938 |
1 |
4 |
Chaplaincy correspondence 1941-1960 |
1 |
5 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis 1942-1976,
undated
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1 |
6 |
German refugees 1938-1942 |
1 |
7 |
Liebman, Joshua Loth 1934-1937 |
1 |
8 |
Prayer in schools New York state 1951-1952 |
1 |
9 |
Raizen, Charles and Patricia 1955-1959 |
1 |
10 |
Rosett, Louis 1937-1938 |
1 |
11 |
Congratulatory letters on 30th anniversary of Shankman as ordained rabbi
1960
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1 |
12 |
Shankman, Jacob K. 1936-1982 |
1 |
13 |
Silver, Samuel 1953 |
1 |
14 |
Wohl, Samuel 1930-1939 |
1 |
15 |
World Union for Progressive Judaism 1955-1981 |
Box |
Folder |
2 |
1 |
Nearprint |
2 |
2 |
Photographs |
2 |
3 |
Community activism |
2 |
4 |
Sachs, Nelly Agnon, S.Y. Nobel Prize articles and interviews |
2 |
5 |
Television and radio appearances |
2 |
6 |
Periodicals |
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Series B. Sermons, Writings,
Poetry and Meditations, 1930-1972 |
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This series consists of five Hollinger boxes containing the sermons, personal notes
and
meditations, poetry, and writings of Rabbi Shankman over the course of his career.
Often
what would start as a meditation would lead to the drafting of a sermon or article
and
researchers of Shankman's papers will find the occasional overlap.
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The material is in chronological and subject order. |
Box |
Folder |
3 |
1 |
Sermons and notes 1930-1931 |
3 |
2 |
Sermons and notes 1931-1932 |
3 |
3 |
Sermons and notes 1932-1933 |
3 |
4 |
Sermons and notes 1933-1934 |
3 |
5 |
Sermons and notes 1934-1935 |
3 |
6 |
Adler, Cyrus sermon 1941 |
3 |
7 |
Looking Forward to Life Post-World War
II 1941
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3 |
8 |
World War II sermons 1942 |
3 |
9 |
1,000 Years After the Death of Saadra
Gaon 1942
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3 |
10 |
Dragonseed 1942 |
3 |
11 |
Jews and The
Saturday Evening Post series sermons 1942
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3 |
12 |
Norwegian Resistance to Nazis sermons 1942 |
3 |
13 |
Sermons and notes 1946 |
3 |
14 |
Sermons and notes 1947 |
Box |
Folder |
4 |
1-3 |
Sermons and notes 1947 (3 folders) |
4 |
4 |
Sermons and notes 1948 |
4 |
5 |
Purim sermons |
4 |
6 |
Pageant of Light sermon |
4 |
7 |
Prayers and Prayerbooks of Jews sermon |
4 |
8 |
The Psalms |
4 |
9 |
Notes for Shabbat sermons undated |
4 |
10 |
Miscellaneous sermons and notes |
Box |
Folder |
5 |
1 |
High Holy Day sermons and notes undated |
5 |
2 |
Antisemitism in America |
5 |
3 |
Bridge Between the Generations |
5 |
4 |
The Deputy
reactions and meditations
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5 |
5 |
Gentleman's
Agreement reactions
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5 |
6 |
God Issues and Meditations |
5 |
7 |
Reactions to the Holocaust |
5 |
8 |
Meditations on intergroup relations |
5 |
9 |
Meditations on intermarriage 1944-1970 |
5 |
10 |
Isaac M. Wise: American and Jew 1941 |
5 |
11 |
Meditations on Israel |
Box |
Folder |
6 |
1 |
Meditations on Judaism and Christ 1937-1956 |
6 |
2 |
Judaism and a Better World |
6 |
3 |
Meditations and sermon on Love Story (both the film and the novel) 1971
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6 |
4 |
Lessons of Religion |
6 |
5 |
Notes and interpretations on Mendlessohn's Elyah and Athalia
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6 |
6 |
The Moon is Down
meditation and sermon
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6 |
7 |
Post Pearl Harbor sermon and reflections |
6 |
8 |
Thoughts on Propaganda |
6 |
9 |
Thoughts on race relations |
6 |
10 |
Reform Judaism is Dangerous |
6 |
11 |
Samson and
Delilah (an opera)
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6 |
12 |
Wishnick family notes, reflections and poetry |
6 |
13-14 |
Miscellaneous writings 1925-1965 (2 folders) |
Box |
Folder |
7 |
1-2 |
Miscellaneous writings 1967-1972, undated (2 folders) |
7 |
3-5 |
Poetry undated (3 folders) |
7 |
6 |
Miscellaneous notes and reflections |
7 |
7 |
Drafts of sermons and notes |
Box |
Folder |
8 |
1 |
Eichmann, Adolf |
8 |
2 |
Six-Day War |
8 |
3 |
Soviet Jews |
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Series C. Confirmation Class Notes, Sermons and Scrapbooks, 1920-1979 |
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This series is made up of one Hollinger box and contains Shankman's confirmation class
lists, notes, and sermons, as well as a scrapbook presented to him by the students
of
his 1938 confirmation class.
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The series is arranged chronologically. |
Box |
Folder |
8 |
4-10 |
Confirmation notes and sermons (Includes
scrapbook from 1938) 1920-1979, undated (7 folders)
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Series D. Professional Development and Chaplaincy
Involvement, 1943-1979 |
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This portion of the collection is composed of two Hollinger boxes and deals with
Shankman's involvement in various professional organizations such as the Central
Conference of American Rabbis and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Also included
are Shankman's notes and papers regarding his role as a chaplain in the United States
Naval Reserve from 1943-1946 and the interest he maintained in the military chaplaincy
throughout the remainder of his career.
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Box |
Folder |
9 |
1 |
American Jewish Committee |
9 |
2 |
Anti-Defamation League Denver budgets 1977-1979 |
9 |
3 |
Kudan, Harold L./ Bronstein, Herbert
controversy
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9 |
4 |
Central Conference of American Rabbis 75th anniversary. Speech,
Changing Role of the Rabbi
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9 |
5 |
Jewish Community Relations Committee |
9 |
6 |
World Union for Progressive Judaism Speeches made as president
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9 |
7 |
World Union for Progressive Judaism Miscellaneous material
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Box |
Folder |
10 |
1 |
Facing the War Post-Peace |
10 |
2 |
War and peace meditations |
10 |
3-5 |
Chaplaincy 1943-1960 (3 folders) |
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Series E. Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 1932-1968 |
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Series E. contains one Hollinger box and is material authored or collected by Shankman
during his career at Temple Israel in New Rochelle, New Jersey. There are several
documents illustrating Shankman's interest in the musical programs conducted at the
Temple, as well as public relations material used at various times by the
congregation.
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Box |
Folder |
11 |
1 |
Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Annual reports |
11 |
2 |
Early history of Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.) 1932 |
11 |
3 |
Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Choral Club |
11 |
4 |
Musical programming 1946-1959 |
11 |
5 |
Temple social events |
11 |
6 |
30th anniversary as rabbi at Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.). 1968 |
11 |
7 |
Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.) Anniversary. |
11 |
8 |
Temple Israel Heritage The House
That Jacob Built 1973
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11 |
9 |
Miscellaneous information on Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y). |
11 |
10 |
Transition to Pinebrook |
11 |
11 |
Pinebrook consecration |
11 |
12 |
Retirement and transition |
11 |
13 |
Temple Israel and Pinebrook public relations |
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in
the
AJA's online catalog.
Persons and Families
Braude, William Gordon -- 1907-1988
Shankman, Jacob Kestin -- 1904-1986
Institutions
Central Conference of American Rabbis
Temple Israel (New Rochelle, N.Y.)
World Union for Progressive Judaism
Subjects
Holocaust, Jewish (1939-1945)
Jews -- New York (State) -- New Rochelle
Refugees, Jewish -- Germany
Religion in the public schools -- United
States
Places
Germany -- Emigration and immigration
United States -- Emigration and
immigration
Genres and Forms
Jewish sermons, American
Occupations
Rabbis -- New York (State) -- New
Rochelle
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