Access and Provenance Biographical Sketch Scope and Content Note Box and Folder Listing

A Finding Aid to the Mordecai Soloff Papers Manuscript Collection No. 740 1927-1990. 12.0 Linear ft.

ACCESS AND PROVENANCE

The MORDECAI SOLOFF PAPERS were donated in 1994 by Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion, Los Angeles. All property rights are assigned to the American Jewish Archives. Literary rights to materials authored by Rabbi Soloff are held by his heirs. Literary rights to materials authored by others are held by the individual author or his/her heirs. Questions concerning rights should be addressed to the Director of the American Jewish Archives.

The Mordecai Soloff Papers are open to all users and available in the reading room of the American Jewish Archives

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH top

Mordecai Soloff was born in Russia July 2, 1901. In 1910 his parents and family moved to the United States. In 1920 he received a diploma from the Jewish Theological Seminary’s Teacher’s Institute. He taught Hebrew for three years before becoming principal of Chazuk Amuno in 1923-1937. In 1923 he received his BS from City College in New York and then received his MA from Teacher’s College of Columbia in 1927. He was active with the Jewish Board of Education in various countries from the mid 1920s through the late 1930s. In 1940 he was ordained as a rabbi at Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati and also received his MHL. Soloff served in several congregations in New York and California and late in life was a guest rabbi in Australia in 1983-1984. He spent much of his rabbinic career at Temple Israel of Westchester in Los Angeles, California.

During his many years of service and study he prepared a series of textbooks in the field of Jewish history published by the Union of American Hebrew Congregations and widely used throughout the country in Reform, Conservative and Orthodox religious schools. He is also the author of Jewish Life and Our Prayerbook for the teaching of Hebrew combined with customs and ceremonies. He has written many articles published in journals and the Universal Jewish Encyclopedia. Soloff also wrote How the Jewish People Live and How the Jewish People Grew Up.

Soloff married Eve Miller in 1924 and had two children, Rav Soloff who later became a rabbi and Tamar Soloff Brower. Soloff died in September of 1992.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE top

The Soloff collection consists of 40 boxes divided into four series:

SERIES A. CORRESPONDENCE
SERIES B. WRITING & NOTES
SERIES C. SERMONS
SERIES D. PERSONAL & MISCELLANEOUS

The bulk of Series A. Correspondence consists of family correspondence, especially with Soloff’s son, Rav. These letters cover the years of 1945-1985, including Rav’s transition into a rabbi. Rav was also very involved with educational initiatives so the father and son conversed on various educational projects often. There are also letters from Soloff’s father, Louis that are rather interesting in helping to understand the Soloff family dynamics.

Series B. Writing and Notes displays the full breadth of Soloff’s work. In reading his notes on various topics you can gain a sense of his workflow methodology and the issues that interested him the most. He was very interested in the philosophies behind teaching methodologies. This is also evident in the largest series, Series C. Sermons. These are divided by occasion, and then a subseries follows of general topics of holidays and events. These are almost all handwritten on the back of scrap paper with many corrections and additions which disclose his thought process. Much of the subseries is divided by Torah portion.

Also very intriguing in Soloff’s papers are his diaries. He has diaries from his time in Israel in 1967 and other important times are crucial for understanding American rabbinic thought during the formation of Israel.

BOX AND FOLDER LIST top

 Box	Folder	Contents
SERIES A. CORRESPONDENCE

1	1	A, general.
	2	Australian correspondence. 1982-1983.
	3	Australian correspondence. 1983-1984.
	4	Australian correspondence. 1984.
	5	B, general.
	6	Book sources and suggestions. 1931-1940.
	7	Books. 1930-1941.
	8	Brower, Judy and Marla. 1973-1984.
	9	Brower, Steven. 1976.
	10	Bureau of Jewish Education. Baltimore. 1949-1954.
	11	C, general.
	12	Central Synagogue. 1944-1945.
	13	Chaplaincy. 1942.
	14	Columbia Teachers College. 1927-1928, 1936.
	15	Cumberland, Maryland. 1948.
	16	D, general.
	17	Danville, Virginia. 1945-1946.
	18	E, general. 
	19	Essex, Maryland. 1950-1953.
	20	F, general. 1934-1986.
	21	Feldman, Zalman. 1938-1948.
	22	G, general.

2	1	Gamoran, Emmanuel. 1934-1952.
	2	General Tours. 1983-1985.
	3	Gittelsohn, Roland B. 1944-1952.
	4	Gottschalk, Alfred. 1962-1986.
	5	H, general. 1957, 1973, 1986.
	6	Harvey Press. 1962.
	7	Hebrew Union College. 1937, 1947-1948.
	8	Hebrew Union College graduation. 1940.
	9	Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Doctor Hebrew Letters. 1955-1956.
	10	Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Honorary degree. Photographs. 1965.
	11	How the Jewish People Live Today. Correspondence. 1969.
	12	How the Jewish People Live Today. Revision letters. 1948. 
	13	I-J, general.
	14	Jacobs, Maurice. 1947-1959.
	15	Jewish war veterans. 1962.
	16	Job searches. 1946-1952.
	17	K, general. 

3	1	L, general.
	2	Landau, Jacob. 1963.
	3	Leventhal, Will. 1985.
	4	Israel trip. 1967.
	5	M, general.
	6	Maller, Allen. 1987.
	7	Marcus, Jacob Rader. 1949-1956.
	8	Miller, I.N. 1973-1984.
	9	Mollin, Simon. 1938-1958.
	10	Morganstern , Julian. 1944-1947.
	11	N, general.
	12	P, general.
	13	Personal correspondence and awards. 1930-1986.
	14	Perth. 1985-1986.
	15	Pomerantz, 1984-1986.
	16	Pomona, CA. Temple Beth Israel. 1976.
	17	Primary holidays. 1957-1958.
	18	Publications. 1941-1981.

4	1	Publications. 1967-1968.
	2	R, general.
	3	Resignation comments. 1952.
	4	Retirement. 1973.
	5	S, general.
	6	Soloff, Abraham. 1968, 1980, n.d.
	7	Soloff, Asher. 1942-1945.
	8	Soloff, Celia. 1968-1975, n.d.
	9	Soloff, Eve. 1941-1984.
		
5	1	Soloff, Eve. Condolence letters. 1980.	
	2	Soloff, Lillian and Ruby. 1975-1978.
	3	Soloff, Louis. Condolence letters. 1962.
	4	Soloff, Michael. 1979-1981.
	5	Soloff, Philip. 1959-1979.
	6	Soloff, Rav. 1945-1948.
	7	Soloff, Rav. 1948-1952.
	8	Soloff, Rav. 1949-1950.
		
6	1	Soloff, Rav. 1932-1952.
	2	Soloff, Rav. 1953-1955.
	3	Soloff, Rav. 1956-1958.
	4	Soloff, Rav. 1957-1960, 1973.
	5	Soloff, Rav. 1959-1962.
	6	Soloff, Rav. 1963.
	7	Soloff, Rav. 1964-1965.
	8	Soloff, Rav. 1965-1969.

7	1	Soloff, Rav. 1970-1978, 1982, 1986.
	2	Soloff, Rav. 1979-1985.
	3	Soloff, Sharon. 1977-1979.
	4	Soloff, Tamar. 1967-1975, n.d.
	5	Smoller, Phineas. 1933-1953.
	6	T, general.
	7	Temple Israel of Westchester. 1936-1968.  Photo.
	8	Temple Israel of Westchester. 5th Year Dinner. 1957.
	
8	1	Temple Israel of Westchester manuel.
	2	Temple Jeremiah. Los Angeles. 19852, 1976-1978.
	3	Union of American Hebrew Congregations. Jewish Education. 1962-1974.
	4	W, general.1951-1986.
	5	Wolman, Paul. Injury.1953.
	6	Wellington Temple. 1983-1984.
	
SERIES B. WRITING & NOTES
	
	7	?Aging and Judaism?.
	8	Amos notes.
	9	Bible, teaching.
	10	Biblical criticism.
	11	Bible for adults.

9	1	Book reviews. 1950-1975.
	2	Chaplaincy.
	3	Dissertation. 
	4	Courses of study for elementary school.
	5	Curriculum revisions.
	6	God.
	7	Diary. 1983-1984.
	8	Diary of a Bronx experiment. ?Attitudes peculiar to Jews?.

10	1	?Education in Ancient Israel?. 1938.		
	2	?Hasidism in Psalms.?1940.
	3	Hasidism notes.
	4	Hebrew Union College. Introduction to Jewish Education. 1931.
	5	Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Funding Jewish Education. 1953.
	6	Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Classroom management. 1955.
	7	Homiletics.
	8	?How the Jewish People Grew Up? suggested revisions. 1938.
	9	Introduction to Jewish Education. 1965.
	10	Isaiah. 
	11	Israel trip. 1974.
	12	Jeremiah. 
	13	Jewish education notes.
	14	Jewish education and communal life.
	15	Jewish education in Rhode Island. 1936.
	16	Jewish history, teaching.

11	1	?Jewish Life under the Hasmoneans? Film. 1971.
	2	Jewish philosophy.
	3	?Jewish Vocational Education in Palestine?.
	4	Jews.
	5	Job.
	6	Liturgy.
	7	Loyalty oaths.
	8	Methods of teaching.
	9	Missions.
		
12	1	National Council of Jewish Federations and Welfare Funds.
	2	Philosophy of Jewish Education.
	3	Plan for school magazine.
	4	Prayerbook.
	5	Pre-consecration service. 1943.
	6	Prophesy.
	7	The prophets.
	8	Psalms.
	9	Psychology of Religion: God's Presence in History.
	10	Rabbinic thesis.
13	1	Religion.
	2	Report on religious school. Milwaukee. 1941-1942.
	3	School board reports.
	4	Teaching religion techniques
	5	Supervised study problem.
	6	Teaching Bible.
	7	Teaching theology techniques.
	8	Theology class.
	

SERIES C. Sermons
Subseries 1. Life Cycle Events

14	1	Anniversaries. 1957-1990.
	2	Circumcisions.
	3	Conversions.
	4	Divorces.
	5	Funerals. 1943-1953.
	6	Funerals. 1954-1958.

15	1	Funerals. 1959-1961.
	2	Funerals. 1962-1964.
	3	Funerals. 1964-1970.

16	1	Funerals. 1971-1976.
	2	Funerals. 1977-1979.
	3	Funerals. 1980s.
	4	Funerals. 1980s.

17	1	Funerals. 1980s.	
	2	Marriage. Cancelled.
	3	Marriage. Thoughts.
	4	Pre-nuptial.
	5	Weddings and anniversaries. 1942-1955.
	6	Wedding and anniversaries 1956-1966.

18	1	Wedding records. 
	2	Wedding records.

Subseries 2. General sermons arranged by title, topic or parasha

	3	Acharey Mot.
	4	Adult Education Interfaith.
	5	American Jewish Conference.
	6	Americanization of Jews.
	7	Anti-Semitism.
	8	Aykev.
	9	B'hukosai

19	1	B'haalotcha.
	2	B'har.
	3	B'midbar.
	4	B'rit.
	5	B'shalach.
	6	Baeck, Leo.
	7	Balak.
	8	Bar and Bas Mitzvot.
	9	Bereshit.
	10	Bo.
	11	B'nai B'rith.

20	1	Brotherhoods.
	2	Building fund.
	3	Central Conference of American Rabbis. 1971.
	4	Chaya.
	5	Chanuka.
	6	Chanuka.
	7	Christmas.
	8	Chukat.
	9	Church and State.

21	1	College homecoming.
	2	College students and religion. 1965.
	3	Columbus Day.
	4	Commissioning service. 1955.
	5	Confirmation services.
	6	Confirmation services.
	7	Confirmation services. 1944-1948.
	8	Congregational anniversaries.
	9	Consecration ceremony.
	
22	1	D'varim.
	2	Death.
	3	Democracy.
	4	"The Deputy" 1964.
	5	East Whittier Cal. Jewish Community Center. Groundbreaking. 1955.
	6	Election day.
	7	Emor.
	8	Ethics.
	9	Family.
	10	Graduation.
	11	Graduation.
	12	Ha-Azinu.
	13	Hadassah.

23	1	Havdala.
	2	Holiday broadcasts.
	3	Honors Sabbath.
	4	Installation ceremonies.
	5	Installations and benedictions.

24	1	Israel.
	2	Israel and Zionism.
	3	Israel and Zionism.
	4	Jerusalem.
	5	Jewish beliefs.
	6	Jewish book month. 
	
25	1	Jewish education.
	2	Jewish family.
	3	Jewish history.
	4	Jewish survival.
	5	Jewish social studies.
	6	Johnson, Lyndon B. 1973.
	7	Judaism.
	8	K'doshim
	9	Ki tetse.
	10	Ki Siso.

26	1	Ki Sovo.
	2	Lag B'Omer.
	3	Leh L'ho.
	4	Lincoln's birthday.
	5	MacGiver Report. 1952.
	6	Mas' ei.
	7	Matot.
	8	M'tsora.
	9	Mikayto.
	10	Man.
	11	Marriage.
	12	Memorial Day.
	13	Merger services. 1978.

27	1	Miscellaneous.
	2	Miscellaneous.
	3	Mishpatim.
	4	Morality.
	5	Naso.
	6	Navy Day. 1948.
	7	Nitsovim.
	8	Noach.

28	1	Pesach.
	2	Pesach family services.
	3	Pinchas.
	4	Parents.
	5	P' kudei.
	6	Pearl Harbor. 1943, n.d.
	7	Purim.
	8	Purim.

29	1	R'ei.
	2	Race relations.
	3	Rosh Hashanah.
	4	Rosh Hashanah.
	5	Rosh Hashanah.
	6	Rosh Hashanah.
	7	Russian Jewry.

30	1	S'fira.
	2	Scouting.
	3	Sh'lach L'cha
	4	Sh'mini.
	5	Sh'mot.
	6	Shabbat.
	7	Shabbat.
	8	Shabbos.
	9	Shabos H-godol.
	10	Shabbos Zohar.
	11	Shalom.

31	1	Shavuot.
	2	Shavuot.
	3	Shoftim.
	4	Siddur.
	5	Simchas Torah. Consecration.
	6	Sukkot.
	7	Synagogue.
	8	Synagogue.

32	1	Tazria.
	2	Teachers.
	3	Teachers.
	4	Teachers and school staff sabbath.

33	1	Television sermons.
	2	Three-hundred years of Jewish history.
	3	Three-hundreth sermons.
	4	Thanksgiving.
	5	Tisha b'Av.
	6	Tisha b'Av.
	7	Tol?dot.

34	1	T'ruma.
	2	T'sav.
	3	T-tsave
	4	Tu Bi-sh'vat.
	5	Tu Bi-sh'vat.
	6	Union of American Hebrew Congregations. 1929-1934.
	7	Union of American Hebrew Congregations. 1964-1965. Photographs.	
	8	United Jewish Appeal. 
	9	Unveilings.
	10	Unveilings.

35	1	Va-ayra.
	2	Va-etchanan.
	3	Va-yayra.
	4	Va-Yakhel.
	5	Va-yaytsay.
	6	Va-y'chi.
	7	Va-yeshev.
	8	Va-yigash.
	9	Va-yikro.

36	1	Va-yishlach.
	2	Victory services.
	3	Wallenberg, Raul.
	4	Wise, Isaac Mayer.
	5	Women's festivals.
	6	Yisro.
	7	Yizkor.
	8	Yizkor.

37	1	Yom Ha-atsmat.
	2	Yom Ha-shoah.
	3	Yom Kippur.
	4	Yom Kippur eve.

38	1	Yom Kippur morning.
	2	Yom Kippur morning.
	2	Yom Y'sushalayim.
	3	Youth symposiums.
	4	Youths.
	5	Youths.

SERIES D. MISCELLANEOUS AND PERSONAL
	
39	1	Central Conference of American Rabbis, Hebrew Union Coellege, Union of American Hebrew Rabbis. Photograph. 1953, n.d.
	2	Truman, Harry. Photograph. 1947.
	3	Photographs.
	4	Photographs.
	5	Photographs.		
	6	Photographs.
					
40		Photographs and audiocassettes.
		
41	1	Biography.
	2	Certificates.
	3	Diaries. Israel.1958.
	4	Diaries. Israel.1967.
	5	Diary. 1970.
	6	Diary. 1986.
	7	Eightieth birthday. Photographs.
	8	Israel property.
	9	Israel tour.
	10	Palestine trip games.
	11	Passports.
	12	Publicity. New Zealand and Australia. 1983-1984.
	13	Will.				

  

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