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113 Ark of Noah

THE JEWISH ENCYCLOPEDIA

113

the three stories wild and domesticated animals were lodged, in the second were human beings, and in the third the birds. But other professed legendgatherers go much farther. Al-Tha'labi in his "Kisas al-Anbiyya" (pp. 31 et seq.) and al-Diyarbakri in his "Khamls" give stories of how Noah, under the direction of Gabriel, built a " house " of teak-wood after having first grown the trees for the purpose with dimensions of 80 cubits by 50 by 30 or, according to others, 660 by 330 by 33 or, again and this on the authority of Jesus, who raised up Shem to give the information to his disciples 1,200 by 600. On every plank was the name of a prophet, and the body of Adam was carried in the middle to divide the men from the women. When Noah came near the end of his building, he found that three planks, symbolizing three prophets, were missing, and that he could not complete the "house "

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—

Arkansas

lowed by M. Eisenberg, who occupied the pulpit for the remainder of the year. He was followed by Joseph Stolz as rabbi, who was at the time a student in the Hebrew Union College of Cincinnati. The rabbis succeeding him were: Emanuel Schreiber (1889-1891), Charles Rubenstein (1891-1897), Harry H. Mayer (1897-1899), and Louis Wolsey, the present incumbent. The membership (Sept., 1899) is 170; and the Sabbath-school has 100 pupils and 5 The building now occupied was built teachers. during the ministry of Rev. C. Rubenstein, and was dedicated in May, 1897, by him and Rabbis Wise, Recently there has also been Samfield, and Stolz. established an Orthodox congregation, having a membership of 13. Their present leader is a hazan, With the growth of the community and S. Carmel. congregation the following societies were organized

without them. These planks were in Egypt and were brought from there to Noah by Og, son of Anak, the only one of the giants who was permitted The last of the Ark seems to to survive the Flood. have been that Noah locked it up and gave the key

Shem

to

(Ibn Wadih,

i.

12).

D. B. M. of the South-central states of the United States; admitted June 15, 1836; secedj.

jk.

ARKANSAS

One



May 6, 1861 and was readmitted June Arkansas has about three thousand Jews.

ed



22, 1868.

Though

their settlement in different parts of the state can be traced to comparatively early days, their com-

A

activity is of but recent development. curious item of circumstantial evidence in this matter is the old marriage law of Arkansas (Statutes of 1838), which was so worded as to exclude Jewish ministers from performing the ceremony. This law remained unchanged until 1873, when, through the exertions of M. A. Colin of Little Rock, the blunder was corrected in the revised statutes. There are in the state but five congregations of sufficient size and means to employ a permanent minister and to

munal

hold regular services; namely, Little Rock, Pine The Bluff, Fort Smith, Hot Springs, and Jonesboro. communities next in size are Texarkana, Helena,

and Camden. The most important Jewish community in the state is Little largest.

The

Rock



it

is

Jewish

first

the oldest as well as the settlers there that can be

traced were the Mitchell family (three brothers),

Little

who came from Cracow, Galicia, in From that year until the Civil 1838.

War

was

Jewish immigrabut during the war and immetion diately afterward the influx was comparatively In 1866 a congregation was formed and inlarge. On March corporated with M. Navra as president. 18, 1867, a charter was granted to it under the name "Congregation B'nai Israel of Little Rock." The members worshiped in the Masonic Temple under

Bock.

there

little



the leadership of a hazan, S. Peck of Cincinnati, who resigned in 1870. In 1872 J. Bloch was elected rabbi and the congregation moved into a hall, preparatory to building a temple. This temple was completed and dedicated in September, 1873. Bloch served until 1880, and was succeeded by I. W. Benson, who held office from 1881 to 1883; he was fol;

II.—

Synagogue

at Little Rock, Arkansas.

(From

a photograph.)

(social, 1868); The Hebrew Ladies' Benevolent Society (for the relief of the poor, 1869) Little Rock Lodge, No. 158, 1. O. B. B. (1871); Kesher Shel Barzel (1876); Hebrew Relief Society (1892) The Temple Aid Society (formed by Rabbi Rubenstein in 1892, to aid in building the

The Concordia Club



temple).

Rock Jews have been prominent in One of the earliest settlers, Jonas Levy, was mayor from 1860 to 1865, and Jacob Erb (now

Many

public

Little

life.

in Chicago) occupied a position as county judge from 1890 to 1894, while Jacob Trieber is at present the judge of the United States Circuit Court.

The estimated population is 40.000, of whom the Jews number 900. The latter include many merchants, a banker, lawyer, school-teacher, sash and blind manufacturer, photographer, and pawnbroker. are also engaged in the following trades baker, restaubarber, confectioner, laundryman, musician, It is perhaps worthy of note that rateur, and tailor.

Jews