Max "Lubtken" Lubetkin

Max Lubetkin was a prominent member of the New York City Jewish community. This is attested to by the lengthy obituary that appeared in the New York Jewish Morning Journal on March 6, 1919, translated by Rabbi Max Rabinowitz of the Jewish Center, New York.

Mr. Max Lubetkin (May He Rest In Peace)

The death of Max Lubetkin did not only cause a loss of a great part of life and interest for those [with] whom he came in contact, but it has also deserved a chapter of history which is of important value for the public in general and for the history writer in particular.

Mr. Lubetkin's life was a record of activity in the Jewish community of New York for a period of half a century. The fifty years which he lived in New York can rightly be marked as a special epoch in the long existence of the Jewish nation. These fifty years compose one of the most interesting chapters of Jewish history.

Mr. Max Lubetkin was born in Kovno, Lithuania, Russia, 68 years ago. At the age of 16 [he] emigrated to the United States. He settled in New York City, where he landed, and where he started a new life, in which he had to overcome many difficulties.

The Jewish life in New York at that time was poor, void and dull. The Jewish population was small and so widely scattered among their gentile neighbors that there was no Jewish environment. But Mr. Lubetkin worked very hard in order to create such an environment. He spent a great deal of his energy, his time, and his money to unite the Jews, to found institutions, congregations and everything which would tend to develop a Jewish community in this City (which now has the largest Jewish population in the world.)

At the age of 23, he married the 17 year old Rachel Miriam Madansky who emigrated from Vizhan, Russia. At the same time, he opened a bakery in Bayard Street, which was then the center of the Jewish neighborhood. The bakery was very successful; and as Mr. Lubetkin's financial condition improved, so also grew his activity in charitable work.

As there was no society in New York to provide for immigrants, Mr. Lubetkin's house took the place of such an institution. He used to go to Ellis Island and bring back with him "greene" (immigrants) who were destitute and friendless. He gave them food and shelter, helped them to find employment, and very often lent them money that they may start a little business. These noble deeds are related even now by many rich people who were his beneficiaries.

Later, he started a matzoh bakery, which was also successful. He was the first one in the U.S. to introduce the use of machinery for the baking of matzoh. Formerly, all work in this industry was done by hand.

In 1884, Mr. Lubetkin started a wholesale flour business in which he was prosperous. In 1900 he retired and gave it over to his two eldest sons who are conducting it on a very large scale. He was for 35 years a prominent member of the New York Produce Exchange. He also possessed much real estate, which, if he once bought, he never sold.

Mr. Lubetkin's activities for the Jewish Community of New York were never interrupted during all the time that he lived in that City. Forty years ago he founded the Vazaner Synagogue on East Broadway where he was president for many years.

Later he bought for the same congregation a lot on Eldridge Street, and with the help of others built the large Eldridge Street Synagogue. Some years after, he was attracted to the Beth Hamedresh Hagodol Synagogue on Norfolk Street; later he became treasurer, and also president. His untiring efforts helped it to succeed.

Mr. Lubetkin's greatest work was devoted to the education of the Jewish children of New York. In 1883 he called a meeting of many prominent Jewish citizens of New York to whom he suggested the founding of a Talmud Torah.

He was chairman of the meeting and he gave the first check for that purpose. At that historical assembly, the Machzeke[l] Talmud Torah on East Broadway was established.

Later on, Mr. Jacob H. Schiff became interested in that school and invited Mr. Lubetkin to interview him concerning this matter. The philanthropist suggested another school of this type somewhere uptown. He made out a check for $25,000 payable to Mr. Lubetkin. When Mr. Schiff was questioned as to why he made the check payable to Mr. Lubetkin's order, he answered that Mr. Lubetkin's name was a good guarantee for even a larger sum.

For that sum of $25,000, a house was bought on Seventh Street and was altered for a branch of the Machzekel Talmud Torah School.

Mr. Lubetkin took a keen interest in other charities as well. He did not help them only with his money but also with his work and energy. He was a founder of "Adath Israel" where he was a director all the time. He was an active and prominent member of the following synagogues: Orach Chaim, Lexington Avenue and 95th Street and Kehilath Jeshurun on 85th and 82nd St.

When he was vice president of Beth Hamedresh Hagodol he had the greatest part in the undertaking of bringing over Rabbi Jacob Joseph to be chief Rabbi of New York. After that he spent much of his time trying to unite all of the other Rabbis under the supervision of Chief Rabbi Jacob Joseph, and to organize and systematize all of their communal activities.

In all, Mr. Lubetkin was a good-natured and amiable gentleman; and in spite of all his great activity and labor in social work, he never looked for honor and publicity. His greatest ideal in life was to see everyone happy and the mere sight of a cheerful face made him joyful.

Mr. Lubetkin passed away the first of March, 1919 at the age of 68. He is survived by 13 children and 21 grandchildren. The former are Abraham, Philip, Louis, Herman, Bernard, Alex, Arcie and Harry; and five daughters Mrs. Aaron Garfunkel, Mrs. Louis Gutman, Mrs. Mark Finston, Mrs. Alfred Aaronson, and Miss Eva Lubetkin. The children were all brought up in strict accordance with the Jewish religion and are very popular among the Jewish population of New York.

The funeral was one of the greatest seen in many years; 65 automobiles and a huge crowd followed the coffin of Mr. Lubetkin to his eternal resting place in Union Field Cemetery where he was buried in the private family plot on the Beth Hamedresh Hagadol grounds.

Eulogies were recited by the following: Rabbi Margolis of Cong. Kehilath Jeshurun, Rabbi Hyamson of Cong. Orach Chaim, and Rabbi Jachals in the name of Machzekel Talmud Torah. Rev. Mitnick, cantor of Orach Chaim, sang the concluding prayers to the people who were very much moved by their irreparable loss.

Max Lubetkin's death was also recorded in a New York Times death notice, which appeared on March 2, 1919, page 21, column 4:

LUBETKIN -- On Saturday morning, March 1, after a brief illness, Max Lubetkin, in his 68th year, beloved husband of Rachel Miriam, devoted father of Abe, Phillip, Mrs. Aaron Garfunkel, Louis, Herman, Bernard, Alexander, Mrs. Louis Gutman, Arcie, Mrs. Martin Finstone [sic], Mrs. Alfred E. Aaronson, Eva, and Harry. On account of serious illness of Mrs. Lubetkin, funeral will take place at the residence of Mrs. Aaron Garfunkel, 145 West 119th Street, on Sunday, March 2, at 2 P.M. Kindly omit flowers.

Max's death certificate lists his father's name as "Joseph" and his mother as "Esther Stern."

Union Field Cem., Area 68-15, Beit Hamedrach S'Hagadol Section

Superior Court: Max gave the spelling of his last name as LUBTKEN in the Naturalization Petition. He stated that he was a baker from Russia, and that his address was 79 Bayard Street, New York. His witness was Joseph Cohen, 46 E. Broadway, New York. [NOTE of CORRECTION: If you look at either the actual Petition or Index, you will see that the witness is entered as "Joseph Cohn" - not "Cohen" - but it is reported as 'Cohen' in sources that should have known -- also, if you look at the actual Petition - it is likely someone misread Max's signature/handwriting as opposed to his actually having himself spelled his name as "Lubtken"].

--On the 1880 Census, he is "Marks Lebetken" , age 30; Profession, Occupation, or Trade = "Bakery". Living at 79 Bayard Street with his wife and 4 children. In New York City in New York County in New York State - Page No. 17, Supervisor's Dist. No. 1st, Enumeration Dist. No. 42.

--On the 1900 Census he is "Morris Lubetkin", born Apr 1851, age 49, married 26 years, self and parents born Russia; immigrated 1870, in US 30 years, Naturalized; Occupation: Grocer, Wholesale. Living 143 East 111th Street with his wife, 10 children, and 2 servants. In Borough Manhattan in New York City in New York County in New York State. Supervisor's District No. 1; Enumeration District No. 923; Sheet No. A 1