I have a riddle challenge for you all. I'll allow you collectively 20 questions to post as comments hereto, to which I will post "yes" or "no" answers. If you can figure out the answer in that time, you win. If not, be prepared to pay up. Here's the riddle:
"What do the American Jewish Historical Society, the Congregation Kaal Kadosh Mikveh Israel of Philadelphia, and John Fleming all have in common."
I await your questions with anticipation.
JRR
1. Are the Gratz's related in any way?
ReplyDeleteThank you, BAZ, for playing. Good question -- "Are the Gratz's related in any way?" -- to which my answer is "NO."
ReplyDeleteOne down, 19 to go. Who's next up at bat?
Please, BAZ, kindly play by the rules. You cannot slide questions past me via email. Therefore, your second question put toward solving my riddle is as follows: “Is the American Jewish Historical Society [to which] you are referring the one in NYC? My answer: Yes. (See below for more detailed response.)
ReplyDeleteThe American Jewish Historical Society provides access to more than 20 million documents and 50,000 books, photographs, art and artifacts that reflect the history of the Jewish presence in the United States from 1654 to the present. Among the treasures of this heritage are the first American book published in Hebrew; the handwritten original of Emma Lazarus’ The New Colossus, which graces the Statue of Liberty; records of the nation’s leading Jewish communal organizations and important collections in the fields of education, philanthropy, science, sports, business and the arts. Founded in 1892, AJHS is the oldest national ethnic historical organization in the nation. AJHS is one of five partner organizations at The Center for Jewish History in Manhattan and has a branch in Boston.
(I think the AJHS might be another fun place to visit sometime too.)
2 down, 18 to go. (I love this. I feel like I’m playing internet chess.)
Hrumph!
ReplyDeleteha ha. no special treatment for BAZ!
ReplyDeleteDoes the answer have to do with something in their collections?
ReplyDeleteIn response to Shawn's question (which was an excellent question), "Does the answer have to do with something in their collections," the answer is "NO." Furthermore, as a freebie, I'll also mention that the answer has nothing to do with "location" either. This was one of the questions presented to me last night at the docent night out.
ReplyDelete3 down. 17 to go.
Does it relate to Fleming as a book dealer?
ReplyDeleteThey are all mentioned in ASW's will?
ReplyDeleteOoh! Good one Shawn!
ReplyDeleteDING, DING, DING!!!!! Shawn is the winner! Indeed, JF, the AJHS and the Congregation Mikveh Israel were pecunary legatees in Dr. R's will. He gave them each $5,000. But they were not the only pecuniary beneficiaries. In addition to these three, Dr. R. also gave $5K to:
ReplyDelete1. Miss Ruth Connell (his secretary);
2. Philip H. Rosenbach of Chicago (his adopted nephew);
3. The Dropsie College for Hebrew & Cognate Learning; and
4. The American Friends of the Hebrew University.
And these were just the $5K gifts. In addition, he gave his cook, Mary Ballard, $2,500, and his nurse, Louise M. Mahoney, $25,000. He set up a trust fund for brother Moses to pay him $5K/year, and he set up another trust fund for Philip to pay him $20K/year.
Finally, to each employee of the Rosenbach Company not already mentioned in the will he gave $100 for each year of employment with the company.
Looking at some cash equivalency tables, I was able to determine an approximate present day fair value of these gifts by multiplying the dollar amounts by 8, but my personal feeling is that this multiplier is a little low.
Further, if you read my note in the docent newsletter, Dr. R was also very generous with his physician, Dr. Ravdin. Dr. Ravdin got the beach house.
Now for Shawn's prize: If you've ever played 20 Questions before, you know that the winner is the one who gets to play next. So Shawn, we will await your 20 Questions riddle. And, apparently, it should be more difficult than mine was.
Yours truly,
JRR
Oh, piddle. My prize is that I have to run the next round? Ok, then. Let me think....
ReplyDeleteSorry, Shawn. I guess it would have been nicer of me to announce the prize before you agreed to play the game. But thanks for being such a great sport!
ReplyDelete