Isadore Breslau Papers

The 1980 American Jewish Yearbook states that Rabbi Isadore Breslau was born in Kabilnik, Russia, on January 19, 1897. However, his military records indicate that he was born on January 20th the same year in Russia. He came to the United States in 1906. However, it is unclear when or where he met his wife, Julia. The War Department documents state that he had two children, however; reference is only found to a daughter Ruth who attended Goucher College, though the Breslaus also had a son, Joel.

Rabbi Breslau served in the United States Navy during World War I and graduated from New York University and New York State College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree. He continued his studies at Albany Law School and the Jewish Institute of Religion. He occupied pulpits at the Washington Heights Free Synagogue and the 82nd Street Synagogue, both in New York; Temple Israel in Waterbury, Connecticut and in Washington D.C.

He served as Director of the American Zionist Bureau for two years beginning in 1939 for the two-year duration of the Bureau’s existence. In 1939, he was also elected as an American delegate to the World Zionist Congress in Geneva. He was then appointed Executive Director of the Zionist Organization of America in 1940, a position he kept for almost two years.

Having headed the Louis D. Brandeis Zionist District of Washington for a number of years, Rabbi Breslau also served as the Chairman of the United Palestine Appeal of the Seaboard Region. He acted as Co-Chair for the United Jewish Appeal in Washington D.C. prior to his entry into and after his release from the Army. In addition, he was a member of the National United Jewish Appeal Executive and the Quota and Allocations Committee.

In 1943, he decided to re-enlist in the United States Military, this time to serve as a Chaplain and to learn more about the War effort from within. After ten months in Daytona Beach, Florida, he was assigned to the European Theater and became the first Jewish Chaplain in Berlin, Germany.

After his release from the United States Military, he served as Department Chaplain for the Department of the District of Columbia Jewish War Veterans of the United States. He continued his involvement in Jewish activities and organizations as President of the Jewish Community Council of Washington in 1953 and President of the American Association for Jewish Education, instrumental in the establishment of both.

In addition to being a Rabbi and Chaplain, Rabbi Breslau was also a very successful businessman. He and other investors founded the Mill End Shops in Washington D.C. His concern for the community led him to civic affairs and he served as the Chairman of the Bond Committee of the City of Washington.