Guide to the Papers of Leo Shubow (1904-1981), undated, 1933-1961

*P-395

Processed by Stephanie Call

Processed by Stephanie Call, Schilder Assistant Archivist, made possible by a grant from the Schilder Family Fund. This collection has been digitized, made possible by a grant from the Trustees u/w of Herman Dana.

American Jewish Historical Society

Center for Jewish History

15 West 16^th Street

New York, N.Y. 10011

Phone: (212) 294-6160

Fax: (212) 294-6161

Email: reference@ajhs.org

URL: http://www.ajhs.org

© 2013, American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY. All Rights Reserved.

Machine-readable finding aid created by Stephanie Call as MS Word document, March 2009. Finding aid was encoded by Marvin Rusinek on February 17, 2010. Finding aid written in English.

Biographical Note¹

Leo Shubow (1904-1981)

Rabbi Leo Shubow was born in 1904 and graduated from the Boston Latin School in 1920. After graduating from Harvard University in 1924 and New York University in 1927, he attended Boston Hebrew College and was ordained at the Jewish Institute of Religion. He received his Master of Hebrew Literature in 1932.

In addition to serving for 32 years as Rabbi of B'nai B'rith in Somerville, Massachusetts, Shubow founded Temple Emanuel in Newton, Massachusetts. He also served as chaplain for the Norfolk State Prison, as well as on the service board of the Boston Police Department and the Henry Price Lodge of Masons in Boston.

Shubow was the author of two books, "Israel Lives Again" and "Iceberg Dead Ahead." Shubow had a personal interest in the Titanic disaster and was also a Yeoman in the International Ice Patrol in 1925. He wrote often for the Boston Globe on the Titanic and about his experiences on the Ice Patrol.

He was a supporter of the State of Israel and a member of the National Executive Board of the Zionist Organization of America.

He married Pauline Kniznick of Waltham, Massachusetts, and they had three children, Dorothy (Nelson), Morris and Charles. His brother, Joseph Shubow, was also a Rabbi.

¹ Biographical information from materials in the collection as well as "rabbi Leo Shubow, Served Somerville; 77; from the Boston Globe, Boston, Mass.: February 21, 1981. pg. 1.

Scope and Content Note

This collection contains articles and speeches about Theodore Herzl and Stephen Wise, as well as correspondence from the latter. Wise was with the Jewish Institute of Religion and his correspondence often reflected the dire financial problems of the organization. He was also quite supportive of Shubow's endeavors, including the founding of the synagogue in Newton. However, the two were good friends, and Wise's letters offer tidbits about Shubow's life, including his marriage and the birth of his children.

In addition to the small amount of correspondence, various clippings from newspapers are included in the collection. Written by Shubow, these articles are about the Titanic disaster as well as Shubow's experiences as a Yeoman with the International Ice Patrol in 1925. Some photographs of a younger Shubow are included in the article. Shubow also wrote about Palestine in a recurring column called, "Palestine Today." Broadsides and fliers from speaking engagements identify Shubow as a frequent speaker on Israel.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged into a single series.

• Papers of Leo Shubow, undated, 1933-1961

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The collection is open to all researchers by permission of the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society, except items that are restricted due to their fragility.

Use Restrictions

Information concerning the literary rights may be obtained from the Director of Library and Archives of the American Jewish Historical Society. Users must apply in writing for permission to quote, reproduce or otherwise publish manuscript materials found in this collection. For more information contact:
American Jewish Historical Society, Center for Jewish History, 15 West 16^th Street, New York, NY, 10011
email: reference@ajhs.org

Related Material

Stephen S. Wise Collection, American Jewish Archives (No. 49- microfilm only)
Stephen S. Wise Collection, Brandeis University (MWalB00018)
Stephen S. Wise Family Papers, Brandeis University (MWalB00003)

Preferred Citation

Published citations should take the following form:
Identification of item, date (if known); Leo Shubow papers; P-395; box number; folder number; American Jewish Historical Society, Boston, MA and New York, NY.

Acquisition Note

Gift of Mrs. Shubow, 1981.

Note

Leo Shubow, rabbi at Temple Emanuel, Newton and Temple B'nai B'rith, Somerville.

Access Points

• Subject Names:

  • Shubow, Leo
  • Wise, Stephen Samuel, 1874-1949

• Subject Organizations:

  • Jewish Institute of Religion
  • Newton (Mass.) -- Temple Emanuel
  • Somerville (Mass.) -- Temple B'nai B'rith
  • Temple B'nai B'rith (Somerville, Mass.)
  • Temple Emanuel (Newton, Mass.)

• Subject Topics:

  • International Ice Patrol
  • Israel
  • Rabbis
  • Titanic

• Subject Places:

  • Boston (Mass.)
  • Newton (Mass.)
  • Somerville (Mass.)

• Document Types:

  • Correspondence
  • Fliers
  • News clippings
  • Publications
  • Speeches

Container List

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.