Arthur Neulander (1896-1988), Papers.

• Dates: 1868-1981
• Size: 2.0 linear ft.
• Number of Boxes: 3
• Languages:
  • English
  • Hebrew
• Location: Special Collections Reading Room, Jewish Theological Seminary Library.
• Restrictions: Reproduction of fragile items is not permitted; consult the archivist about literary rights. Fragile papers have been photocopied and are available here in the collection. Please use photocopies instead of originals.
• Gift Of: Hadassah Thursz
• Date: July 27, 1990

DN, August 7, 1990; rev. JM, 9/97

Table of Contents:

• A Note on Folder Headings
• Biographical Note
• Collection Description
• Box List

A Note on Folder Headings

Individual folders are identified in the following way on the left side of each folder: Name of Collection, box #/folder#, as in Ben Zion Bokser Papers, 4/22. Please use this format in citations and when referring to files for any other reason.

Biographical Note

Arthur Neulander was born in Epesjes, Hungary in 1896, emigrated to the United States in 1903, and was raised in New York City. He received a BA from New York University in 1918. His father, grandfather, and great grandfather had all been rabbis in Hungary, and Neulander continued the tradition receiving rabbinical ordination from The Jewish Theological Seminary in 1921.

Neulander served five congregations over the course of his career: Temple Gates of Prayer, Flushing, NY, 1922-1925; Society for the Advancement of Judaism, New York, 1925- 1926; Temple Beth El, Camden, NJ, 1926-1927; Temple Beth Israel, Richmond Hill (Staten Island), NY, 1928-1953; Bayswater Jewish Center, Far Rockaway, NY, 1953-1968.

Rabbi Neulander served on the executive committee of the Conservative movement's Rabbinical Assembly for many years and was the chairman of its Committee on Jewish Law and Standards, 1954-1959. He wrote the responsum allowing the use of electricity on the sabbath. In 1956, after the Soviet crackdown, Rabbi Neulander returned to Hungary to help escort Jewish refugees to the United States.

Rabbi Neulander and his wife Grace had four children. He died in 1988.

Collection Description

Rabbi Neulander's papers consist of: manuscripts, typescripts and notes for sermons, lectures, speeches, and other writings, 1920s-1970s; correspondence, memoranda, and press releases, ca.1944-1965; records of the marriages and conversions Neulander performed, 1930s-1970s; material from the Rabbinical Assembly's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards dating from his tenure as chairman; material concerning the Freemasons, 1939, to which Neulander belonged; photographs; printed material; and academic diplomas. Of note are three nineteenth century documents of rabbinic certification belonging to Neulander's father and grandfather.

Of note are the three nineteenth century rabbinic documents. Two certify that his father received Hatarat Hora'a (rabbinic ordination). The third certifies that his grandfather had earned the title of Moreinu, or teacher.

Also of note is a letter from a congregant, Dan Schlesinger, a Marine, who had just returned from the Battle of Iwo Jima, May, 1945.

Photographs show Rabbi Neulander with New York City Mayor Robert Wagner at the installation of Eric Treulich as a judge; with Louis Finkelstein and Seminary faculty members in 1956 when he received a DD; Sam Goody being honored by the UJA; and a torah dedication procession at Bayswater, 1968.

Box List