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Frank Taffel

Frank Taffel
Frank Taffel
BornMarch 10, 1877
Krystynopol (now Chervonohrad, Ukraine)
DiedJuly 7, 1947
NationalityAmerican
Other namesShrage Fyvel Tafel
Occupation(s)journalist, synagogue founder, entrepreneur
Known forjournalism, founding synagogue
Spouses
  • Minke Frostig (1901–1945, her death)
  • Ruth Rosenfeld (1945–1947, his death)

Frank Taffel (né Shrage Fyvel Tafel, Krystynopol, then Galicia, Austria-Hungary, now Chervonohrad, Ukraine, March 10, 1877; died 7 July 1947, Savannah, Georgia, age 70) was a journalist, a founder of Congregation Beth Jacob (Atlanta), and an advocate of Jewish causes.

Immigration and life in Atlanta

Taffel, son of Jacob Tafel, a dairy farmer, and Esther Verner, emigrated from Galicia (then Austria-Hungary, now part of Ukraine), entered the US from Montreal 1907, and became a US citizen, June 26, 1922. In 1924 he founded Atlanta's Fulton Auto Exchange, which rebuilt and sold used trucks, and he was also a commodities speculator. Taffel was a founder of Congregation Beth Jacob (Atlanta), and was one of eleven petitioners for the original charter.[1] The Frank Taffel Sanctuary is named in his honor. Taffel frequently spoke in public on Jewish causes, and was president of the Nahum Sokolov Literary Society.[2][3][4] He wrote for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Macon Telegraph[5] and was Atlanta correspondent for the Jewish Morning Journal of New York.[6][7] In addition, he was president of the Atlanta Hebrew Sheltering and Immigrant Aid Society, and in 1937, over radio station WGST in Atlanta, described the work of the organization.[8]

Grave of Frank and Minnie Taffel at Greenwood Cemetery, Atlanta

Taffel died on a trip to Savannah, Georgia.

References

  1. ^ Petition for Charter. Congregation Beth Jacob. Southern Israelite. June 18, 1943 p 6.
  2. ^ Report on un-American propaganda will be made by Frank Taffel. The Atlanta Constitution; January 14, 1938 p2
  3. ^ Jews are invited to Passover fête. The Atlanta Constitution April 16, 1938, p 6
  4. ^ Anshe Sfard plans rally next Sunday. The Atlanta Constitution April 14, 1938 p 16
  5. ^ Frank Taffel. Jews as smokescreens. Macon Telegraph. Sunday April 12, 1936 p4
  6. ^ Frank Taffel. Modern Palestine Created By Jews. The Atlanta Constitution; Aug 1, 1937 pg. 11A
  7. ^ Rabbi Conducts Exercises. Macon Telegraph. Feb 12, 1935 p 6
  8. ^ Hebrew Sheltering. Southern Israelite. Aug. 27, 1937, page 8