Israel Dov Frumkin

Israel Dov Frumkin ( _he. ישראל דב פרומקין; born in Dubrovna, Russia, October 29, 1850–1914, Jerusalem), pioneer of Hebrew journalism, author, and builder of Jerusalem.

Family

His step grandfather was Aaron ha-Levi ben Moses of Staroselye. His father, Alexander Sender Frumkin, emigrated to Jerusalem in 1860, at the age of sixty. His half brother Michael Levi, who assumed the name Rodkinson, published in New York the first translation of the Talmud to English. His sister, Guishe Frumkin-Navon, married Yossef Navon Vei, the builder or the railroad between Jerusalem and Yaffo. His son Abraham Frumkin (1872–1946), a prominent Jewish anarchist, was a contributor to the daily "Yiddische Welt", of New York. Another son, Gad Frumkin (1887–1960), was one of the first trained attorneys in Palestine and a member of the Supreme court during the British Mandate. Gad Frumkin's grandson - and thus Israel Dov Frumkin's great-grandson - is Karmi Gilon, who was head of the Shabak (Israeli security service.

The Havatzelet

In 1869 Frumkin edited the Hebrew semi-monthly newspaper "Ḥabaẓẓelet", which had been founded in Jerusalem by his father-in-law, Israel Back, a printer, a few years before, and a few years later he edited a Judæo-German weekly called "Die Rose." The latter, owing to lack of support, was soon discontinued. "Ḥabaẓẓelet" was changed to a weekly with a literary supplement; it was issued between 1868-1911. Its publication was spasmodically interrupted through the intrigues and machinations of the zealots of Jerusalem, whom Frumkin constantly denounced for the lack of reform in the "ḥaluḳḳah" system. Recently, however, he became reconciled to the management.

In 1883, for reflecting upon Gen. Lew Wallace, the American Minister to the Ottoman Empire, in an editorial in "Ḥabaẓẓelet" (xiii. No. 6), headed "An American and yet a Despot", the "Ḥabaẓẓelet" was suspended, and Frumkin was imprisoned for forty-five days, by order from Constantinople directed to the pasha of Jerusalem. The incident which caused the editorial was the dismissal of Joseph Kriger, the Jewish secretary and interpreter to the pasha of Jerusalem, at the request of Wallace, who complained that Kriger had failed to receive him with the honor due to his rank, and who refused to accept any apology for the alleged shortcoming. Frumkin claimed that the proceeding was instigated by the missionaries, whom Wallace strongly supported.

Other activities

After his release Frumkin organized the society "'Ezrat Niddaḥim" in honor of Sir Moses and Lady Judith Montefiore and to counteract the influence of the missionaries. "'Ezrat Niddaḥim" was active in support and education of Yemeni Jews and in building a village for them at Silwan.

Frumkin is the author of several books, mostly translations.

Jewish Encyclopedia bibliography

Sokolow, Sefer Zikkaron, pp. 175-180, Warsaw, 1890.

References

* [http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=435&letter=F JewishEncyclopedia] The entry in the Jewish Encyclopedia was written by Judah David Eisenstein and Herman Rosenthal.