FIRST - That the particular objects for which said Corporation is formed are as follows: To encourage and promote harmony between all those immigrants coming from Kishinev, Russia, and residing in the City of New York and vicinity, and to promote social intercourse and good fellowship between them.
To voluntarily assist and help those of our members who are in distress, by financial aid and assistance.
SECOND - That the corporate name by which said Corporation hereby to be formed shall be known and distinguished is and shall be KISHINEV SICK BENEVOLENT SOCIETY OF NEW YORK, INC.
THIRD - That the territory in which the operations of said Corporation are to be principally conducted is the City of New York.
FOURTH - That the principal office of said Corporation shall be located in the Borough of Manhattan County of New York and State of New York.
FIFTH - That the number of Directors of said Corporation shall be ten (10).
SIXTH - That the names and places of residence of the persons to be Directors of said Corporation until its first annual meeting are:
ABRAHAM KATZMAN, 143 Avenue B, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
GEORGE GINSBERG, 185 Henry Street, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
SOLOMON SCHEINER, 79 Seventh Street, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
MICHEL MILLSTEIN, 27 St. Marks Place, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
HYMAN HOFFMAN, 153 East 106th Street, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
SAM SALMON, 230 Madison Street, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
MORRIS HARRISON, 2 Avenue B, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
ABRAM MILSTEIN, 301 Broome Street, Borough of Manhattan, City of New York
MORRIS SWEDER, 230 Akins Avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York
HARRY BRAVERMAN, 1045 Sutter Avenue, Borough of Brooklyn, City of New York
SEVENTH - That the annual meeting of said Corporation shell be held on the second Thursday of December in each and every year.
Honorable Brothers and Sisters,
We shall endeavor as much as possible to review the history of our beloved Society since its existence.
It is easy at such an occasion to deliver a high sounding speech of self praise - but we Kishinevites are not prone to self praise. We simply want to tell you what we have achieved.
Well, brothers and sisters, in December 1903 there were a few recently arrived immigrants in New York from Kishinev after the Pogroms, which to our great sorrow and to the shame of the entire civilized world, is no longer news. These "landsleit" of ours were poor, sad and lonely in the big city of New York. And this is how the idea developed to establish a club where the new immigrants could meet in a pleasant atmosphere. Of all those pioneers there are only two among us here. We wish them good health and hope that they will be with us many years. One of the two is our beloved friend and brother who always works for the welfare of our organization. He is Mr. Sweder. The second is Harry Sterenbuch who has been a devoted member all these years. Among the early active members was Br. S. Sheiner who helped many needy members.
Also among the first members was our present President Br. Abe. Katzman who has the good fortune to be at the head of our organization. Br. Katzman was the first practical and experienced leader and saw our society develop.
As we have progressed we began to think not only of ourselves but to do philanthropic deeds. It was at this time that Kishinev Synagogue was founded not only for ourselves but for the entire New York Jewry.
In addition to the cemetery, sick benefits and paid burial expenses we have now established a loan fund which many members have benefitted from to this day without interest payment.
Since the majority of our members are working people and the possibility of becoming ill with consumption we have established a fund for that purpose.
Looking ahead as our members grow older, we have established an "Old Age Fund". We have decided to double the benefits from $5.00 to $10.00, which as of this day is the highest any society pays. We have also doubled the death benefit fund to a standard endowment of $500.00.
We will now give you a report of what our organization has achieved since its existence.
We have paid out $125,000 in sick benefits, $90,000 in death benefits. Financial help to members $35,000 and $20,000 to non-members and institutions.
Three years ago it was decided to build an old age home but plans have not been formulated.
We are also pleased to report that at the outset of the World War a Kishinev Relief Organization was established to help the war victims and many thousands of dollars were collected by our members and sent overseas.
Finally, brothers and sisters, we wish to thank all former presidents and officers who worked tirelessly for the well being of our Society and to all the devoted members who were responsible for the success of our organization.
We wish you and your families good health and happiness here in America and Jews all over the world. Improvement in immigration - an end to the Ku-Klux Klan and peace all over the world.
Greetings Brothers and Sisters,
I am experiencing now the best moments of my life when together with you we are celebrating the 20th anniversary of our beloved Society.
We lived through twenty years of joy and sadness - but thanks to the truly brotherly unity, we were able to help those in need and our society emerged strong and great; that every one of us should feel honored and proud to be a member of our beautiful Kishinev Sick Benefit Society.
Please accept my heart-felt good wishes that we will all live to celebrate the 50th anniversary of our beloved Society.
Your brother,
Harry Kolsky, Ex President
Greetings Dear Brothers
With great joy and pleasure I have the honor to greet you at the 20th anniversary of our Society.
I feel very proud when I realize it has become, what financial and moral work we have achieved in the 20 years of our existence; how generous we were to some of our brethren when they were in dire circumstances. Therefore I am proud of you, my dear brothers, because we are responsible for each other.
I greet you from the bottom of my heart. I hope that our organization will prosper and at the future celebrations we will be together and have bigger and better things to talk about - of the achievements in the interest of our brothers in particular and the public in general.
Your devoted brother who wishes to celebrate with you many more such occasions.
M. Poscar, Financial Secretary
Greetings Dear Brothers and Sisters
I greet you with great pleasure at our 20th anniversary. As secretary and officer for many years in our Society I can tell you that we can be proud to belong to our organization, because the camaraderie that we enjoy cannot be duplicated in any other Society.
Unfortunately, due to lack of space it is impossible for me to write of all the things we have achieved. One thing I can assure you that in spite of all circumstances we have a strong financial success.
I hope that we will all celebrate our 25th jubilee and there will always be you among us.
Samuel Koblick, Recording Secretary
Greetings Dear Brothers and Sisters
I am very happy to greet you at our 20th anniversary. I need not tell you how great our organization is because you know it as well as I. I wish you all that you wish yourselves.
With brotherly love and friendship
Jos. Rabinowitz, Vice President
Greetings from the Executive Board of the Kishinev Sick Benefit Organization of New York, Inc.
We the Executive Board come to greet our great and dear organization at its 20th anniversary. We, the Executive Board, are always on guard to protect that our dear Society shall not stray from its goal to help its members and as we leaf through our 20 year history and the acts of charity that we have performed to various charitable institutions we should feel proud to belong to such a noble organization. We wish the officers and members of our society and we look forward to great things in the future.
In the name of the Executive Board,
Frank Klein
In my whole life I do not recall such a wonderful moment as I am living through this day.
Having gone through the different offices I am sure that I have earned your trust.
I hope that we will live to see our golden jubilee in good health and happiness.
Your brother,
Harry Sterenbuch, Ex President
As the first organizer of this great and beautiful Organization, I greet you at the 20th jubilee. I am extremely happy that my organizational work has brought out such able, honest and good hearted members.
I could go on and on to mention names of members who have distinguished themselves in the organization, but I was asked not to take up too much time.
I wish all you present and those who are not here, sisters and brothers of our Organization, which I and a few others have founded - a rich happy and sound future and hope that we will live to see and celebrate our 50th Jubilee.
M. Sweder, Organizer
Listing of persons buried in the Kishinev section of Mt. Zion Cemetery, Maspeth, NY.