Frank Taffel

Frank Taffel
Frank Taffel
BornMarch 10, 1877
Krystynopol (now Chervonohrad, Ukraine)
DiedJuly 7, 1947
Savannah, Georgia
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