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Blumenthal, Joseph

The 1901 Jewish Encyclopedia

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American communal worker; born in Munich, Germany, Dec. 1, 1834; died in New York March 2, 1901. In 1839 he went to the United States with his parents, and in 1854 entered business at Mariposa, Cal., remaining there for five years. He then moved to New York, where he remained for the rest of his life.

Soon after his return from California Blumenthal interested himself in military matters, and was for a time a staff officer of the third regiment of cavalry of the National Guard of the State of New York.

Blumenthal soon became deeply interested in political, social, and Jewish communal affairs. He, together with W. M. Evarts and Joseph H. Choate, was a member of the famous Committee of Seventy which was instrumental in the overthrow of the notorious Tweed ring. In 1873-74 and 1888-91 he served as member of the New York Assembly, in which he was appointed to important committees, and he was for several years head of the Bureau of Incumbrances. From 1893 to 1895 he was commissioner of taxes and assessments.

In Jewish communal affairs he displayed the greatest interest. As member, trustee, and president of the Congregation Shearith Israel he labored indefatigably. He was also affiliated with various orders, such as the B'nai B'rith and the Masonic fraternity, attaining to honors in their ranks. But the achievement to which he devoted the last fifteen years of his life was the establishment and maintenance, in conjunction with the Rev. Dr. Sabato Morais and other workers, of the Jewish TheologicalSeminary, of which institution he was president from its foundation in 1886 until his death.