Ephraim Frisch

Imagine my parents' embarrassment when the doorbell rang and there stood Temple Beth-El's then Rabbi, Ephraim Frisch, who had come to welcome us to town.Rabbi Frisch glanced at the tree and said, "Nice Chanukah bush."Although I was too young to realize it at the time, this was an early lesson for me in the inclusiveness of our liberal Judaism.Rabbi Frisch respectfully included us newcomers in the Temple family even though what we were doing--that Chanukah bush--- was very much against his concept of our religion.

Rabbi Ephraim Frisch and San Antonio Mayor Maury Maverick at Alamo Cenotaph dedication and Armistice Day ceremonies, November 11, 1940.

Rabbis Sidney Tedesche, Ephraim Frisch, David Jacobson and Samuel M. Stahl have all served as senior rabbi.

Standing to preach at this historic pulpit, I occasionally think of Rabbi Ephraim Frisch, of blessed memory.Rabbi Frisch was the predecessor of our beloved Rabbi Jacobson.He was known for his fiery oratory and his equally passionate opinion articles, published in local newspapers.Often, Rabbi Frisch's positions were unpopular with some of his most influential congregants.
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Rabbi Frisch disagreed.Right here on this pulpit, in the presence of some of the employers, his own congregants, he spoke out on behalf of the pecan shellers.Quoting our ancient Hebrew prophets, he reminded the business owners that the ethical demands of our Jewish faith required them to pay living wages, and to assure a healthy work environment.

Rabbi Frisch became unpopular with many of the members of our Temple.Soon after, he concluded his service here.Certainly, the reasons for his departure were many and varied.Most would argue that his sermons were not the principal reason.And yet, Rabbi Frisch paid a heavy price for taking a risk.We would all like to think that we would speak out on behalf of the poor and needy.The truth was, though, that the pecan shellers had chosen a rather obnoxious and occasionally even violent method of redressing their grievances.Not only their own livelihoods, but also those of the business owners, were threatened.

Rabbi Frisch was not the only occupant of this pulpit to have spoken out on controversial issues.
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Rabbi Frisch has been described differently by some, but perhaps his time, like that of the ancient prophets, required a more severe tone.
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May we emulate our Rabbis - Ephraim Frisch, David Jacobson, and Samuel Stahl - and may we speak up for what is right, even when doing so is difficult.

For that occasion, Rabbi David Lefkowitz and Rabbi Henry Cohen (the father-in law of then Rabbi, Ephraim Frisch) were the guest speakers.
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In March 1938, Rabbi Frisch was granted a leave of absence because of illness.

Left: Rabbi Ephraim Frisch and San Antonio Mayor Maury Maverick are shown at the Alamo Cenotaph dedication and Armistice Day ceremonies, November 11, 1940.

Rabbi Ephraim Frisch was an outspoken critic of Christian displays in public spaces. When Arkansas' governor used Christian references in his annual Thanksgiving message, Rabbi Frisch strongly criticized him. Frisch was also a liberal on the race issue, and befriended Isaac Fischer, a controversial local black leader and educator.
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Frisch left Pine Bluff in 1912, after eight years as the rabbi at Anshe Emeth.