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Isaac Rosnosky: Boston's First Jewish Elected Official

Portrait of Isaac Rosnosky
AI-modernized portrait of Isaac Rosnosky, generated via ChatGPT. Original from page 8 of the Temple Ohabei Shalom 1893 commemorative book.
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Isaac Rosnosky (1846–1909) was my great-great-great-grandfather. He was the first Jewish person elected to public office in Boston, and served as President of Temple Ohabei Shalom for approximately 25 years.

The lineage: Isaac Rosnosky → his daughter Sadie Rosnosky → her daughter Selma Cohen → her daughter Sally Anne Bernkopf → her son John B. Frank → me.

From Prussia to Boston

Isaac was born in Wollstein, Prussia (in what is now Poland) in 1846 or 1847. He immigrated to the United States as a teenager around 1860–1861, settling with his family in Boston. He left school at age 11 to apprentice in the clothing trade.

By 1867, he had become a partner in a wholesale clothing business on Summer Street. The firm, Lewenberg & Rosnosky, manufactured men's and youth's clothing at 47 Summer Street and became one of Boston's successful garment businesses.

Political Pioneer

In 1878, Rosnosky won election to the Boston Common Council as a Democrat—becoming the first Jewish person ever elected to public office in Boston. This was remarkable given that Boston's Jewish population was only about 7,000 at the time, in a city dominated by Irish-American and Yankee political machines.

He was re-elected multiple times, serving seven terms on the council and five terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives. He was also a delegate to two Democratic National Conventions and served as a commissioner at the World's Fair.

An 1894 profile in Boston and Its Points of Interest noted that when he failed to receive a Democratic nomination one year, "he showed his great strength. Entirely ignoring the Democratic caucus, he entered the contest as an independent candidate and was elected by a greater majority than ever before."

Community Leader

Rosnosky served as president of Temple Ohabei Shalom—the oldest Jewish congregation in Boston, founded in 1842—from approximately 1882 to 1907. In 1891, the congregation honored his service by presenting him with a purse of $2,000 and sending him on a European trip.

He was also elected president of District No. 1 of the Independent Order of B'nai B'rith in 1891, covering New England and the Northeast. The 1894 profile noted that the B'nai B'rith lodge room "is the greatest oratorical school, and Mr. Rosnosky decided to take advantage of its facilities" to train for politics.

Interfaith Bridge-Builder

One of his notable achievements was securing $10,000 in state funding for Carney Hospital, a Catholic institution, in 1891. According to the 1894 account: "Mr. Rosnosky took the matter into his own hands, and by private subscription among the Representatives, made a large nest egg which was added to by the efforts of the Boston Post until the necessary amount was raised. This action called forth many letters of esteem from the Sisters of Charity and other prominent Catholics."

In 1892, he helped pass legislation allowing rabbis to legally officiate marriages in Massachusetts—a right previously reserved only for Christian ministers.

Character

The 1894 profile offers a warm portrait: "Mr. Rosnosky is always proud to assert and uphold his religion, and has thereby gained the deep respect of his Christian friends... He helps the unfortunates as one brother would help another, and not like a man performing a necessary but unpleasant duty. He works silently and expects no reward."

It concludes: "It can truly be said that there is no man more popular in Boston than Mr. Rosnosky, who enjoys the confidence and esteem of all, and who numbers among his friends men of national as well as local reputation."

Family

Isaac married Henrietta Verdoner in 1869 and they had six children: Sadie, Lillie, Walter, Morris, Ray, and Eva. He died at his home in Boston on February 12, 1909, at age 62. His funeral at Temple Ohabei Shalom was attended by a cross-section of Boston's civic leaders, including Irish-American politicians and Catholic officials alongside Jewish community members.

Full Text: Boston and Its Points of Interest (1894)

The following is the complete profile of Isaac Rosnosky from Boston with Its Points of Interest: With Illustrations from Original Photographs (Mercantile Illustrating Company, 1894), page 332:

LEWENBERG & ROSNOSKY, Manufacturers and Jobbers of Men's and Youth's Clothing, No. 47 Summer Street.—One of the most eminent self-made citizens in this city, is undoubtedly Mr. Isaac Rosnosky, who is regarded as a true child of the people. He was born in Wollstein, Germany, in the year 1847 and is, therefore, forty-seven years old. After an uneventful life in Europe he emigrated to the United States while yet in his teens, and set up his abode in Boston. He soon realized that progress means hard work, and began at an early age to earn his living, under circumstances that would have daunted a less brave man. Nevertheless, though hampered by lack of education, and an empty treasury, he struggled successfully, and after a few years established himself in a profitable business. Such was the early training which fitted him for the active life which he has since taken in the public arena. He has worked hard and developed great energy. Energy is always accompanied by ambition, and the case in hand is no exception. Mr. Rosnosky, therefore, determined to become something more than a successful business man; he wished to serve his country as a good citizen and win a name that would be remembered. So, encouraged by the example of the lamented M. Leopold Morse, he began to train for politics. A politician must be an orator, and oratory is an art that requires practice. The lodge room is the greatest oratorical school, and Mr. Rosnosky decided to take advantage of its facilities. He joined the B'nai Brith and at once became an active member. With the forensic training there received, he entered politics. Backed by his great popularity in his own ward, he ran for Common Councillor, and was elected by a large majority. This office he held for several years, each election attesting his popularity by increased majorities. Aspiring for higher honors he became the Democratic nominee for Representative, to which office he was elected. Here his ability as a legislator became apparent, and he made legions of friends. At the next election a difficulty arose in the Democratic ranks, and in some unexplainable manner, Mr. Rosnosky failed to receive a second nomination. Here he showed his great strength. Entirely ignoring the Democratic caucus, he entered the contest as an independent candidate and was elected by a greater majority than ever before. During his political career, however, he never forgot his alma mater, the B'nai Brith, but continued to work steadily for its welfare. In reward for these services he received the highest gift within the power of the Order—the Grand Presidency. This office he held with honor during the year 1891. He is also a governor of the Home of the above Order, and a member of the Sons of Benjamin, and a prominent member of the Grand Lodge of Kesher Shel Barzel. Mr. Rosnosky is always proud to assert and uphold his religion, and has thereby gained the deep respect of his Christian friends. He is an active member of the Temple Ohabei Shalom, having been its president, during the last ten years. In appreciation of his services the congregation in 1891, made up a purse of $2,000 and sent him on a European pleasure trip, and upon his return tendered him a rousing reception. Mr. Rosnosky understands and practices true charity; that is to say, he helps the unfortunates as one brother would help another, and not like a man performing a necessary but unpleasant duty. He works silently and expects no reward—the surest method of getting one. He is a director and active member of the Benevolent Society. It was due to his efforts that the Carney Hospital Fund of $10,000 was raised. Mr. Rosnosky took the matter into his own hands, and by private subscription among the Representatives, made a large nest egg which was added to by the efforts of the Boston Post until the necessary amount was raised. This action called forth many letters of esteem from the Sisters of Charity and other prominent Catholics. In private life Mr. Rosnosky is a good husband and an indulgent father. His wife is an estimable woman, to whose counsel and encouragement he owes much of his success, and by whom he has several children. He is a trusty friend and a hale-fellow well met. His popularity is remarkable. Even the children know Isaac Rosnosky, while the men refer to him familiarly as "Isaac," but notwithstanding, he is entirely free from the fatal swelled head. This sketch, however, is but a record of the beginning. Mr. Rosnosky is still young, vigorous, and popular, and if the past is any criterion we may look for future honors far surpassing those of the past or present. He has twice been a delegate to the National Democratic Convention, and was a commissioner at the World's Fair. It can truly be said that there is no man more popular in Boston than Mr. Rosnosky, who enjoys the confidence and esteem of all, and who numbers among his friends men of national as well as local reputation.

Sources

The biographical research above was compiled using ChatGPT Deep Research. Below are the primary and secondary sources referenced:

Primary Sources

Secondary Sources

Genealogy / Vital Records