Samuel Felix Mendelsohn

Born in Starobin, Russia, the rabbi and writer Samuel Felix Mendelsohn immigrated to the United States at the age of seventeen, initially settling in New Jersey. He attended the University of Cincinnati and chose Hebrew Union College for his rabbinical studies. Following his ordination, he took a position at Temple Beth Israel in Chicago, where he remained until his death. As a writer, he was drawn to Jewish humor and folklore, publishing four books on the topic. He also wrote editorials for the Chicago Sentinel and was involved in the founding of the Jewish Book Council, along with Boston librarian Fanny Goldstein.