Isaac Rubinstein

              1914

Figure



The Russian Revolution.
Sixteen Years in the Land of the Czar.
The Cry of a Nation.



Isaac Rubinstein; Who Is He?
It is a rare opportunity for anyone to be able to lend publicity to the worth and character of a man whose personality and message ring true to the highest ideals of human life.  Mr. Isaac Rubinstein, lecturer, preacher, and student, is such a character.  Unique in his address, absolutely sincere in his attitude, and entirely sympathetic in his appeal, he is able to elicit the deepest interest and closest attention of his audience.  He possesses a subdued and quiet eloquence which, fused with the memories of a stormy period of hardship in his native land, holds his audience as if by magic.

Mr. Rubinstein was born at Lodz in Poland, Russia, an industrial city of over 300,000 inhabitants, out of which issued the first stormy beginnings of Russia revolution.  Though born to nobility and dignity, and consecrated to become an honored Rabbi, he followed the impulse within him to lend his sympathy and assistance to the down-trodden people of his native city and his race.  To do this, he had to substitute a stormy youth of struggle and hardship for the care-free youth of nobility.  A voluntary refugee from the stirring scenes of his native city, without money and without experience in manual labor, he turned his back upon the city, his family, and his friends, but not without hope and a great purpose.

Driven about by all kinds of necessity, he passed his first year of exile in Austria, an eventful and significant year; for, though often weary with the burdens of a lonesome world, he was here to catch the glimpse of Christian philosophy and to feel the first ray of comfort for his broken spirit.  These events prepared the way for the following year of study and travel in Germany, where he was to get the opportunity, five years ago, to come to America.  The story of his relation to the revolution, of his two years in Europe and his five years in the United States, charms anyone who believes in courage, heroism, and purpose, and who appreciates the philosophy of human struggle.  No one, however dull, remains unstirred under the spell of his story.

R. M. STEWART, Dept. Education, S. U. I.




Comments
Born in the land of the Czar, growing to young manhood amidst the political and social unrest of that great country, Mr. Isaac Rubinstein is prepared more thoroughly than any man I have heard, upon the public platform, to instruct in the life of the Russian people.  He is eloquent, forceful and always interesting as a speaker; a man of high character and with a noble purpose, he has a message for every one whose interest is not limited by the boundaries of his own state.  When you meet Mr. Rubinstein, you think of him as a boy; when you hear him speak, you wonder that in less than a quarter of a century, there can be crowded in the experience of a single individual, so much that is tragic and appealing.  Then you realize that he is a man with a man's message for his fellows.

Signed FOREST C. ENSIGN. Dean of Men State University of Iowa.

To whom it may concern:—

Mr. Isaac Rubinstein I have known for two years as a loyal and faithful member of the First Presbyterian Church of Iowa City.

By his earnestness of purpose and intense desire to minister to others in the Truth of life which he has professed and found precious, he has made himself a very high place in our esteem and regard.  His convictions he has suffered for, he has known exile and suffering because of his faithfulness to his conscience and duty as a man and a Christian.

Because of these things, he has a message for us today and he delivers his message with all the zeal and romance of a great enthusiasm and of the traditions of the greatest and most interesting ancestry the world has known.

Every one who has heard him is aided in making a firmer resolution to serve, is given a clearer vision of what ought to be done, and is helped in realizing more keenly than ever before what Brotherhood means.

Mr. Rubinstein is a pleasing speaker, presenting in an eloquent way his plea for the great cause of humanity.

DWIGHT WITHERSPOON WYLIE.



Dubuque German College and Seminary
REV. W. O. RUSTON, D.D. LL,D.
DEAN OF THE FACULTY
550 DELHI ST.

Mr. Rubinstein, one of our former students, is an earnest scholar of brilliant oratorical gifts.  He has in a remarkable degree, the power of putting things, which has made him a welcome speaker on all occasions.  His study of Russian questions is not alone through the medium of books, but as well through living contact.  He will bring to any audience just and vivid pictures of the struggles for better things in the great Slavic Empire.

W. O. RUSTON.


Mr. Isaac Rubinstein delivered his lecture, The Call of Russia, to a large Sunday evening audience on Baccalaureate day.  Seldom, if ever, on such occasions has a speaker been able to compel such close and absorbed attention or to leave so deep and lasting an impression.  Mr. Rubinstein is not aided by a commanding presence, or unusual quality of voice, but he has a simple, earnest, winsome personality and tells with rare impressiveness, a mesage of unusual power and worth.  Hear him and get a new vision of what Christianity means.

H.W.WARD. Dean Leander Clark College.

Upon several occasions Mr. I. Rubinstein has spoken in our community and his hearers highly appreciated his messages.  He has had a rich experience in life, and relates it in a clear and forceful manner.  If you hear him once you will want to hear him again.

(Rev.) PAUL H. HEISEY. Pastor St. Matthew's Ev. Lutheran Church.


Independent. (Iowa City):
The members of the Berry Bible class and their friends will again have the pleasure of listening to an address by Mr. Rubinstein, who so interestingly spoke before the class Sunday morning, May 10.  Friday evening of this week the members of the class and all their friends who can come, will meet in the parlors of the church at 8:00 o'clock and the entire evening will be given to the address of this young man.  Forced to leave Russia at an early age because of his sympathy for the working people of that country, the years since have been filled with not only interesting but oftimes exciting experiences.  In his address of Friday evening, he will draw from these experiences, and will also touch upon the ideals, customs and aspirations of the Jewish people.  The committee arranging for the evening announce that they wish to extend a welcome to all persons desiring to hear the speaker and that no one should fail to hear the speaker merely because of not receiving a personal invitation.  The social feature of the class work will not be lost sight of on this evening and every person attending will be given a hearty welcome.


Lancaster (Wis.) Teller:
Mr. Isaac Rubinstein had a most encouraging audience at the M. E. church Friday evening, when he told the story of Russia.  The people were interested and were given an understanding of the terrors of government in Russia, that were nearly blank to them before.  Mr. Rubinstein's modesty kept him from telling much of his own personal history, and we wouldn't be surprised if parties would get at him for another lecture.  He is a man of clean thought, of extreme conscientiousness, and expresses himself fluently.


Religious Telescope, (June 25, Report of Commencement Exercises at Leander Clark):
The Christian Association anniversary (Leander Clark College) was the occasion of a remarkable message in the form of an appeal from Mr. Isaac Rubinstein, of Iowa City, a converted Jewish refugee, who spoke on The Call from Russia.  The young speaker pleased every one by the force and simple dignity with which he spoke.