Jewish Post, Indianapolis, Marion County, 16 January 1953 — Page 4

THE NATIONAL JEWISH POST

Friday, January 16, 1953

Chicago Tailor-Scientist Has 50,000 'Children'for 'Adoption'

By ASHER BIUNBAI M Jewish rost Correspondent CHICAGO (JP) — Sam Bornstein is urgently seeking a home for his 50,000 “children.” A former tailor and a self-edu-cated scientist, Bornstejn, 58, has a natural history collection composed of some 50,000 items which, experts agree, could form the nucleus of a first rate small mu-

seum.

The "One Man Museum” has been homeless for several years, since it was refused further use of space at the Jewish People’s Institute, despite protests by the local Anglo-Jewish press. Unma Tied, Bornstein had entrusted \he management of the collection to his mother. Since her death, 7 years ago, he has fretted and protected his “children” Mke a mother bear with an

overdeveloped maternal sense. Bornstein was born in Bialostok, Russia. As an eight-year-old, he traveled alone to England —the beginning of wanderings that were to take him around the world five times. He came to the United States in 1911 and now is an American citizen. His tailoring financed his travels, and, after settling in Chicago, he was employed by a large clothing firm. He exists on a small pension from that company. Asked whether he would consider returning to the tailoring field, Bornstein angrily cited a list of reasons why he would

not.

Contents of the museum are listed in 20 paper-bound handwritten catalogues. A brief sampling includes: Ten thousand fossils; pottery

believed to date back to 3,500 B. C. E.; a tusk of a mastadon extinct in North America for 20,000 years; a general coin collection valued by Bornstein at $50,000 ; 2,500 birds, birdnests, eggs, and 12,000 bird feathers; 5,000 seashells; a statue of a Tibetan God of War, reportedly 2,000 years old; rare buttons; 50 mosaics; and a large Chinese ivory

pagoda.

His collection of Judaica includes ancient Palestinian coins, a number and variety of oil Hanukah lamps, and man-sized bronze pieces with Hebrew inscriptions. Many of these items were found in Egypt rather than in brief excavations he did during two trips to Palestine, Bomstein related. Values and ages placed on particular items of the collection

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For the information of contributors to Israel causes in 1953

rpiHE inspiring job of immigrant absorption and economic stabilizaJL tion in Israel is under way. The more than 700,000 immigrants brought to Israel since 1948 must be knit into the fabric of a stable, viable, creative society. Thousands upon thousands of additional acres must be put under cultivation. Agricultural settlements and housing ‘ projects must go up everywhere. This effort to make the land more fruitful and its immigrants proi ductive and self-sustaining represents the most challenging and formidable task since the start four and a half years ago of the dramatic and unprecedented ingathering of exiles. In 1953, the task of providing free funds for these great and urgent programs is the continuing responsibility of the UNITED JEWISH APPEAL. UJA dollars are the lifeblood of Israel’s new, dynamic society. They are vital to Israel’s healthy growth. In 1953, then, UJA funds must flow with renewed vigor. Warranted and Unwarranted Campaigns In addition to the UNITED JEWISH APPEAL, there are other authorized organizations with established records of constructive work in Israel that can claim public support in the United States. The Jewish Agency for Palestine, with the support of the Israel Government, and in response to requests from the organized Jewish community in the United States, set up in 1949 a Committee on Control and Authorization of Campaigns. This Committee passes on the validity and general usefulness of all proposed campaigns for institutions and projects in Israel. On occasion, new campaigns for limited purposes have been launched by individuals and organizations. Some of these have put forth claims not always warranted by facts, and have requested support out of proportion to their importance. When in Doubt The Committee on Control and Authorization of Campaigns will shortly publish its 1953 list of authorized campaigns. Until such a list is published, whenever you are in doubt write to the JEWISH AGENCY FOR PALESTINE, Committee on Control and Authorization of Campaigns, 16 East 66th Street, New York City. However, nothing surpasses the importance of the UNITED JEWISH APPEAL for Israel’s future. The country’s great potential of material and moral growth depends on continuous, uninterrupted support of UJA. In 1953 a contribution to the UNITED JEWISH APPEAL is an investment in Israel’s stability and a vote of confidence in the 1,500,000 men and women who are building a powerful democratic society in the Middle East. The Jewish Agency for Palestine urges the American Jewish public to support the UNITED JEWISH APPEAL in 1953 with utmost generosity.

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were not checked by The Post. However, an orientalist, recognized museum authorities, and the Israeli Consul, all of whom had viewed it, assured The Post that the major part of the museum was indeed genuine and worthy of attention. Also included in the “package” that Bornstein terms his “One Man Museum” are 1,000 lantern slides, 5,000 photographs, 4,000 volumes on natural history, and manuscripts for 16 as-yet-unpub-lished books. Bornstein has published four books on natural history, two in Yiddish, and one in novel form for youngsters. He envisions publication In both Hebrew and English of a second children’s natural history novel. During an interview which began in his West Side apartment, Bornstein brought out his catalogue, scrapbook of clippings, and then led the way through the haphazard arrangement of articles that clutter the apartment’s eight rooms. “The rest of the museum is in storage and only a few people know where it is,” Bornstein said. ‘That’s so I can be sure it will be safe,” he explained—his words emerging as puffs of vapor in the freezing house. Apologizing for the cold, Bomstein explained that he lacked funds to heat the apartment. He 1 led the way to the kitchen where the interview was continued near the weak flames of a gas range. The kitchen, like every other room, was packed with miscellaneous items of varying ages and origins. No food of any type was in sight. The windows leading to a rear porch were barred. About the heavy iron bars, the ex-tailor said: “They tried to break in here three times. I haven’t gone out of the house at night for three years. Even in Africa I never carried anything but a flashlight to protect myself. Here I have a gun.” Whether or not Bernstein’s fears are justified, he remains alone with his collection. Isolated from old friends and distrustful of newcomers as the neighborhood’s population changed during recent years, he lives a fear-ridden as well as a pov-erty-stricken life. The heavy lock on the front door of his apartment is opened only to those who precede their visit with a telephone call and announce their arrival by the proper bell signal. Returning to the dining room, Bornstein fondly unveiled his ivory pagoda, and other of his treasures, murmuring now and then about “my children.” loiter, as the Interview continued in the warmth oi a nearby

restaurant, he gave this itemization of his daily schedule: “With the help of a friendly restaurant employee, I spend from 6 to 9 in the morning in a cafeteria, where I’m allowed to use a table for my writing. Then I walk outside for two hours. At 11 a. m., I return to the cafeteria where I eat a second meal. Both cost 25 cents. Then I go home to be with my ‘children’.” Using a small pink pocket comb to direct his wavy white hair forward and slightly to the side, Bornstein then listed some of his health rituals. On arising at 4 a. m. every day, he takes a cold bath. With each meal he drinks two glasses of water that has been boiled. Hs drinks no unboiled water. He avoids tobacco and alcohol. And, as he demonstrated by loosening a button on his red-cheeked shirt, he wears as little as possible despite the weather. “I don’t believe in a lot of clothes, and I sleep in the raw. I’ve never had a cold in my life,” Bornstein told this interested correspondent, whose idea of braving a Chicago winter consists of wearing as many layers of clothing as can be stuffed under a heavy overcoat. Bornstein wants, more than anything else, a home for his museum. He will give it to anyone who can meet these conditions: • The museum must be so located that it is available at no cost to large numbers of persons, particularly youngsters. • The collection must basically remain one unit. He refused a collector’s offer to purchase particular items for his home, Bornstein said. • Bornstein himself would act as caretaker, at a modest fee. Chicago’s Israeli Consul, Yenahmiel Yaron, visited the museum in the company of an expert orientalist. Yaron later told The Post that he had been favorably impressed by many of the exhibits and had forwarded his reaction through proper channels. Although Bornstein indicated that he particularly would be pleased if the museum were to go to Israel, Yaron seemed to indicate that shipping costs, in th* light of Israel’s financial situation, would rule out any such project within the near future. Three days following the interview, Bornstein called this reporter, reaching him at home where he was bedded by a virusinspired 103-degree temperature. (So much for health theories!) “My gas and electricity have been turned off. Can you help me?” Bornstein asked. This reporter could not Can you?