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Morton Robert Hirschberg, a legacy of kindness and generosity
people even know about no ecently when the Jewish Federation & less support. They included, Foundation became one of the beneficiaries of of course, his congregation, the Morton R. Hirschberg Trust, we wanted to learn more about Morton who had passed away every conceivable local need of the Jewish community, in 1978 with no living heirs. With little knowledge of his and, in many cases, life, his engagement in our Jewish community and his substantial assistance to legacy, we turned to the archives of Congregation Ahavath individuals whose names Chesed - The Temple to discover his family history and only Morton will ever know. what he wanted for the future of our Jewish community. Morton was, in many What we found was quite remarkable! Morton was the ways, the embodiment of direct descendant of the Dzialynski family, one of the first stability and rootedness in a very Helena Dzialynski Jewish families in Florida. Morton’s great-uncle, Philip WIlliams unstable and uprooted world. His Dzialynski, was the first permanent Jewish resident to settle family was native to Jacksonville for in Jacksonville. In 1881, Philip’s more than 70 years. Morton was one of the first brother Morris was elected the first, presidents of the Jewish Community Council, and still only, Jewish mayor of (predecessor organization to Jewish Federation) Jacksonville, and in 1882, Morris and the Jewish Family and Children’s Service. He helped organize Florida’s second was a life-long member of Elks Lodge, and congregation — Ahavath Chesed perhaps his most special affection he reserved for — and was elected its first president. B’nai Brith. The finest accolade we can direct to Morton’s grandmother, Helena Morton is that their respect and admiration for Dzialynski lived in Tallahassee and him were no less than his were for them. He family legend is that when Union found it difficult to talk much about himself, and troops came to their home during the when he did, it was almost always to impress his Civil War, Helena said, “Take listener, not with himself, but with the high anything you want, just don’t take my premium he placed on community, traditional schmaltz!” Helena’s daughter values, and a (Morton’s mother), Wilhamena reverence for the Morton Robert Hirschberg "Mena" Williams, already a thirdlasting contributions generation Floridian Jew, was the first of the past. He helped us to Miss Florida in 1885. keep one foot in yesterday Knowing a little bit about Morton’s family lineage, we before we rushed too quickly wanted to learn more about the full life he led and why he into tomorrow. was so generous to his Jewish community. From his eulogy Creating a legacy is about found in the archives, Morton was a generous, kind man your values and passions in who led an exceptional life. Following are some excerpts: life, reflecting back into the Anyone who knew Morton Hirshberg will agree that he was truly one of the most unforgettable personalities they have ever known. As quiet and modest as he appeared, he was often the host and companion of world-famous people. He provided hospitality for the late Charlie Chaplin, he was a dinner guest of Queen Elizabeth and even the late Winston Churchill. And even when Morton told you these things himself, you found it difficult to believe, because he was such a living contrast to all the glamour and spectacle of the celebrity world. Morton was a man of many interests and many endowments, and he was exceedingly proud of them all. He contributed to more charitable causes than most ordinary
community forever. Morton Hirschberg’s passion and commitment to supporting the Jewish community lives on through his legacy fund, which supports Federation Annual Campaigns, Temple and JFCS. May we celebrate and honor him, as he would have honored and remembered those that came before him.
Mena Hirschberg