Joseph Barondess

Joseph Barondess (July 3, 1867 – June 19, 1928)

Biography

Barondess was born in Bar, Russian Empire between Vinnytsia and Kamianets-Podilskyi in Ukraine (former Russia). He was a son of Rabbi Judah Samuel Barondess. He was a relative of Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis Joseph Barondess may have spent time in Medzhibozh or perhaps he felt affiliated with the town because his wife came from there. Regardless, he was a lifelong member of the Medzhibozh landsmanshaftn society and helped support various members. He immigrated to England in 1885, where he met his wife, Anna Zifels, and came to the United States in 1888. running unsuccessfully for Congress as a Socialist in 1904 (though he earned 21% of the vote), later becoming a Zionist, then serving on New York City's Board of Education in 1911. He counted among his friends Woodrow Wilson, having close ties with him long before he became president.

Barondess was one of the founders of the American Jewish Congress, and in 1919 he participated in the AJC's delegation to the Paris Peace Conference leading to the Treaty of Versailles. He became active in Jewish relief efforts in the wake of pogroms in the Ukrainian civil war of 1919–1921.

Even when he held no particular office later in his life, Barondess served as the advocate for whoever sought his help, whether petitioning for small favors or protesting mistreatment by the authorities. Even though English was his second language (Yiddish was his first), he was a brilliant orator and elegant writer. In his later years his calendar was full with speaking engagements.

By the time of his death in 1928, however, he no longer had any active role in either the labor movement or politics. He died at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York following two operations for kidney trouble. He was remembered fondly as a pioneer in the union movement and for his gifted speaking and writing skills; even the Communist paper Freiheit gave him a respectful obituary. One of the mourners in attendance at his funeral reportedly stated that it would have been a more impressive service if Barondess had been there to deliver the eulogy.