Albert Jean Amateau
|
|
Albert Jean Amateau (April 20, 1889 - February 9, 1996) was a rabbi, businessman, lawyer and social activist. Born in Milas, Turkey, Amateau immigrated to the United States in 1910.
Born a Sephardic Jew, Amateau began a movement in the early 1920s to bring more Jews into the workplace and government. Interestingly he was also involved largely in the affairs of deaf people. After he returned from the Army (he served in the World War I), Amateau was ordained in 1920 at the Jewish Theological Seminary, and he became the first rabbi of a congregation of the deaf. In 1941, Amateau developed the Albert J. Amateau Foreign Language Service, a business providing translators for lipsync dubbing for motion pictures. The business continued in operation until 1989.
An ardent supporter of his homeland of Turkey, Amateau began various Turkish-oriented organizations while residing in the United States. In 1992, at the age of 103, he helped found the American Society of Jewish Friends of Turkey and was named as its president.
Amateau was also an advocate of peace, and in 1937, he assisted with negotiations between Jews and Arabs of Palestine.