Biography
A Jewish Immigrant from Tsarist Russia, Spivak pursued medicine out of a desire to be of service to humanity. In 1896, when his wife Jennie showed signs of incipient tuberculosis, Spivak moved their young family to Denver to take advantage of Colorado’s reputation as the World’s Sanatorium. Spivak's concern for the indignant consumptives he saw flooding into the state led to his founding the Jewish Consumptives’ Relief Society (JCRS), a sanatorium dedicated to the care of all, even those in the advanced stages of TB. Spivak also ensured that the primarily Eastern European Jewish patients were cared for in an environment that respected their culture- unlike many such institutions, the JCRS featured a kosher kitchen and observed the Jewish Sabbath and holidays.
Dr. Spivak was also an associate professor of medicine at the University of Denver from 1896-1901.
Citation:
Leḳsiḳon fun der nayer Yidisher liṭeraṭur, 1965 (Spiṿaḳ, Ḥayim; d. 10-16-1927; b. as Ḥayim-Ḥayḳl Spiṿaḳoṿsḳi; d. in Denver, Colorado) Yehoash. Idish ṿerṭerbukh, 1926: t.p. (Dr. Ḥayim Spiṿaḳ) t.p. verso (Dr. C. D. Spivak [in rom.]) Who's who in American Jewry, 1926 (Spivak, Charles; physician, author; b. 12-25-1861, Krementschug, Russia).
Found in 2 Collections and/or Records:
Collection
Identifier: B250
Abstract
Dr. Charles Spivak was born in Russia in 1861 and died in Denver, Colorado in 1927. He arrived in New York City in 1882 and graduated from Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In 1893, Charles Spivak married Jennie Charsky. Because of Jennie's poor health the Spivaks moved to Denver in 1896. Dr. Spivak was a co-founder of the Jewish Consumptives' Relief Society (JCRS) and was the executive secretary from 1904 until 1927. Haim David Spivak, son of Dr. Charles and Jennie...
Dates:
1861-2010
File — Box B250.03.0002: Series B250.03 [Barcode: U186020748741]
Identifier: B250.03.0002
Abstract
Oil painting "The Ten Commendments" by H. David Spivak who was the son of Dr. Charles David and Jennie Charsky Spivak. The painting was commissioned as a mural for the Beth HaMedrosh Hagodol Synagogue in Denver, Colorado. Haim David Spivak was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1893 and died in Denver, Colorado in 1932. He studied at the University of Denver, the Art Institute of Chicago, Illinois and the Art Students League, New York. He was one of three co-founders of the Denver Artists...
Dates:
1927
